CastMate System V. 2.0 Performance Review 

Thanks, and I definitely hear you and agree completely. I'm a Missouri "Show Me" kinda guy who believes that the "rest of the story" on how something actually works is an important part of the story. I still use this Castmate System all the time and really enjoy being able to carry three rods/reels in an organized and secure fashion. Thanks for watching and commenting! Don

Thanks, SL. It is very nifty and versatile. I'm using a slightly different configuration next time out. Best wishes, Don

Thank you, Tavares. I agree; there's always something new for anglers. I've seen a lot of "home made" rod rack videos for float tubes, kayaks etc. so it wasn't surprising that a commercial product has been developed to address storage organization. Hope all's well with you. Don

Martyn, thanks for watching and commenting on the review. It is a nifty system and can solve a variety of float tube tackle management issues. I also use one on my personal pontoon. Best wishes, Don

Thanks, John. "Way back when" I owned a 2-pax Bantam plastic boat (similar to yours) with a gas engine on the back and a t-motor up front, but still used my float tube for fishing some really awesome bass ponds. "Deck management" for a belly boat is always an issue and carrying a camera was unthinkable. Nowadays we have an explosion of innovative gear and accessories for anglers. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with this CastMate. It is very cool to be able to just turn the waterproof camera on and swing the mount down. I'll experiment with that accessory this season to see where it works best (high or low mount) and what camera angle is optimum. The mounting head adjusts in all directions; quite clever. I'm looking forward to showing some larger bass thrashing around under there next time out! Hi to Jeanne. Your friends, D&B

Thanks Big Mike and glad you enjoyed the show. I use my float tube/belly boat quite a bit each year and am looking forward to having the extra bonus of organization that the CastMate provides. I think it will be loads of fun. - Don

Thank you, Edward; glad you enjoyed the show. All the best, Don

Scott Pomroy Sorry I missed your comment, Scott. Don't know what happened as yours wasn't the only one. To answer your question, I use the Float Tube Fanatics mounting system. It is the best I've found. Comes with a sealed, rechargeable 12v battery, a swivel mounting plate that accommodates whatever fish finder people have, and a transducer mounting bracket that all fit on the same strap - very ingenious. I'm using a Humminbird 160. After quite a bit of performance testing, I've settled on the configuration of having both the CastMate and the depth finder on my Left (when sitting in the pontoon). I'm right handed so this works best for me for casting. Don

Kevin Meldrum Precisely. I made a small incision in the mesh at the junction of the seat and the bladder. The length of the incision is the same as the width of the strap so It doesn't have any effect on the mesh cargo area at all. Great question! - Don

Winkiedoodles yeah that's what i ended up doing.

Steve G pH trynna buh

Chuck Cooper Chuck,....I am currently working on a video showing how the I mounted the CastMate to my Roanoke pontoon/kick boat. I hope you will check my channel in the next week or so to watch the completed video. It shows how the system easily mounted on the side Left side as well as how I solved the issue of oar clearance. Although you can purchase the rod holders separately on Amazon, if you are talking about drilling holes and attaching them to your frame I can't recommend that. I measured a rod holder; the compression fittings fit on the system's one inch tubing frame. The aluminum pipe that attaches the rod holder is 3/4". The compression fittings allow the rod holders (and other accessories) to rotate and adjust up/down/left/right. This is essential to allow the system to work on different mounting platforms and in various configurations. The CastMate system can mount on either (or both sides) of a pontoon, on top of the pontoon(s) in front of the oar locks, or on the back deck. Hope you'll stay tuned. Don

Winkiedoodles Hey Don, Oh no, wasn't thinking of any drilling. The way my boat assembles i could slide a rod holder on a pipe (maybe the foot rests) then join the frame. I will definitely be looking out for your pontoon version. One way or another I think there's an application for some aspect of this product on my boat. Thanks

Chuck, I tried sliding a compression fitting on my pontoon's tubing to see if it would go around the corner of the foot rest. It didn't, and the fitting is too large anyway (1"). and the frame is 3/4 inches. I just finished the demo vid and sent it to the Manufacturer for comment. It should be released in a few days and I'm sure you'll get some ideas for how one or more of these systems might do right by you. All the best, Don

Thanks Don I'll be looking out for the video.

Thanks, Tex. Just like motorcycling, the fishing industry has a lot of smart folks out there designing things to make our experiences and adventures better or more functional. Progress! Take care and ride safe. Your friend, Don

Thanks for asking and your question is a good one. First, let me say that the CastMate system is designed for a variety of inflatable watercraft and if conditions permit, I'll see how it works on my Roanoke. As for your question, float tubes/belly boats were originally designed to allow anglers to carry them into remote locations such as trout lakes in the mountains. They are excellent in ponds and small waters. On the other hand, kick boats (with or without trolling motors) allow you to go much farther, fish larger bodies of water, but are not suitable for hiking trips. I enjoy both the Roanoke pontoon/kick boat as well as a Cumberland float tube (both from Classic Accessories) because of their unique abilities. An analogy might be owning both a kayak and a jon boat - both are good but each has its own strengths. Don

First, thanks for the nice comments! Although I show my fish finder on the FTF system mounted on the R side in this video, I usually put it on the L side of the tube (same side as the CastMate). There's really no comparison with the FTF system: it comes complete with a sealed 12v battery, transducer mount and all mounting hardware to adapt whatever kind of fish finder people have (Humminbird, Garmin, Lowrance, etc). The whole shebang mounts on a single strap which can be slung across your shoulder and carried to the waterside and quickly put on the tube. Best wishes, Don

Thanks so much really appreciate it MAybe you can check out my channel Thanks again

brucrudad Sorry I missed your comment.. It is the Cumberland model of the Classic Accessories line. My b-in-law has the Roanoke and will sling a Cast Mate on it this season.