A float tube, also known as a belly boat or kick boat, is a small, lightweight inflatable fishing craft which anglers use to fish from. They were originally doughnut-shaped boats with an underwater seat in the "hole." Modern designs include a V-shape with pontoons on either side and the seat raised above the water allowing the legs of the angler to be the only part of the body to be submerged. Float tubes are used for many aspects of fishing, such as flyfishing for trout or lure fishing for largemouth bass, and enable the angler to fish areas otherwise not fishable from the bank.
Float tubes are either U-, V-shaped, or circular.[1] A standard float tube consists of an inflated bladder inside a sewn cover providing the seat, reserve air compartments, and tackle storage pockets. Many float tube anglers customize their crafts with rod holders, lights, and electronic fish finders.
The angler generally wears stocking foot chest waders and scuba diving flippers, so the legs remain dry. Seated in the float tube, the angler paddles across the water with a gentle movement of the flippers then remains still over the chosen fishing ground. An alternative to diving flippers is the "paddle-pusher" or "duck fins." These fins strap onto the angler's feet and have paddles situated on the outsides of the ankles. The paddles fold back when the leg moves forward and open when the leg moves back, allowing anglers to move forward in a somewhat less efficient but more natural walking-type motion.
The competitive side of float tubing for bass is growing with the American Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club and The Bass Challenge in South Africa,[2] which offers a tournament trail called the Kickboat Bass Challenge.
Safetyedit
Anglers fishing from a float tube may wear a personal flotation device (a requirement in some locations), as float tubes are susceptible to punctures. Additionally, most manufacturers do not recommend using float tubes in moving waters, such as rivers or streams.
^"Fishing Float Tube FAQs". Pontoon Authority. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
^. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
Referencesedit
Mitchell, Rickey Noel (2007). The Orvis Guide to Personal Fishing Craft: Fishing Effectively from Canoes, Kayaks, and Inflatables, The Lyons Press. ISBN1-59228-813-8
Pothier, Patricia C (1995). Float tube magic: a fly fishing escape, Frank Amato Publications. ISBN1-878175-91-2
Shukla AN (2009). Fishing Techniques, Discovery Publishing House. ISBN81-8356-380-5
April 11, 2024
float, tube, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2019, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Float tube news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message A float tube also known as a belly boat or kick boat is a small lightweight inflatable fishing craft which anglers use to fish from They were originally doughnut shaped boats with an underwater seat in the hole Modern designs include a V shape with pontoons on either side and the seat raised above the water allowing the legs of the angler to be the only part of the body to be submerged Float tubes are used for many aspects of fishing such as flyfishing for trout or lure fishing for largemouth bass and enable the angler to fish areas otherwise not fishable from the bank An angler in a float tube catching a black bassFloat tubes are either U V shaped or circular 1 A standard float tube consists of an inflated bladder inside a sewn cover providing the seat reserve air compartments and tackle storage pockets Many float tube anglers customize their crafts with rod holders lights and electronic fish finders Contents 1 Details 2 Safety 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesDetails edit nbsp Playing a pikeThe angler generally wears stocking foot chest waders and scuba diving flippers so the legs remain dry Seated in the float tube the angler paddles across the water with a gentle movement of the flippers then remains still over the chosen fishing ground An alternative to diving flippers is the paddle pusher or duck fins These fins strap onto the angler s feet and have paddles situated on the outsides of the ankles The paddles fold back when the leg moves forward and open when the leg moves back allowing anglers to move forward in a somewhat less efficient but more natural walking type motion The competitive side of float tubing for bass is growing with the American Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club and The Bass Challenge in South Africa 2 which offers a tournament trail called the Kickboat Bass Challenge Safety editAnglers fishing from a float tube may wear a personal flotation device a requirement in some locations as float tubes are susceptible to punctures Additionally most manufacturers do not recommend using float tubes in moving waters such as rivers or streams See also editBass fishing Bibliography of fly fishing Coarse fishingNotes edit Fishing Float Tube FAQs Pontoon Authority 16 May 2020 Retrieved 15 September 2020 The Bass Challenge Archived from the original on 2019 03 22 Retrieved 2019 03 22 References editMitchell Rickey Noel 2007 The Orvis Guide to Personal Fishing Craft Fishing Effectively from Canoes Kayaks and Inflatables The Lyons Press ISBN 1 59228 813 8 Meyer Deke 1989 Float Tube Fly Fishing Frank Amato Publications ISBN 0 936608 71 4 Pothier Patricia C 1995 Float tube magic a fly fishing escape Frank Amato Publications ISBN 1 878175 91 2 Shukla AN 2009 Fishing Techniques Discovery Publishing House ISBN 81 8356 380 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Float tube amp oldid 1194043886, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
