By Bob Difley
Boondocking in an RV can be an end in itself, just getting out away from the noise, bustle, and confinement of the urban environment to enjoy the magnificence of nature unspoiled, sunsets that paint the western horizon with blazes of color, and a night sky filled with the uncountable stars of the Milky Way with the promise of even more indistant galaxies.
But boondocking can also be a means–an enjoyable one for sure–to other ventures or activities as well. You will find lots of boondockers hauling their ATVs out to the deserts for trekking across the dunes, jeep enthusiasts who explore the vast reaches of the unpopulated and often roadless deserts and rugged logging roads of the national forests, as well as rock hunters and rock climbers, hikers and trail runners, bird and wildlife watchers, poets and photographers, that also head deep into the millions of acres of public lands to find enjoyment, inspiration, relaxation, and solitude.
Some of the most avid boondockers, as you might expect, are also anglers seeking out pristine mountain lakes and remote streams in search of rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. They come with shoulder-high waders, kayaks, or float tubes, all designed to get to the perfect spot with stealth. Their goal, to land the fish that makes it into their top ten.
Joe “The Float Tuber”, has been a passionate float tube fisherman for over 25 years. Joe noted that Boondocking has many similarities to that of fishing from a float tube–it doesn’t take a fat wallet to enjoy.
Joe and I have been brainstorming on the perfect fit of boondocking, dry camping, and fishing. Imagine a community of anglers (Joe calls them “fishers”) scattered throughout the country that offer free reciprocal guide services to each other on their home waters.
As Joe says, “It’s August, 95 degrees and sultry in Texas, Georgia, or Alabama. Escape the Heat and the Alligators, I am waiting–as are the rest of the community of fishers–for you to dry camp for one or several days to fish with me. No need to hire a guide, these fishers have the knowledge required to catch fish–not to mention the adventures that are part of the entire experience. Your only cost, that of the State’s required Fishing License and traveling to my place in your RV. What’s the Catch? While you are enjoying Pennsylvania, New York or Maine during August, you will be providing the same enjoyment for those Northern fishers in your neck of the woods come Winter. A Community of passionate fishers, it’s that simple.”
Boondocking and fishing–what could be a better fit. If you are interested in Joe’s idea send me an email or comment below. Joe is waiting to hear your thoughts.
Watch the video below to see what tube fishing is all about:
For more RVing articles and tips take a look at my Healthy RV Lifestyle website, where you will also find my ebooks: BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands (PDF or Kindle), 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang for your RV Lifestyle Buck (PDF or Kindle), and Snowbird Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts (PDF or Kindle), and my newest, The RV Lifestyle: Reflections of Life on the Road (PDF or Kindle reader version). NOTE: Use the Kindle version to read on iPad and iPhone or any device that has the free Kindle reader app.
