Fishers Can Choose Between Tubes, Pontoons

When fly fishers see two or three dozen float tubes and pontoon boats on one of the region’s lakes, they sometimes joke that the watercraft outnumber the bugs that are hatching.

The presence of so many of the devices nearly everywhere is proof that they’ve become popular with a high percentage of fishers. Tubes, popular with fly fishers since the early 1950s, still outnumber pontoon boats, but indications are that the pontoon boats will outnumber tubes either this year or next.

Growing numbers of anglers realize that the pontoon boats are more suited to their kind of fishing than tubes. Furthermore, the price spread between the two types of floatation devices has narrowed the last couple of years, making the choice easier. Some state-of-the-are tubes actually are more expensive than a few lightweight pontoon boats.

Each of the two types of devices has its advantages and drawbacks.

Float tubes started becoming popular in the Inland Northwest in the 1950s, soon after the Fishmaster Mfg. Co. introduced its canvas-covered tubes with a quick release buckle on the seat. The first pontoon boats started appearing in the region about 10 years ago, when a Hamilton, Mont., firm began marketing the Water Otter.

Both the tube and pontoon boats, like autos, gradually evolved into today’s excellent personal watercraft. Now anglers have a wide variety of tubes and pontoon boats to choose from.

Although some spin and bait fishers own float tubes and pontoon boats, nine out of 10 Inland Northwest anglers who use the devices are fly fishers. Nearly all bait and spin fishers prefer to fish from boats.

My first tube, which I bought in the early 1950s, was a Fishmaster. It served its purpose, but it was heavy and had only two small zippered pockets for gear. A thick, heavy truck inner tube provided the floatation. Eventually, I changed to an oversized, closed float tube that has most of what I need.

Although closed tubes are still available, most anglers who prefer tubes over pontoon boats have been switching to open-ended tubes. The principal advantage of an open-ended tube over a round, closed tube is easier entry and exit.

It’s awkward, while wearing fins, to step into a closed tube that’s in the water. And it’s just as awkward getting out of a tube. An open-ended tube makes getting in and out of the water easy. However, open-ended tubes are difficult to backpack for more than a few yards.

Quality float tubes are priced from about $75 to nearly $300, with the average about $125.

Float tubes have a few advantages over pontoon boats. An angler sits close to the water with his or her legs and lower torso in the water, making a tube more stable than a pontoon boat in the wind. A tube is ideal for trolling a fly and fishing a chironomid pupa or larva. Unlike pontoon boats, tubes don’t have to be broken down or partially deflated to fit into a station wagon or a pickup.

Tubes have several disadvantages. It’s necessary for an angler to sit long periods in cold water during the late fall, winter and spring months. Because an angler must move from one spot to another using only swim fins, getting to productive spots can take a long time. Finally, tubes shouldn’t be used on a fast-moving stream.

I bought a Water Otter pontoon boat in 1992 and still have it. Although I’ve been tempted to sell it and buy one of the more modern pontoon boats, it still is a reliable, useful watercraft. I’ve used it on hundreds of lakes and several trout streams.

The Otter had the pontoon boat field to itself for a couple of years. Then other companies began designing and producing pontoon boats. The competition between the companies has forced price reductions. Now it’s possible for an angler to buy a stripped-down pontoon boat for about $200, although most sell for $400 to $700.

Pontoon boats are available in several sizes. Most anglers prefer boats that have 8- or 9-foot inflatable pontoons, strong aluminum frames, comfortable seats, aluminum oars and cargo pockets.

Some pontoon boats are so big that they can’t be transported easily in a pickup or van.

A pontoon boat has several advantages over float tubes. Anglers can row pontoon boats nearly as fast as they can cartop boats, making it possible to move quickly from one spot to another. A pontoon boat can be used to float such streams as the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe in Idaho and the Clark Fork and Missouri in Montana. Anglers have only their feet in the water, so they are more comfortable when the water is cold.

The principal disadvantage is the difficulty of trolling lures and flies. Unless fly fishers have strong legs and wear big fins, they can’t propel a pontoon boat fast enough, especially in a wind, to fish effectively. They can’t hold rods and row at the same time.

It’s now apparent that float tubes and pontoon boats have become as popular with fly fishers as bass boats are with bass fishers.

This sidebar appeared with the story: OUTDOORS Commission meeting reset The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has rescheduled its January meeting because of the postponement of the legislative session. The Commission will meet in Boise on Thursday and Friday.