Float tubes, pontoon or belly boats

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mtn

Float tubes, pontoon or belly boats

Lead

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Posts: 467

05/07/2009 09:23

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Hi I live in the midwest and am surrounded by small lakes and farm pond excellent for bass and bluegill fishing. I always have just fished from the bank and waded in ankle deep but realize I'm not able to fish the entire lake like I'd like to. I'm own a car and a mid sized suv with no hitch so I'm unable to trailer or haul a boat with out a truck. I wondered if there was anyone who used potoon or belly boats and if you had a preference in style/type and make/model. I was thinking I'd like something I didn't need waders for in warm weather, that I road above the water in like the pontoon jobs with oars but don't think that would fit in the suv unless disassembled a bit.
Any thoughts?
Best, Mike

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Gnome

#1

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Posts: 2133

05/07/2009 09:43

King of the Gnomes

Pontoon boats Pluses;

You are out of the water and very comfortable and being out of the water that way you have a much lower drag coeffiecient with the water thus are more manueverable. I use mine mostly with fins. Being up out of the water that little bit gives you a better view of the water around you. You are also more visible than in a float tube and thus it is a bit safer in that aspect.

Minuses;

harder to carry, heavier and more susceptible to being pushed around by the wind. if used with a motor or oars in Colorado it must be licensed with Parks and Outdoor rec.

Float tubes pluses;

generaly lighter in weight and thus more portable. You set lower and thus are less susceptible to the wind. low center of gravity makes them very stable.

Minuses;

You are in the water and that leads to more preparation ; Waders etc, You are less visible to other boaters with the low profile. Not as safe in that aspect.
Not as comfortable as the easy chairs that are the modern pontoon/kickboats.

These are just a few things to ponder for each and maybe others will add to this list.

Jeff

P.S. The Force fins made for belly boating are the only fin to use IMHO. Expensive but worth it!!! I have used mine since they where a Patent pending marked product and they are going into their 26th year of service. Not bad at all. Worth every penny spent back in 1983.

Last Edited By: Gnome 05/07/2009 11:31. Edited 1 time.

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wb4tjh

#2

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Posts: 496

05/07/2009 09:47

For ease of hauling and handling, it's hard to beat a good belly boat, especially on a small farm pond, ect. But I can't use them here (south Florida)...too many gators and sharks. It would be too scary having all that "body bait" dangling where the toothy critters could get at it. I'll stick to kayaks and canoes. But in your area, a belly boat should work very well. A pontoon boat would be better for rivers, tho. I would still rather fish out of a canoe, than anything else, regardless of where I was. I like sitting up higher and drier.

Bill Anderson, Sarsota, Fl. "Bamboo is the Benchmark in flyrods".

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MFRS

#3

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Posts: 406

05/07/2009 10:15

If you can drive to the waters you fish, a pontoon boat may be your best choice but if you have to carry any great distance, the belly boat with Gnome's fin suggestion will probably leave you the happiest.

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tight loops

#4

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Posts: 269

05/07/2009 10:54

I'm a devoted stillwater man - been at it for over 30 years and IMHO Outcast/ Aire's Fishcat 4 Deluxe or their Prowler can't be beaten. Hands down the best floatation craft out there.

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North country brookie

#5

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Posts: 77

05/07/2009 11:15

I have a belly boat (an old "U boat" style) that is great for fishing remote brook trout ponds in the Adirondacks here in NY. I like it a lot.

One word of caution - use a floatation device, inflatible suspenders, etc. I was once in the middle of a fair sized pond casting a fly, and a gust of wind (I like to blame it on the wind, was probably my less than refined casting actually) drove the fly into the tube. If it was a small dry I probably would have been OK, but it was a size 4 Wolly Bugger. I started paddling toward shore, but was suprised how quickly the air leaked out. I got to shore just about the same time the tube was completely flat.

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wefishcane

#6

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Posts: 748

05/07/2009 11:27

I picked up the Dave Scadden Outlaw pontoon model this past year and have found the following:
Advantages:
No metal frame, easily placed in the trunk of my car.
Oaring system, when the wind kicks up.
Plenty of storage space.
Good for rivers and lakes.
Disadvantage:
Expensive.

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nohackle

#7

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Posts: 580

05/07/2009 11:54

Mike,

I'm in the exact same circumstances and have gone through belly boats, an old scadden pontoon and settled on this which has served me very well. A bit pricey but well put together, very packable and bombproof

http://www.westfly.com/feature-article/0605/feature_905.php

bc

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tapermaker

#8

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Posts: 757

05/07/2009 13:21

#17

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Posts: 698

01/24/2009 04:39

i bought his unit about 7yrs ago from Denny rickards. .its the best pontoon on the market he tells me . its low to the water, doesnt require oars and has ample gear space with a huge 18"x 18" storage compartment on the back of the seat back. comes with a storage sack that has shoulder straps and uses the boat frame as a brace for hiking into lakes. carries up to 300 lbs weighs less than 13 lbs. below is the segment on Denny`s website pertaining to this boat

With so many options available to the stillwater angler between float tubes, pontoon boats and prams, I haven't found a better quality engineered craft for fishing lakes than the Super Cat. Lightweight, less than 13 pounds, twin floatation, durable, back rest seat, wind resistant, portable for back packing, this boat has it all. With a portable hand pump, it is quick to inflate and with a push of a button, quick to deflate.

There is storage (water proof) packs on both sides along with a larger storage compartment
bag behind the seat for the pump, coats, lunch and miscellaneous gear.

I prefer not to use oars so I can fish more and not row my way around a lake, but oars are an available option .

