Tube launch vs Kayak

[Dfishin]

How long does it take to launch from when you park until your in the water?

[Gotfish?]

Tube launch: probably about 10-15 minutes unless the launch is far from the car. I have the tube partially inflated and rods pre-rigged and bundled up beforehand. I have to finish inflating with a floor hand pump and bungee cord the rod rack on. Then put on my waders, booties, jacket and hat, carry everything down to the launch, unbundle the rods and depth finder and place in the rack and put the fins on.

I will usually be in deep enough water within 3-5 minutes of launch to start casting.

I have seen people take a lot longer though.

[Spektrum]

Got fish has his down to an efficient system. For me it’s about 15-30 minutes depending on how well I packed the night before.

[Carpkiller]

"I have seen people take a lot longer though."

"People" checking in.

I do a lot of layering at the water's edge...and taking stuff out of the bucket and putting it in the right compartment on the tube takes a minute or three. taking the shoulder straps off the tube and stowing them...extending, deploying, and stowing the landing net, switching glasses, a minute here and there can add up.

And sometimes when I've truly prepped right...and I'm launching 5 minutes after reaching the water's edge....I pause for a minute because I MUST have forgotten something.

[Gotfish?]

Come to think of it, I have also seen people decide that it would be nice to spend a bit more time in that cozy bed and then show up after the best bite of the day has died.

[Dfishin]

It takes me around 45 to get my pontoon in the water.

[Dannicus]

I have flip up wheels mounted to my tube with a Bixpy underneath. I usually leave my tube inflated in the bed of my truck, but I fish 4-5 days per week on average. I spend more time sleeving rods and covering reels than I do with the tube itself. With my setup I can be unloaded and on the water in under 5 minutes, depending of course on the length of walk to the lake.

[Dfishin]

I have flip up wheels mounted to my tube with a Bixpy underneath. I usually leave my tube inflated in the bed of my truck, but I fish 4-5 days per week on average. I spend more time sleeving rods and covering reels than I do with the tube itself. With my setup I can be unloaded and on the water in under 5 minutes, depending of course on the length of walk to the lake.

I have watched you. You have it down.
I use to use a tube, now with a pontoon it takes me some time.

[professionull]

Before I go, I put everything that I am going to fish with in the tube before it goes in the truck with full air. Then when I get to the parking spot it's just a matter of putting the waders on and boots. My tube has my fins, apron, and life jacket clipped to it and the tube itself is fitted with clips to put backpack style straps on it so all that is needed is rods in my hands and I'm off to the water. Takes me no more than the hike down to the water and 3-4 minutes or less and I'm already off the shore

In hindsight it would be nice to have a kayak to be able to cover more ground but if that's the case (other than Hodges) I will just take my boat. Really the only reason I went with a tube is storage space is great and for hiking into the lakes up in Mammoth/Inyo to catch the trout

[Pourboy]

Usually 15-20 minutes. Like stated above I have my tube partially inflated, and I wear my waders and boots while I drive these days to save a few minutes and avoid holes in the bottoms of my waders. I have the thruster system pretty dialed in these days so that only takes a couple of minutes. Rods are rigged and sleeved and anything else I need I keep in a tub in the car ready to rock (net, PFD belt, fins, etc.)