The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Dear Board Members (and lurkers),

I've been thinking more and more about ponying up the dough, and buying a pram. I've been using a Caddis doughnut tube for many years, and I've really enjoyed myself. But the years have not been kind, and I've sort of "out grown" my tube, not to mention the wear and tear it's sustained over the years. I bought a brandname U-tube, and just couldn't get comfortable in it. Beyond that, I'm getting tired of cold feet, and even worse, if my waders are a little leaky. I'm fed up with limiting myself to one cup of coffee in the morning, and no brewskis in the afternoon before the evening rise; even then, there's that rush to the shore to avoid an embarrassing accident. On the plus side, the round tube is very mobile and can turn on the proverbial dime. I like being close to the water. When fishing is off, I've been known to drop the anchor and grab a little snooze.

I'm thinking there's no need to suit up to use a pram. Warm feet. A place to stash a coat when it warms up or cools down. I can carry lunch and beverages, and something to recycle those beverages into when the need arises. I like the idea of standing up, if necessary, to cast. On the downside, it's a lot heavier than the float tube, and then there's the deal of getting it on and off the roof rack. A pram is expensive. And, some will understand, it's more "stuff". Jeeze, haven't I already got enough flyfishing stuff?

I'll bet you pram users just love 'em. Give me some more reasons to get one. I'm sure there are others on the other side, who wouldn't use a pram if you paid them, and who can supply plenty of reasons NOT to buy a pram. I'd be interested in hearing specific recommendations on what brand to get (I'm leaning toward an eight footer), and any can't-live-without accessories.

So go ahead and spout off on the topic. Help persuade or dissuade me. Share you knowledge.

Thanks,
Anglerboy

Call my buddy Jim Wheeler @ Spring Creek Prams 509-486-0599 and pick his brain. Even if you opt for another manufacturer's product, Jim's advice will help you pick the pram that's right for you.

If I had a place to store and a vehicle for transporting I'd definately have one of Jim's boats.

And for you fly tyers, Jim sells Stillwater Solutions products!

get a 10 foot rather than an 8. a 10 is much easier to car top because it will bridge from the rack to the ground at an angle which helps you lift it up. the extra space will come in handy when you least expect it. i've never been in a 10 foot boat and wished I were in an 8, but there are plenty of times I wished for more room in an 8.

I've got one of Jim's 10' models and I've really enjoyed it. I wanted the larger model so I'd have room for Sammie my Golden and all the stuff I like to carry. I've also got an eight footer, not Spring Creek, that I can roof rack for those smaller lakes. Before my back problem I could carry the eight footer into those lakes where you couldn't back a trailer into.

Advantages of a Pram:

You can cover a lot more water than you can with a tube.
You can stand and cast which gives you a greater range.
You've got better visibility, spotting fish, while standing in a pram.
You stay dry - no need for waders.
You're in and out of the water much quicker - no fins to deal with.
You can paddle right over the top of thick weed beds which most productive stillwaters have an abundance of.
You can drink beer to your hearts content and when nature calls you can answer with a cup, bowl or portable urinal.
You can hook up an electric motor and relax as you head for that other cove.
It should out last your tube if taken care of.
You can hang it from your garage ceiling and park your other boat or car underneath it.
It's a lot easier to change lines and untangle those rod tip tangles in a pram.
You've got more room for that second rod.
You can take your dog with you so you don't look like you're talking to yourself.
You can troll a fly which is basically what your doing when fishing from a tube.
It's a lot easier to spin around while standing and hit that fish that just came up behind you.
You don't have to deal with seats ripping out from underneath you or leaky tube bladers.
It's a lot easier to pull anchor and move on to another spot.

Disadvantages of a pram:

They generally cost more.
Storage problems can be an issue.
In a cove you can't cover the water as effectively as you can in a tube or pontoon particularly on a windy day - you've always got your fly in the water.
You can't pack a pram into remote lakes.
I think you lose a bit of the intimacy with the water in a pram or larger boat.

