Yes, float tubing. Some people think of float tubes as "kiddie toys", especially the guys with $40,000 bass boats. But there are some places where you can't take that bass boat, and Washington has a ton of oversized ponds and smaller lakes where gas motors aren't allowed. So how do you fish those places?

With a float tube!

There are many benefits to using a float tube - cost being the biggest. You can easily find a float tube that will give you several years of quality fishing for less than $150. Most chain sporting goods stores carry models that start in the $60-$80 range, but depending on your size you may need to invest a little more for a more robust model. I'm a big guy, and my Trout Unlimited Togiak is rated for 350 pounds, so it's perfect for me. Float tubes are inflatable, so obviously they don't weigh nearly as much as the smallest jon boat or Livingston - most even have shoulder straps so you can inflate it, throw it on like a backpack, and head out to the water. When fully inflated, a float tube is typically about 4 feet wide by 5 feet long, depending on the model, so you can launch it almost anywhere. And that lets you get into some fishing holes where those bass boats couldn't dream of going. There are several different styles of float tube, but you can research those yourself. Several great articles have been written online about the benefits of each kind.

Depending on the weather, you can go float tubing in shorts and a t-shirt, but when the water is chilly a good pair of neoprene waders is essential. Neoprene keeps you warm and dry, and when the water is 55 degrees warm and dry is essential. In the summer, I love taking my tube out in nothing more than swim trunks and a t-shirt, but always be aware of the water conditions where you are fishing - some lakes and ponds develop green algae that can make you violently ill (think food poisoning after a weekend tequila binge in Mexico), and that's going to drastically cut your fishing time - so be safe, but be comfortable. Neoprene waders will cost you anywhere from $50 to over $100 depending on the kind you want and your size. There are also other alternatives to neoprene, so shop around and find one that works best for you.

You're also going to need swim fins for propulsion in the water. There are several different types of fins you can get, from $20 swimmer fins to $150 fins you can wear with wading boots. In the summer, when I'm in swim trunks, I'll wear a pair if US Diver fins I picked up at GI Joes for $25. In colder water, when I'm wearing neoprene waders, I use a pair of boot fins that I picked up at Cabela's for $35. Both have worked great for me, give me lots of propulsion, and are comfortable. Again - comfort is the key. If your fins don't fit properly, you will notice pretty quickly, whether it's from blisters or lack of movement because they're flapping around on your boots and not pushing you through the water.

As for boots, you can spend a ton of cash for "real wading boots" or you can do what I did - buy a pair of $20 jungle boots at the local Army Navy. Sure, my jungle boots will wear out more quickly than well-designed wading boots, but for only $20 a pop, I'll keep the local Army Navy in business longer this way. If you're wearing neoprene, find boots a size or two larger than you normally wear, just so the neoprene feet will fit properly. You can go with felt soles or rubber, depending on where you fish and what else you may need them for (salmon and steelhead fishing in the rivers require felt with the mossy rocks we have). I opted for jungle boots because it's a long hike to some of the places we like to fish, and jungle boots are actually very comfortable.

That's the basic gear you'll need right there. It's always a good idea to have some sort of anchor, whether it's a 1 pound dumbell tied to a rope (my favorite) or a nylon bag filled with rocks or sand. As long as it holds you still in the wind, it doesn't much matter what you use as long as it is easy to transport with your tube. Carrying a one pound weight doesn't seem like much, but hike a mile through the woods and that one pound weight feels like a 10 pound weight by the time you get to the water. Plus, you'll probably end up holding it in your lap when you're moving around a lake, so keep weight in mind then, too.

You can also trick your tube out with everything from fish finders to rod holders and live wells. There are several online videos (Youtube) and websites where float tubers have documented how they built their own mods, so give them a look sometime. I have a fish finder (Eagle 350C) on my Togiak, and my catch rate has drastically improved now that I can easily check the water temperature, depth, and structure at a glance. I was catching fish before, but now I'm catching more quality fish on each trip. My next mod will be a PVC rod holder. After that, who knows!

Float tubing is a great way of exploring lakes you never were able to seriously fish before. It takes a little getting accustomed to moving in one and staying safe, so it's a good idea to go fishing with someone until you're comfortable in your tube. Even then, a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) is a good idea. They're not required in Washington when fishing from a float tube, but it's a far better option than drowning and being catfish food. Be safe first and foremost, and have fun. Get a float tube and you'll find out just how much fun fishing can be again.


-- Aaron Egnor, April 2009