This boat comes in two lengths depending on the angler's size. For the tall or anglers weighing over 225 pounds, the 60 is best. For all others, the 50 is perfect.

In my opinion, looking at all the pontoon boats on the market, this is the best boat for fishing Stillwater

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Marty

#9

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Posts: 153

05/07/2009 13:37

At the recommendation of a board member I bought an outcast float tube a month or two ago and am very happy stable and easy to use on the quarry lakes around here. Seems to be of very good quality and stable (I have been out 5 times in it so far) Has a wierd mojo though....twice now I have been catching bass and or a nice mixed bag of panfish and having a ball...once on a popper and once on a small bugger my light rod has gone double with what turned out to be a catfish not a complaint but I really was sure I had a monster bass on both times......

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rsagebrush

#10

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Posts: 567

05/07/2009 19:26

Have a Scadden kayak which is very good in whitewater, it is floorless and made by Aire . It is a squirrel and therefore rather a pain on lakes and ponds.

Have a Watermaster which is very good in water and great in ponds and lakes. Has oars and no frame and is floorless so you can use fins.

I have taken the Watermaster over dams boulders all kinds of crazy stuff and never capsized it yet.

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Finn

#11

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Posts: 30

05/08/2009 00:29

Second on the Watermaster. Can take rivers and lakes and weighs nothing.

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oldtrout

#12

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Posts: 88

05/08/2009 01:19

I use a SuperCat and a Watermaster.

The Super Cat is great for stillwater, much better for me than the Wood River float tube I started with.
I haven't used the Watermaster on stillwater, but on river float trips including an 11 day float down the Kisaralik in Alaska, great boat.

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gmflyfish

Watermaster

#13

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Posts: 1170

05/08/2009 08:35

Bigger than a float tube with the ability to use fins or oars - sit in and out of the water - lower than a pontoon so I do not spook as many fish - a little higher than a belly boat and a little more stable in my opinion( I have a U tube). Carries more weight - has back pack straps for getting it to the lake - foot pump - self contained - nothing to lose...

Gregg

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mtn

#14

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Posts: 468

05/08/2009 23:34

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.
Mike

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Brian Shaffer

#15

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Posts: 1160

05/15/2009 05:53

MO/ARK Trout Bum

Did you end up with a ' craft ' yet ? Just wondering as I found this thread a little late.
I've used 7 different manufacturers boats with very mixed results.
I have used my yellow JW Outfitters Renegade 8'6" for years... it is not peaked up like bananas... its flattend out on the tops, but still runs well in class 1. Pontoons are 1200pvc, the oars are breakdown carlise 7ft, the H/R valves are grand.. but they are long since out of business.. and getting 3M to stand behind the pontoons may be an issue.

I have been running that boat ( kinda babying it) for over 6 years in Taneycomo. I'd trust it up to 2 units. 7000cfs flat water. I love this boat and have refused $1000 as it sits equipped in the water. You can find them for $250.. or more..
If you want to drive to pick it up.
Brian

" Just once, I wish a trout would wink at me. "

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doloresboy

Scadden Pontoon

#16

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Posts: 430

07/04/2009 12:07

About a month ago I pulled the trigger on a Dave Scadden Skykomish Sunrise and was eagerly looking forward to its arrival. When I ordered it I was told there would be a delay until they got a new shipment of pontoons in for the SS. 2 days ago I received an e-mail from the company that they had shipped the boat and had upgraded it to an Outlaw X5 because Dave didn't want to hold up the order any longer. The Outlaw sells for twice what the SS does so needless to say, now I'm really excited!

Matt

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stefanduma

#17

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Posts: 148

07/05/2009 17:11

I have a bog standard belly boat but I would like to try some off shore fly fishing i.e. 200 yards off shore. Can anyone suggest anything suitable.

The Antique Tackle Observer

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Wyfish

#18

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Posts: 48

07/06/2009 05:28

Same question I asked earlier after nearly drowning in a float tube. Until you actually use the watercraft, you really don't know whether you have a good fit or a poor one. There are a lot of variables like your physical size and weight, the waters you are fishing, and the weather conditions you are using it in. I splurged and bought a Watermaster primarily on the advice I got here. I am sure there are others that would have served my purpose about as well, but the WM is a managable size, stable, low to avoid wind, and I feel safe.
Of course there is nothing wrong with having several craft to choose from and that brings the benefit of having a "spare" for your friend or brother-in-law.

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Battenkiller

#19

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Posts: 48

07/07/2009 00:41

Shame on you all, fishing with fancy wood rods... out of rubber boats!

You should be fishing from one of these:

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16 pmd

#20

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Posts: 714

07/07/2009 14:19

Another vote for the Watermaster or similar boat. The Water Strider is similar and various versions of the same type of inflatable have been sold as Tote N Float and Abel. They have no frame, so pack small and are light in weight. Can be carried inflated or partially inflated in almost any vehicle, so can be ready to go without having to be cartopped. They come in a pack with straps, so easy to carry when packed and can be checked as luggage on a plane flight. Very stable in still or moving water and can be propelled with oars or fins, so good for manuevering with hands free. Not as fast through the water as a pontoon and you don't sit as high, but, for me, the added stability from floatation all the way around (bow & stern) is well worth it. When you're drifting in a river and see a rising fish or likely spot, you can just slide off the seat and stand up (depth permitting) without getting out of the boat. Made of tough material and patching is easy, though I've never had to patch mine. I love my canoe, and have a pontoon as well, but find a Watermaster to be the handiest for my fishing. I have two, so friends who don't have one can go along with me.

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