River Float Tube

[Rhardy]

How many of you use a float tube, or just plain truck innertube, for river fishing. During the summer I predominantly wet wade. There are several outfitters around here that rent tubes for people that just want to float the river and swim and that got me to thinking.  Instead of the logistics of dealing with my kayak, why not just float?

 

Since I predominately wade I carry minimal gear. I can’t see where this would be any different when using a tube. Just looking for another warm weather alternative that would be easy to haul. 
 

If you fish this way with any frequency I would love to hear your experience and suggestions. Thanks. 
 

Rex

[CountryboyinDC]

People definitely fish from a tube, and I've fished from a OC-1 whitewater boat, so you can probably fish from about anything that floats.  The biggest issue I can see is it's probably going to be awkward, unless there's some suspension system system to make it so you aren't relying on your armpits to keep you in the tube.  Sitting in the tube, you'll have no control of where it goes.

 

The biggest issue for me would be where to put stuff.  Even if you only fished what was on one rod, where do you put it while you're unhooking fish?  This and many other questions would surely come up.  It's an interesting thought, but probably the reason more people don't do it is that it doesn't work so well.  Truck inner tubes are cheap though, and I've definitely been wrong before.

[Stasher1]

I think it could work well for pond or small lake fishing, but I wouldn't attempt it on any of the rivers around here.

[CountryboyinDC]

Sure, give it a try.  I think most anglers that use find that flippers will make the propulsion/control aspect a lot easier.

[TnRiver46]

yeah buddy! The ones in this picture are one time use in the rapids . If you’re doing multiple floats for years to come, what you need are tractor tire inner tubes. The valve stem will bug you a little bit but they won’t bust nearly as easily. Throw some

hooks sinkers and a few pop R s into a bag of zoom worms and zip it in your shorts pocket 

 

i must stress that this is some of the most fun fishing you will ever do. This is how we fish the rivers with rapids where you would normally be dragging a kayak or canoe. Sure the fishing is great, but the added element of tubing down rapids makes it so much fun 

[FishinBuck07]

I have a float tube that I use for strip pit ponds here in Ohio, have never used it on a creek or river.  The creeks I fish around here are very shallow and easy to wade, plus they are too fast in places for me to kick my fins fast enough to have any control.  I wouldn't see why they wouldn't work on a lazy river that doesn't have a ton of fast current though.

[Rhardy]

Thanks for all the input. We will be tubing this Saturday, but just for fun. Maybe that will give me a chance to get a feel for how it would be IF I had my fishing gear. 

[OldManLure]

My buddy has two of these, and I’ve used one on the  river a couple of times.  An absolute blast.  And they are reasonably priced.   If I hadn’t already spent all my money on several kayaks, I would buy one.  

 https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-lost-lake-round-float-tube-1404250920-1

[Alex from GA]

I used to wear a fly vest in my kayak to fish shallow rivers and that held more than enough tackle.  I wear a PFD with pockets now and I'm a minimalist so don't carry much anyway.  Roland Martin had a show a few years ago with him in a float tube and catching big bass.