Float Tubes (catching on slowly)

[SweenDog67]

When I was a young boy fishing for chain pickrel in the swamps running parallel to interstate 81 in northeast Pa. I used to daydream about how my mom might be able to sew some of my old cut up denim jeans around a big inner tube. I could cover more ground, I could get into deeper water, I could get into the HARD spots. The advantages were endless. Yep, that was back in the late 70's. Imagine that, I coulda been a millionaire. Luckily someone did talk there mother into sewing somthing around a tube and today we have many varieties of float tubes to choose from that can just about fit anyones budget. In my early twenties I bought my first boat. A 14ft aluminium with a 7hp motor. Something to hold me over until I could get a real bass boat. In the meantime I saw my old Idea come to life in the pages of a popular outdoors sales catalog. Boy I was ticked. But I needed to know how it would work. So for under a $100 bucks I bought my first Float Tube or "Belly Boat", as me and my fishing buddy like to call them. That was nearly 20 years ago. I still own that same tube and the same bladder, which is an actual inner tube, is still in use today. Most bladders today are vinyl like pool floats. They weigh less but I like the durability of the rubber. Anyway, I never did buy that bass boat and my 14ft aluminium boat is very lonely. Here in northeastern Pa. we have many small lakes and resivoirs. They are loaded with both large and small mouth bass as well as crappi, cats, pickrel, and even some muskies. Fishing in the float tubes is not only fun and relaxing but from my first trip my catch ratio greatly improved. Sitting half in, half out of the water using swim fins for propulsion you move quietly through the water. No motor, no loud noises from banging around in the boat. You become one with the lake. Sneaking up on the fish has never been easier. There is plenty of room for tackle and rod holders for a second pole. I even drag around a bait bucket from time to time for some live bait. Believe it or not some models even offer attachments so you can hook up a trolling motor. I can go on for ever here and tell stories about how the float tubes helped in securing many of my personal bests but here is where I'll leave the topic open for questions and discussion. Once the ice starts melting I fish upwards and sometimes over 5 days a week. With my love for float tubes and the numbers of fish it has helped me produce I am amazed that I don't see every lake peppered with them. I understand the everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone can fish how they please. But I say for the price, for the fun, for the fish, for the relaxation, for the exercise, and for many other reasons you should give it a try. I promise, there will be few disappointments .

[HoggBoss]

At any rate, for what it's worth, while I don't have a ton of time on-water with mine, but the time I have spent in it was extremely rewarding and fun. Back in the mid 90's a buddy and I each bought one along with headset style walkie talkies. Lol.. we'd take off to different parts of the lake and bust the other's chops whenever we caught one. It was a blast, and I plan on getting my newly acquired belly boat (what we always called it by the way plenty wet this season.

Tight Lines!

[moloch16]

I've always been intrigued.  Do you consider them to be at all dangerous?  Also, all the lakes and ponds around here have a mud bottom which makes the idea of walking around and such....gross.

[HoggBoss]

Well I will admit that the first couple of times out, it was a little unnerving, but so long as you make sure your tube doesn't have a leak, you'll be fine. It's actually very comfortable too. Make sure you're very well rested, or you might doze off then wake up a half mile from where you launched, getting blown into the reeds or something. Also, you have to walk backwards into the water, otherwise, you're liable to trip over your flippers. The first time I tried it, I instantly understood why ducks walk the way they do.(not that I'd ever given it any thought) Anyway, The ponds here are muddy too, but I always wore waders. When ya get out, just take off the flippers and waders, get the bulk of the mud off there, throw them in the bed of the truck, and hose them off when I get home.

[TheMightyQuinn]

I have a float tube and I must say it is a blast to fish from. My only concern about them is putting a hook into the tube, causing a hole. However, here is PA it is required that you wear a PFD, so at the very least I will float. I too wear waders while in my float tube. I will never go in the water without my waders. The float tube is light and I can put in into water in which you cannot get a boat in, such as quarries and ponds. This allows me to get to the spots nobody else can fish.

[OkobojiEagle]

Dangerous isn't really a word I'd use for float tubing, but that said, you do need to use some common sense.  Float tubing is best planned on a small body of water with very little boat traffic.  You are not going to travel far in a tube so don't even consider a "run & gun" approach and in spite of what some would have you believe, a very spartan tackle selection is necessary.  AND ALWAYS WEAR A TRUSTED PFD!

[OkobojiEagle]

Ok, so what's your float?  Mine's an ODC 420... I've been through the inner-tube phase and now prefer a berka-lounger!

[J Francho]

My boat:

Just kidding, I fish from a kayak.  You might contact Paul Roberts here...very knowledgeable...he's a float man, and even has a graph rigged on his.

[bigfruits]

i think they would be great for fishing remote lakes and ponds that dont have road access.

[Paul Roberts]

John, that is one hilarious, and dangerous, rig. My guess is that guy made modifications pretty quick or didn't live to get the chance. That wasn't Lake Ontario was it ;D. Love the intent though -pretty cool.

Float tubes are great portable intimate fishing platforms. They are very maneuverable, but that takes some time to get used to.

Cons:

-They are not fast -so it helps to have an efficient fishing plan.

-You are limited in what you can carry, so you have to have an efficient fishing plan.

-You sit low to the water so you cannot see into the water very far ahead, and cannot use some vertical presentations (at least at any distance). Pitching is out, although flippin can be done to some degree -esp with spinning tackle.

They are safe, with common sense:

-Wear a PFD. I wear one year round. I'm a decent swimmer but I also have a lot of gear to haul back to shore with me.

Most tubes have multiple bladders so if you puncture one you'll get to shore. I fish right to ice-up but am aware that I can probably only swim so far if I go in at those temps. Think ahead. Tether everything!

-Avoid current (stillwater only), and waves.  Think ahead.

-Be very careful on muddy bottoms. People have drown by getting their feet stuck, then falling over. It's not something you might think about, until you are in trouble. Search for hard bottom before you step in. Don't even try to walk in your fins -take 'em off.

I'm using a FishCat. The "V-tube" design offers more space for modifications. It also has carry straps for hoofin'.

[lee c]

WOW!!!...very well laid out!! Smart design...I really like how you installed your fish-finder. Hey..I fish out of a tube for trout,in cold water,however,I have a crazy fear of snapping turtles...kinda silly..but,it's there. You ever have an encounter of the "snapping" kind?...just wondering...

[Paul Roberts]

WOW!!!...very well laid out!! Smart design...I really like how you installed your fish-finder. Hey..I fish out of a tube for trout,in cold water,however,I have a crazy fear of snapping turtles...kinda silly..but,it's there. You ever have an encounter of the "snapping" kind?...just wondering...

Velcro is your friend.

Snappers? Don't even worry about it. There are snappers in every pond I fish. I like them actually -but they are pretty shy.

But, my guess is that sort of fear has less to do with "turtles" and as much to do with dark water weedy you can't see into. :-/ If you can muster the courage -there's nothing down there that can hurt you -unless maybe you live on Florida.

Oh yeah...except, the muddy bottom thing mentioned above.

[b.Lee]

I have been tubing every since i was 14.  So for about 13 years, never ran into any problems. I used to go a lot at night. only erie thing is when your flipper gets caught on a weed and you sort of panic a little.