Good luck with your decision - as pointed out Jim with Spring Creek is a very good starting point.

Pete

A man can not have too many "floatation devices",,,,

I have several, some even with trailers..

get the pram...

Paul

Bruce,

Get a pram.

I've had three different 8 foot models and a ten footer: an 8' TPL-fiberglass, made in Campbell, CA in the 70's-these things were almost "uniform-of-the-day" on Fall River for a while, an 8' Valco aluminum pram, and my current Redwood Welding (Almarco) 8' mini drifter...I've never had space issues with the 8 footers.
I had a 10 foot Valco that felt 2X heavier than the 8 foot version and, there was enough room for way too much stuff (including another fishman and his stuff) which made the thing too crowded (with stuff and/or another fisherman).

My dogs, except the current wimpy spoiled weimariner, all enjoyed being in any of the prams whether we were hunting, fishing, or playing man/dog overboard (a version of "fetch" ).

Other than not needing to wear waders, the main advantage of the pram is being able to stand...which enables you to sight fish, cast to cruising fish, and see takes better...standing also helps guiding fish away from or out of weedbeds during the fight.

One of the things you should always have is a second anchor (1 in the bow and one in the stern)...keeps you in position and makes the pram a little more steady when standing.

Decisions, decisions...

Paul

You might want to get a dog as well...I found with old Sammie lying down in the bow or the stern the pram was more stable. Of course there was a disadvantage as well with the dog hanging out one side or the other while rowing it was a bear to keep a straight line course - the electric motor took care of that problem.

Like Carpy said...a man can't have to many floatation devices or to many rods or to many reels or to many lines or to many flies or too much beer...

And just hope when you pass on the wife doesn't sell all your gear for you told her you paid for it...

Pete

Being to soon old and too late smart, my current (4th) pram is the only one that has been equipped with a padded, swivel seat (with a backrest).

Other "stuff" in/on the current pram includes:

1. a removable 10" wheel at the bow that enables the parm to be loaded with the day's "stuff" and handled like a wheelbarrow during the trip from the parking area to the water's edge (and return).

2. a 5 gal bucket as a semi-dry thing in which to hold loose stuff; lunch, vest, jacket, towel, and trash when fishing.

3. a #10 can (or similar sized tupperware item borrowed from the kitchen) for liquid removal from interior areas...add a large sponge to soak up water from corners, trays, & recessed areas.

4. a rubber mat (mats)...the kind with drain holes, for noise abatement, reduction of slip hazard, and moisture control.

5. rubber or rope sleeves on the oars to reduce the noise

6. knots in the end of the anchor line and pins in the oarlocks' bottom holes to assist the skipper's keeping important stuff attached to/with the watercraft

Paul

I'd like to thank the fellas who've responded with lots of suggestions and good, practical advice. You've pretty much helped me make up my mind, after all, nobody said, "I had one and hated it". Now all I've got to do is work up the nerve to spend the dough.

Maybe I'll have to get another dog. Don't know if I could ever top the Lab I had 20 years ago. He was quite the dog.

List of my flotation devices:
1 doughnut float tube
1 U-shaped float tube
1 pontoon boat
1 Sospenders
1 standard PFD
coming soon,
1 pram

Thanks again, and keep up the good work,
Anglerboy

This is what you need for your float tube:

Just strap it on and you can tube all day and have all the
beers and coffee you want. Just for you they come in extra
small Maybe you could borrow one of Carpy's.

:reel Slo

I will have you know that I have a huge bladder!! that's why I use the small model...



Paul

Here we are trying to help this guy out with all our sage advice and you jump in with this nonsense...

What I want to know is how many of you tubers have actually peed in your waders and are willing to admit it...Come on now all of a sudden you've got fish working all around you and the urge hits. Shore is a good 1/2 mile away and several thick weed beds block your retreat in. Hell even if you tried you probably couldn't make it in....in time.

Now I can honestly say I've never done it...I've thought about it...but no I've never done it.

How clean are your waders???? Buy the PRAM!!!

Pete