Float Tubes, Belly Boats And What Have Ya!

[ness]

I love to tube, but just don't seem to get around to it as much as I'd like. It's an extremely comfortable way to fish. To me, the key in a tube is to restrict the use to smaller areas, and not try to cover too much ground too quickly. There's a nice 5-6 acre pond I fish, and I can do the circumference in an hour or so with a leisurely kick. It's a 1/2 mile walk in, and the tube is on my back.

I've never done a pontoon, so I can't speak from first-hand experience. But, it seems to me the pros are higher platform, more stable, able to cover more water, more storage. Cons are wider profile due to oars, more involved to transport and assemble, higher and wider profile means high winds push you around more, and cost.

There are definitely times I wish I had one, but I've got a canoe that fills the bill on larger water, or when I want to cover ground.

Plus, I only get so many toys.

[crappie crippler]

My favorite is the Fish Cat. Not so much a belly boat as it is a "V" shape. The seat is much higher than in a round tube and seems easier to manuever. Whatever your preference you can't wrong. Lots of fun and very relaxing in the summer time. Can get right on top of the crappie hideouts. Would like to try the pontoon type someday. Have to ask the wife to raise my allowance!

[Zack Hoyt]

CC, swing on down this way and you can swipe my pontoon and I will put you on some crappie. We have a few spots on Beaver that hold some slabs. Also, here is a pic just cause I like the way it turned out.

[kevin]

CC have you ever fished any of the strip pits north of joplin? Ive seen some on maps. coal pits i guess. i fished in some up near rich hill. We did real well in those, lots of fish. I would like to try some of these in my caddis u-tube. I had it out last year at tablerock in the high water that was fun. but i have a 14 tracker aluminum for the big water. Im looking for some bluegill on fly rod water this might be a good choice. i'm just south of springfield but (have tube will travel). kevin.

[crappie crippler]

Kevin: There are several good strip pits within 50 miles of Joplin. Mindenmines is good. Over on the Kansas side near Big Brutus are some nice pits too. Take a long time to fish them all. Bushwhacker Lake is MDC lake north of Joplin near Bronaugh. Excellent for flyrod bluegills. Also an occasional hybrid. Some near 1 1/2 lbs. We should get together and try it out sometime.

[ty1on88]

Watch for new regs on Conservation Areas, a weekly email update on the Conservation Monthly meeting stated that Float Tubes would be banned from some Conservation Areas. It did not go into any detail as to what areas/bodies of water.

I don't have a tube, just an inflatable pontoon from the Creek Company. It is comfortable to fish from, a bitch to row in wind or current. I prefer my kayaks.

MARCH CONSERVATION ACTION MEETING

JD,

I am not up on the current issues facing float tubes on conservation waters, why would they be prohibited? The MDC article just listed it as a topic.

[Gavin]

Kinda hard to fit a decent sized cooler in a tube or toon....no thanks...I'd rather ride high and dry and travel quickly in a canoe, kayak, or jon boat. Cheers.

[crappie crippler]

I see a couple things wrong with that Gavin. First off I can carry a cooler behind the seat of my float tube. May not hold a 30 pack, but serves its purpose. And B, If you are travelling too quickly... look at the fishing you missed. Good Luck out there Speedracer!

[jdmidwest]

JD,

I am not up on the current issues facing float tubes on conservation waters, why would they be prohibited? The MDC article just listed it as a topic.

I really don't know, just read about it in the weekly email. Could be some complaints from bank fishers competing with the float tubers. I have used kayaks and pontoon in local MDC Ponds with great success. Maybe they are too effective and MDC wants to control the use.

I am pretty sure it was passed as a regulation looking at the wording.

The Commission approved recommendations from the Regulations Committee to:

Prohibit the use of float tubes at selected Department-owned lakes.

[crappie crippler]

I will have to wait and see it before I believe it. Don't think it could be justified. How is a float tube bothering bank fishermen anymore than a canoe or jon boat? The whole idea is to be respectful of other fishermen. Myself, I do not go within 100 yards of bank fishermen. Make them mad and all it takes is one accurate cast with a sharp hook and you are toast! If you are wearing a life vest, not much should be said by MDC or anyone else. I guess I will pay the fine.

As for the bank fishermen... I fish that way sometimes and have never had a problem. Lots of $40,000 Bass Boats and ski boats seem to think they own the lake though. Let's ban those too while we are at it. All in favor...............