All you need to know about float tubing, kind of

By Bill Prater
Reprinted from Fish Explorer
Let me begin by admitting this is not really an “all you need to know” introduction to the gentle craft of fishing from an inflatable. Because frankly, the rest of the angling community including me prefers watching first-time tubers learn by doing. So rather than offer newbies useful, practical advice, we view someone else's maiden voyage as an opportunity to reminisce about our own first awkward experiences with things like backing into the water in fins, learning about the effect of Colorado winds on floating objects, and realizing that cold water can bring on a sudden, irresistible urge to pee.

So resign yourself to learn by doing, and be willing to let others watch. Trust me, embarrassment aside, you will want to share that initial tubing experience with buddies. They may giggle, but they SHOULD also be there to help, eventually. Besides, if you want a how-to tutorial, just Google “float tube fishing,” scroll and scroll past all the advertising, and eventually you’ll find all the practical advice needed.

I will, however, offer one bit of my own wise counsel: 

Don’t be like me 25 years ago. Go out there with someone who’s done this before. Bashful by nature, I first ventured out alone on a pond near Longmont, avoiding humiliation only because there were no witnesses. I got needlessly wet, muddy and discouraged, and learned the hard way that it is really dicey to walk backward wearing fins. I also discovered the need to invest in those little cords that keep your swim fins from slowly drifting down and away. And I learned there are drastically better choices of watercraft than my now-obsolete ROUND belly boat. I don’t care how cheap you can find one on Craig’s List, don't try one. (In the 21st Century, you’ll find many good vendors have been making many good quality, non-donut watercraft you can actually get into and out of. Just pick a cute one from a manufacturer you’ve heard of, and you’ll do just fine)
 
That’s enough advice. Let’s concentrate on why that scary looking float tube can lure us onto wind-blown lakes and ponds despite spousal objections and our own instinct for survival. Truth is, float tubing is more fun than a honeymoon, and propels you into bizarre situations involving fish that you simply can’t encounter any other way.
Consider the average flatland gravel pond. Most have perilously steep, clay banks that plunge down to shallow, barely sloping lake bottoms. Most of the shore is lined with cattails, brush and worse. Those sometimes perfect fish hiding are largely inaccessible to shore anglers. In your tube, just position yourself within casting range (upwind if you really plan ahead), and either use your fins to hold yourself in place or invest in a 2- or 3-pound anchor. They hold amazingly well in even a stout spring gale.

Another benefit: many fishable ponds are closed to all but float tubes – even inflatables that rely on oars for propulsion. And on larger bodies of water, it’s increasingly tough to even launch a trailered boat. With the need for aquatic nuisance inspections, lake after lake has been closed to all trailered boats, while others have seen fishing hours cut or closed early early to fit inspection schedules. (Think Standley Lake). Float tubes pose little risk of carrying zebra mussels, so you can typically launch on the same water any hour of day or time of year, weather permitting. (And unless you power your float tube with a trolling motor, you also don’t have to pay the new Colorado annual aquatic nuisance inspection fee.)

One real limitation of the float tube is, you’re sitting very low to the water, so it can be hard to locate weedlines or be sure of drop-offs. But your slow, foot-powered propulsion can be an actual advantage, as you’re forced to slow down and work the water the way Izaak Walton intended.

Yes, Colorado winds can be a problem, which is like saying yes, it can be hard to enjoy a new baby with colic. But you learn to get out on the water early and get off when things get gusty. Apply reasonable caution, wear a life jacket and don’t fret. You may bounce up and down in your tube, but you’re not likely to bounce up and out.

Finally, everything else aside, the one great advantage of fishing from a tube is the sheer joy that comes with an eye-to-eye confrontation with your victims. Hook a decent fish and you’re going to get splashed, and you’re going to get towed, maybe even spun around. If you're in that antique round tube, you also learn to tuck in your legs to prevent your catch from swimming around and around your tube and wrapping you up like a Christmas present. (A lot of fun, in retrospect.) Being at eye level in the water in a little inflatable does mean you lose the kind of leverage that lets you cross a fish’s eyes with your hookset. But the same fish can’t break you off nearly as easily, and you can get by with drastically lighter gear. If you find bluegill spawning beds this spring, for instance, try going after them with flimsy little ice fishing gear. And don’t forget to thank me for the suggestion.