![]() ![]() Anyone who has tried to stuff waders into a small pack knows how bulky and awkward they are.īy contrast, with the PackFish all you need bring is the boat and your fishing gear. And this “other gear and clothing” needed for float tube fishing weighs a lot and is far from compact. With a weight of 21 pounds, float tube diehards likely will say “too heavy.” However, remember that to use a float tube the angler also needs to bring along fins, waders and other clothing to stay warm. The Sea Eagle PackFish is a very small, lightweight portable raft specifically designed for fishing. Happily, Sea Eagle recently introduced a unique inflatable boat that neatly solves both problems. Should then angler go for ultra-portability with limited versatility, or should the angler forsake some portability for versatility? Even small backpackable pontoon boats still weigh more and are far bulkier to pack than float tubes. Of course, the reason anglers still use float tubes is because of their sheer portability. The Packfish is a bit of a hybrid between a tiny raft and a small pontoon boat. A great example of a true backpackable raft. Float tubes simply lack the versatility that other boats provide. But if you can only have “one boat,” I’d suggest buying a small pontoon boat, inflatable kayak or inflatable raft. This leads to a choice-buy a backpackable pontoon boat or a float tube? If money and storage space aren’t an issue, get both. By contrast, with a backpackable pontoon boat (or very small inflatable raft), waders aren’t needed. The need for waders adds significant weight and bulk to the anglers backpack. Of course, because most backcountry waters are cold, you’ll have to drag waders along to stay warm. Float tubes are highly packable, far more than even packable pontoon boats. Fishing in Remote, Backcountry Watersįishing remote waters is the ideal use for a float tube. Unlike pontoon boats, inflatable kayaks or inflatable rafts, float tubes are dangerous when waves are present.įor fishing smaller lakes or along the shoreline on larger lakes (so you can get the heck off the lake quickly because of fatigue or high winds), then a float tube will work just fine. ![]() Float tubes are also dangerous to use on large lakes during windy conditions (not to mention exhausting to maneuver). The problem is, on large lakes, pontoon boats and inflatable kayaks (which are much easier to paddle) are far superior fishing platforms. Lake Fishingįloat tubes are ideal for fishing in small ponds and isolated lakes in the backcountry. In short, if you’re looking to buy a boat for river fishing-a float tube is the wrong choice.įor river fishing, pontoon boats, inflatable rafts, and inflatable kayaks are all excellent fishing platforms. On rivers that have strong currents or rapids, float tubes can be downright dangerous-especially when wearing waders. This is especially true if the river has a current or, worse, rapids. River fishing and float tubes do not mix. Whether a float tube is the right boat for your fishing needs depends on one factor-where will you be fishing? Once an angler answers that question, deciding whether to buy a float tube is simple. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |