Hi everyone,

I e-mailed Paul Mibach these questions and he suggested I post them on this forum. I've spent some time searching and haven't run across anything on this - great site though! I live in Illinois so maybe the laws are different, but I would appreciate any advice you could give.

I was recently told that the hunting and fishing club I belong to has banned the use of float tubes on the small ponds of the club. The reason for this change in the club's rules was because of a perceived lack of safety in this method of fishing.

I have been fishing out of a float tube there for 20 years without a single problem. I would like to be able to continue fishing this way, and have been looking for statistics that show float tubes to be a safe as any other boat.

Can you point me to any literature, statistics, or studies that might help me support my argument?

Can anyone point me to any laws or regulations that either prohibit or allow float tubes?

Can anyone offer advice on how best to effectively argue to regain my ability to float tube these ponds?

Thanks,
Jeff Brandt