Float tube around seals/sealions?

[Pete112288]

One of my favorite places to duck hunt is about a half hour boat ride on the Columbia, then way back in a slough. Early in the season when the water is lower like now, its hard to hunt from land with the tide changes. I have a boat that frankly would take way too much work and cost too much for me to make a blind out of the whole thing. Its 14 ft, but I am always hunting solo too, so it seems like a hassle for me to have to cover the whole thing for me. I have a float tube that I take out in order to retrieve birds that die over deep water and I dont want to have to go dig out the boat after I hid it 100+ yards away. So I was thinking of just tying on some brush to the float tube. I scoped out a couple spots that would be perfect. There are pilings that stick 4-8 feet out of the water with bushes growing on them and crap. I can snug myself up right in the midst of them, covered in brush just like the pilings. Ducks fly past these scattered wads of bushes and pilings all day long, esp divers.
My only concern is seals. I have seen them often enough coming into this slough, had one come check out a couple decoys once. I am just super sketched out about sitting waist deep in the water with flippers on my feet when seals and sealions may be around. Just out of curiosity they could mess with me bad. Could grab a flipper on my foot or who knows what.
Should I be worried? Would you be?

[Scvette]

I’ve dove around sea lions a lot, they are curious but never been aggressive, had them pull on a fin which was kinda exciting. Did a gut barge that sank at a dock in Kodiak, zero vizability and fish guts everywhere, we had to go down with huge deflated bladders and chain them to the keel, there were at least a 100 sea lions feeding off that stuff, was getting bumped into while we were working under it. 

[scooby]

I've surfed enough around seals enough to know that they are curious and like investigating stuff just like a dog does. I've seen seals surf with people and try to hop on people's boards with them while they are waiting for a set to come in, but never be aggressive. My only concern would be a seal trying to hop on your float with you while you are out wading. Getting upended in muddy (or any) water sounds like a rough way to make a cold morning worse. It's super unlikely, but if I was concerned about anything safety related, it would be that.

[Stein]

I agree, they are pretty smart animals and know you aren't a herring or salmon.  They can be very curious and I wouldn't be surprised if one came up to check you out.  Once the shooting starts, I wouldn't expect them to hang around.

[pianoman9701]

I'll just leave this here:

[DrakeKill]

I use a tube all the time, not just for decoys but hunting divers on the river banks, is a total blast - quite literally in your face!

Couple notes:

 a 100+ yard kick is certainly doable, but pace yourself particularly around currents and tides, you don't want to find yourself getting leg cramps at the very moment you enter the fastest flowing part of the channel, to that end a camel bag onboard with you to stay hydrated throughout the day is a must.

Check your waders daily! a little leak isn't a big deal in the boat or ground blinds, sitting submerged with even a small leak in the wrong spot, can get quite uncomfortable quickly and this can compound the previous note in colder conditions

Know how to get around your tube bladder(s) from outside the cover while your sitting in it and keep a roll of duct tape on board - this is your emergency "oh sh!!!" moment when something pokes a hole in your tube

PFD PFD PFD

shotgun lanyard - I just use a couple carabiners and 550 cord, and simply attach to my gun sling and the tube, adjust the length so it stays out of your way when shooting.

I've not had a seal or lion try to climb onto my tube before, but have had it happen in the layout boats, usually a little push with the butt stock or paddle and their on their way

[npaull]

I've done it a lot and wouldn't worry about it. They're just not in the business of going after large mammals.

[linxx77]

I used to shoot near Longview when I lived in PDX. Kayak’d up to a bird I was retrieving when a big ol sea lion pops up next to my hand and grabs the bid and takes it under.

Pissed my waders I did. I wouldn’t float tube, I’m just too chicken. Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[salish]

My brother and I sometimes kayak past sea lion colonies along Rat Island near Fort Flagler and they worry me. They can get pretty aggressive. I'm not so much concerned about physical injury as I am about them swamping my kayak and me going for a dunking in cold water.

[Bucks2Ducks]

I’ve dove around sea lions a lot, they are curious but never been aggressive, had them pull on a fin which was kinda exciting. Did a gut barge that sank at a dock in Kodiak, zero vizability and fish guts everywhere, we had to go down with huge deflated bladders and chain them to the keel, there were at least a 100 sea lions feeding off that stuff, was getting bumped into while we were working under it.

Man I hope you got paid good for that! Id rather be in the middle of grizzly bears then be under water in the middle of a sea lion frenzy

[Samloffler]

I take it you're taking the boat to get there anyway? If just stick with the boat if it were me. Floating 3/4 in the water doesn't sound like my idea of fun.

Sounds like a good way to sneak up on a seal and save some salmon though....