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Accessories: Ah, the accessories.  There are a myriad of float tube accessories out there these days and some of them are quite useful. 

Fin Tethers: If you’re fishing around current or in the ocean, a pair of fin tethers can be a life saver.  Fin tethers are pretty basic.  A typical setup is a Velcro strap that goes around your leg with a small piece of material that goes down and attaches to the fin so you don’t lose it if it falls off.  You can fashion your own fin tether with Velcro and a piece of thin rope or even with a length of fishing line if you are in a pinch. 

Rod Holders & Leashes: I see a lot of fly fishermen using rod leashes to make sure they don’t lose their rod if they drop it in the drink.  I could understand that if you were tossing a $600 Sage 5 weight but generally rod leashes seem like a nuisance.   Rod holders on the other hand can be quite useful.  Unfortunately there aren’t many good commercially available options specifically designed for float tubes.  If you’re interested in making your own float tube rod rack, the simplest method is to buy a standard hard plastic 3 rod holder (The Berkley brand one is available just about anywhere) and strap it to your tube with some utility straps. 

Net Holders: The simple way to stow a net is to run the handle through one of the nylon handles found on both sides of most float tubes.  Another clever way to store your net is to buy one of the cheap float tube cup holders found in Bass Pro or Cabelas and just run your net handle through that.  I’ve also seen some guys run their net through the nylon handle on the back of the backrest but with long handles the handle will wind up hitting your legs. 

Tackle Storage:  Most tubes these days have decent pocket space.  The question is, what type of boxes are best for tackle storage?  For normal tackle I like to use the Plano waterproof boxes like the 3645 or 3540 series.  The waterproof aspect means less time spent back at the house drying gear on rainy days or on those occasions when you take a little water over the side.  For big baits like swimbaits, pencil poppers, or surface iron I use plastic clamshells like the ones the Triple Trout and many of the Rago baits come in.  I haven’t seen these clamshells for sale a la carte but odds are if you have a big bait to store you can use the clamshell it came in.  For soft plastics, spinnerbaits, frogs, and buzzbaits it’s hard to beat your good old Ziplock Freezer bag.

Anchors:  I’ve never used an anchor but I suppose if it was very windy and you wanted to sit in one spot and fan cast it could be useful.  There are a lot of anchor systems out there but the simplest and cheapest I’ve seen is a mesh bag attached to a rope.  When you need an anchor, you fill the mesh bag with rocks and viola, instant anchor.  When you’re done for the day, dump the rocks and pack up.  If you’re considering one, consider the mesh bag option before you go carting a chunk of lead around. 

Backpack Straps: If you’re planning on carrying your tube long distances, backpack straps can easily be fitted to the D rings on most tubes and U-Boats.  A typical set of backpack straps will run you about $15.  I’ve also used duffel bag straps in a pinch.  If you have a couple medium sized matching duffel bags maybe you can save yourself a couple bucks. 

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