Floating Through the Recession
Part One
By Mike Radice
Western Staff Writer
June 17, 2009
With hot summer months ahead floating, not motoring, into some of the best bass and panfish action is unbeatable.
Float tubes and pontoon boats offer a simple, low-cost, versatile approach to the world’s best past time, without cleaning out your wallet. At many lakes and streams too, these small inflatable boats mean you won’t have to pay any entrance fees. Launch from the side of the road and you’re fishing where the big dawgs fish in their power boats. It’s easy to work the shallows for lunker bass and panfish. In this first of a two part series we will look at some factors in choosing the right boat for you. Part two will look at making the right choice and the equipment needed for a great day on the water.
Many styles and sizes await the perspective buyer. “If you own a pontoon boat you can fish all of the lakes around,” says Lance Egan, Fly Fishing and Marine Lead at Cabela’s in Lehi, Utah. “If you get one eight feet long, or longer, you can float most of the rivers so it is a very versatile craft. You can use it all over the world for that matter.” It is the craft designed to take an angler anywhere they want to fish. But better than that, these small kick boats can take an angler places much more difficult for big boats to get too, and it can be done much cheaper too. A pontoon boat or float tube puts the angler at water level where stealth and maneuverability make for a powerful combination against the wiliest bass, panfish or trout.
Your interest piqued? There is no better way to thoroughly enjoy a day on the pond or your favorite river then waist deep in the game. Everything is literally at your fingertips, or at your elbows, or under your chin. It is all right there where you need it, when you need it. But, as with any hobby, there are good and better quality products to consider.
Look for quality materials and craftsmanship. Look at the size of the vessel based on your interests. Are you going to fish only lakes or do you think you might want to try your luck running a medium sized river? Egan advises to first consider how often you plan to use your boat. “Someone who is going to use their float tube a lot won’t get much life out of an inexpensive model. Spending a couple of hundred dollars on a boat that only lasts one year versus spending 400-dollars for one that lasts several years is definitely the better value.”
If you want to use your new boat on both lakes and streams, “I try to steer them toward a pontoon boat,” Egan says. “If they want to keep it very packable and light weight and they only have a small car to transport it in then it might be best for a float tube.”
Pontoon Advantages
I own both a Buck’s Bag float tube and an Outcast Pac 9000 pontoon boat. Both work perfectly and I have had some of my most memorable fishing days in them. You can not beat a pontoon boat however, for overall versatility and broad use. Sitting in an aluminum frame atop two nine-foot long pontoons gives me a greater sense of control, safety, and freedom to move around anywhere on the lake. Pontoons come with oars which will help you move around the lake or down a river over what you will accomplish for the same time in a float tube. If I intend to take a vacation on Lake Powell using a house boat as basecamp, I can spend all day in one cove with my float tube and cover every rock and brush pile to catch enough fish for dinner. But if I want to cover more lake canyon closer to home, the oars afford me that luxury.
Pontoon boats come in three basic frame styles. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For simplicity of this article, there are frameless boats which are considered the top of the line, light weight aluminum frames with a powder coating or painted finish and steel frames. Some have standing platforms but that can be a challenge with fins on. Tubing is usually one to one and one-half inch in diameter for greater strength. The steel tube frames are heavier, less expensive and tend to corrode over time due to exposure to water.
Float Tube Quality
What to look for in good quality float tubes: “The best ones have a urethane bladder,” Egan says. “The inexpensive ones have a PVC bladder. Most float tubes above 400-dollars are likely to have the urethane bladder to last longer and be more flexible.” Some of the high quality urethane bladders have a 10-year warranty on them. But of course it does depend on how much use your boat gets. Age, use and exposure to ultra violet radiation impact longevity.
Shape Options
Float tube shapes come in one of two styles either circular or oval with one end open. Open-ended float tubes are easier to get in and out of, traditionally move over the water more smoothly, and provide greater storage capacity for essential tackle. They are typically larger as well. Round boats, also called “belly boats” are simple designs based on the concept of an inner tube. An angler sits in the middle of tube that is surrounded by heavy denier fabric. Most come with an inflatable back support.
U-shaped float tubes are longer, some as long as a small raft. Variations on the theme provide anglers with a number of options to outfit their boat for either lake or stream use. Some boat designs incorporate a standing platform and lean bar to cast flies while working shallow pools and riffles along major rivers. Certain models even have a sturdy framework designed for a small outboard motor. These frames are strapped to the boat tube so some assemble is required for each trip.
It would be wise to do some research before you buy. Outdoor product Internet websites are filled with many manufacturers offering a wide variety of boat styles and construction. Get a good picture in your mind of what you want to do and what you think you must have on the water to catch your next trophy.
Next time we will look at weight capacity and what accessories make up the perfect craft. With summer close now and panfish and bass very active, a new pontoon boat or float tube may mean you miss none of the action.