Want to hit those honey holes out in the middle of the lake, but don't have the buck's to spend on a bass rig? Not enough room at your place to keep it? Can't even launch a jon boat into your favorite fishing hole? Well, the solution to your problem might be a float tube. You can get everything you need for less than $150.00, but always remember, you get what you pay for.
I joined the Navy in '82 and I have three years until retirement. I've fished all over the world. Most Captains won't let you keep a bass boat onboard his ship, but a float tube is easy to slip into a sea bag. At the time I didn't know any other float tubers and most of what I learned is by trial and error. Lots of errors. I bought a 19ft Champion with a 175hp Mercury a few years back, and I thought that would be it for my tube. Nope, I use it as much as ever. I like to fish water that doesn't get a lot of pressure. Those are places that boats aren't allowed, or there aren't any ramps. After a long day at work, I find it easier to float tube then to mess with the hassles of my boat. I use my boat on weekends and for tournaments.
I hope this article will help beginners and the more experienced anglers alike. I've tried to cover all aspects of tubing, as well as passing along useful tips and tricks that make my float tubing trips more enjoyable.
There are three styles of float tubes that I will concentrate on in this article. The standard inner tube, the U-Tube, and the pontoon. Each has advantages, and disadvantages. I will briefly cover the pros and cons of each.
Standard tubes
The standard inner tube is the most common, and as a rule, has the lowest price. They start as low as $80.00. I've seen motorized versions go for as much as $700.00. Way too much money! A good tube in the $150.00 price range will give the owner years of service, with just a little preventive maintenance.
The advantages of these types of float tubes are the low costs, and the ease of replacing ruptured tubes. Most inner tubes can be upgraded with a heavy-duty truck tire for only a few dollars. The other types will require writing the manufacturer and paying higher prices.
Their disadvantages is that they are the most difficult to get into, and it will be difficult to reach your feet once you're in the tube. That might not seem like a big deal until your flippers cut off the circulation to your feet, or something of that nature.
The easiest way of getting into a standard float tube is on land. Face the tube away from where you want to enter. Have your fins on and all your equipment in easy reach. The crouch strap should be unbuckled. Place one foot through the opening, and then the next. It can take quite a bit of balancing, especially if you are standing on uneven terrain. Buckle up the crotch strap, and adjust it if necessary. The crotch strap can be buckled up and adjusted while in the water, but it is so much easier to do it on land because you won't have to fight your own weight.
After you are in and adjusted, walk backwards into the lake. This will keep your fins from catching on any objects, and you will be able to walk somewhat normally, although backward. You'll be doing the goose step if you try and walk forward, and it will be very easy to fall.
U-tubes
U-types have an opening in the front, and tend to be more expensive then the standard, although there can be some overlap in the price range. Their main advantage is that they are easy to enter. This would be the tube to get if you are not too coordinated, or have mobility problems. You have easy access to your feet, and can wait till you are in the water to put on your fins. Their disadvantage is that they are less stable in the water, most use aluminum support bars that can eventually be lost, and they require specially designed bladders.
Pontoons
The pontoon type is by far the most expensive, starting in the neighborhood of $250.00. They offer many advantages over the standard and U-type floats. They have great accessibility and are the most stable of the three on the water. With the addition of oars they are by far the fastest. They can also carry more weight, and they also have more room for storage.
The disadvantage of the pontoon type is that they can be the hardest to maneuver, and they are more expensive. Some are inflatable, while others use Styrofoam inserts or composite materials. Regardless, they will weigh more than the others and take up more space. That would be something to consider if you are planning to hike into remote areas.
Want to hit those honey holes out in the middle of the lake, but don't have the buck's to spend on a bass rig? Not enough room at your place to keep it? Can't even launch a jon boat into your favorite fishing hole? Well, the solution to your problem might be a float tube. You can get everything you need for less than $150.00, but always remember, you get what you pay for.