>Well, I've asked a lot of questions about pontoons on here,
>and probably you guys are all starting to think, "geez, just
>buy something already" but when you're a poor grad student,
>you have to be sure you're getting the right thing the first
>time.

- It's ok, we'll forgive you! I think most of us know how it feels to be in a tight finacial spot

>
>I was planning on using my Christmas money to buy either a new
>tube or a toon (and a couple Berkley AMP rods). I was leaning
>toward a toon, but I have some concerns which hopefully you
>guys can answer.
>
> 1. I've been tubing since I was 10, and have always used
>paddle pusher fins. I know its unpopular and uncool, but its
>what I grew up with and I'm comfortable with. I'm concerned
>that with the raised seating of the toon, they will no longer
>work for me. Will enough of my legs be in the water to make
>use of paddle pushers with a toon? What about with the newer
>float tubes like the fat cat?

- You should be fine in a fat cat but it might be an issue with a toon. You really should try some dive fins. They are at least twice as fast (depending on the ones you get) and take less effort. I've fished gone about 3 miles in fins alone in a tube back when I was in better shape. Now I'm just fat, round and slow... :(

>
> 2. Wind. I've heard toons are pretty tough to handle in
>the wind. since I live in KS, the wind basically blows all
>the time. Its rare to fish in a wind less than 10mph. Will
>the toon blow around a lot more than say, a Scadden h3 or a
>Fat Cat?

- You would probably be a *little* better in the tube and a Scadden should make it a little better but.... I've recently been fishing primarily the CA Delta and most here can attest that is it almost always somewhat windy. I would much rather stay in my pontoon than ever go back to a tube.

>
> 3. $$. I can afford to spend about $500 for a new
>tube/toon, and a graph for it. Is it better to buy a cheap
>Creek Company toon (classic or xl) or a nice tube?

- will depend...if you can go better to begin with you won't have to upgrade later. I have plenty of friends that have had to upgrade later along with more problems with quality. I would still go with a pontoon over a tube...

>
>I mostly fish waters from 25-450 acres, but some waters nearby
>are much larger (15000) and I'd like to be able to fish them
>somewhat too. I know that toons have more range due to the
>oars/tm mounts, but tubes are more portable and can just be
>portaged from spot to spot for fishing on larger waters too.
>I just don't know what to do. Obviously, I'd like to have
>both, but on my budget, that's just not going to happen. So
>basically, it comes down to portability vs. capacity/range,
>and the wind factor. HELP!!

Again, I think once you actually get into a pontoon you'll realize how nice it really is along with being much warmer. You'll also have a much better ability to spot fish, flip, pitch and play the fish (along with carrying a ton of gear :) ). Do what you have to do but I would heavily lean towards the pontoon.

Portability is great but...

This probably just makes it harder for you but thought I would give you my 2 cents!

Todd
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/toddiwamoto.htm