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The Float Tube.
Convenient
and Economical.
A
float tube is the choice of many fly fisherman for fishing a lake or
pond. Basically they are an inflatable raft with a seat in
the
middle for one person. Your feet hang in the water and with
the
help of fins you can propel yourself around the water.
This
article describes some more of the advantages and disadvantages along
with different styles of tubes.
Advantages
and DisadvantagesOne
of the biggest advantages is price. You can get a
quality tube for just over $100 and a top-of-the-line tube for
around $200.
Float tubes are also the easiest to
transport of
the different watercraft. There is no need for a
trailer.
You can either inflate your tube before you leave the house and toss it
in the bed of your truck or back seat of the car (if it will
fit). Or you can keep it deflated until you reach your
destination and inflate it with a portable compressor that plugs into
the cigarette lighter of your vehicle.
Along with
access to
waters you can’t reach by wading you can also access waters that don’t
have a place to launch a larger boat. To launch a tube you
simply
set it on the water and sit in it.
Although it gives
you access
to water that you normally wouldn’t be able to fish from the banks you
won’t be able to quickly access as much as you could from a motor or
oar propelled boat. The upside to this is you can fish the
water
more thoroughly and are less likely to spook fish. The tube
is
quiet and because you sit so low in the water the fish are less likely
to spook.
As I said before your feet are what
propels you.
This is a huge advantage when you fish alone. You can both
maintain your position and cast without the help of a buddy.
Float
tubes should only be used on ponds or lakes where there is no
current. Because your legs hang down it is unsafe to use on a
river. Your legs could become tangled in brush under the
water
and the current of the river makes tubes hard to maneuver.
TypesFloat
tubes come in two different designs; round or U-shaped.
Most
use a lightweight bladder to hold the air need to make it
float.
There are some bladders made from an actual rubber inner tube that can
be found only on the round float tube. The inner tube type
will
hold air better than one with a lightweight bladder on a cool
lake. Inner tubes are, however, heavier and take longer to
inflate.
Most who use a tube for the first time find
they prefer
the U-shaped tube better because they are less awkward to get
into. Set the tube on the water and plop down in the seat and
you’re off.
Another difference between
the two types is
how your legs hang. On a round tube your legs hang straight
down
unlike on a U shaped tube where your legs are straight out from
you. With your legs straight out, it makes it easier to
maneuver
through shallow water.
Update to the types of float
tube.During
my recent research I have come across a new type of float tube that has
recently become available, the pontoon float tube.
This
type of
float tube uses pontoon style floats. The advantage of these
tubes is that there is less drag on the water than the other
types. This allows you to manuveur easier and quicker.
Another
advantage of these pontoons is the fact that you sit higher on the
water making it easier to cast, especially for beginning fly anglers.
Sitting higher means your backcast is less likely to hit the
water behind you.
The biggest disadvantage of the
pontoon style
is the extra weight. Pontoon tubes require more materials to
construct them so they tend to be heavier. This makes it
harder
if you plan to pack with your tube.
Another
consideration is the
price. With the added construction and materials comes a
larger
price tag. Expect to pay around $250 for this type of tube.
Hopefully
after reading this article you
can see some of the economical and convenient advantages of fly fishing
from a float tube.
For information on other
watercraft besides the float tube return to the fly fishing boats page.
For other information on fly fishing for
bass and panfish return to the home page.
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