Stillwater craft preference -- floattube or pontoon?

[garyk]

OK, I looked through the IFISH archives and still have the question -- for those of you who have used both craft, which do you prefer for stillwater fishing, a float tube or pontoon?

I'm thinking of ponds and lakes with decent access - Mann, Hosmer, coastal lakes, Merrill, etc -- not long hike-ins.

I've got the old fashioned caddis and Bucks Bag doughnut tubes but can see advantages to 'toons. On the other hand, they don't look as comfortable, and being fully out of the water has got to be brutal in the summer?

What say you? Feel free to tout your favorite models!

Thanks!

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by garyk

which do you prefer for stillwater fishing, a float tube or pontoon?

Overall, I prefer a pontoon. You are not sitting in the water, which will make a difference when the water is very cold. With a small pontoon (under nine feet), you can still kick around with your fins and then use your oars for more mobility. When the weather is warm you can get by wearing shorts, since only your lower legs will get wet.

Float tubes are great on smaller ponds (about two acres or less) and are best if you have to pack in.

[Michelle K]

I prefer a float tube for its portability and manuverability in the water. I am perfectly comfortable taking my tube out on lakes the size of Harriet or Laurence. I only use my pontoon on the larger lakes, like Timothy. The pontoon is not as convenient for me to use because I live in an upstairs appartment and must store it disassembled in a closet and lug it down the stairs and put it together every time I want to use it. If you do decide to get a pontoon, I recommend you get one of those strap-on rod holders from Cabela's, otherwise it's really hard to fish and row at the same time!

[BAp]

I have used both the donut and u-boat style tubes and have had a Southfork pontoon for the last three years. And if I had only one choice, I prefer option four, a pram. Actually, with the exception of the donut tube, that I keep simply because I am a pack rat, the remaining three each have their place an application. The u -boat is great for packing into lakes and as a back-up to the pontoon on multi-day road trips where a leaking pontoon can be a disaster. I prefer the pontoon because it does keep my butt out of the water and is generally more manuverable. But a pram beats all in that you are mobile, can tote more gear and you stand stand to sight cast. You see far more prams in use in Canada than in the states. But I have grown to appreciate their versitility and if I have to pick just 1, it would be an 8' foot pram. That being said, I own all of the above.

[stillwater97]

Gary,

What kind of vehicle do you have?


If you have a truck, get yourself a pram. A pram is a boat 6-8 feet long. I picked mine up last summer for about $100 bucks. I re-finished the oars myself and can mount an electric motor to the transom. Mine is about 7 foot in length and very easy to fish out of. Will fit nicely in the bed of a pickup.

I own pretty much every stillwater type craft available and I've fished out of enough devices to make some judgments about what is and what is not a good stillwater boat. My first choice is my sled. Its 16 foot with a 40 jet. I fish it everywhere except when I'm fishing a lake that doesn't allow motors or my wife and I are in the travel trailer. Then I take the pram. both my boat and the pram allow me to NOT wear waders, have the choice to stand up while fishing, and finally move around the lake faster than I can in a tube or pontoon. & I can take my wife out in it if she wants to go. Its crowded, but nice to have the option.


In addition, while a tube or pontoon can spring a leak, a pram doesn't need air to float. You just put your stuff in it, row out, and go fishing.


If I couldn't choose a pram, I'd go with a pontoon. Go to sportsmans and get their pontoon. Its an Outcast rebranded as Sportsmans. should run you $400.

btw, you could rig a pram really sweet for that price.

shoot me an email or pm and I can go into more specifics if you are interested in it.

[garyk]

Thanks for the input.

I'm no stranger to small craft.

Currently I've got two old Caddis and BucksBag float tubes, a 7' custom wooden pram, a 10' SOT kayak, a 15' Clack drifter, and 18' Hewescraft SeaRunner that I trailer all over (and I just sold the canoe).

When it comes to FF'ing for trout, the simplicity of a float tube is appealing. I get plenty of complicated fishing during salmon and offshore fisheries.

I like the pram for moving water and use it on the Willa-Kenzie area and the Yakima (and broke into Tillamook salmon fishing with it after putting a MinnKota on it). Not sure why I don't use it on lakes...I think I just like the lazy comfort of float tubes. I don't own a recliner chair...but I imagine they're like a float tube?

[uhmw]

Float tube when feasiable-Simply because I love the sensation of being in the water almost swiming with the fish and having them swim around your legs-I once got the brite Idea to fish hoods port chums in my floater it was a blast till I noticed the seals.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by uhmw

I once got the brite Idea to fish hoods port chums in my floater it was a blast till I noticed the seals.

PTS fished for Chum a couple years ago from his float tube. He really had a problem landing a large fish because it just towed him around!

[steelheadjunky]

I have both a tube and toon. I will say I use the toon if I only have to carry form the car down right to the lake but if there is any walking involved I take the tube. I will say i like the in the water feel of the tube but I am definately more comfortable in the toon.

JJ

[veilside180sx]

Toon for larger water that I can drive up to it...or at least close, or small water I can get close to. Bring fins or an anchor because you get blown around a lot more.

Tube for smaller stuff that i have to carry anything very far.

[0915BCM]

Having fished from and owning a tube and a toon and a boat there is no comparison. Unless you cant get a boat in or to the water I will be in the boat 100% of the time.

[JohnOD]

Gary I would just buy a toon since you already own everything else .
John

[jdeona]

Originally Posted by JohnOD

Gary I would just buy a toon since you already own everything else .
John

Like he said!

[B-RUN STEELIE]

Seems like guys in toons get blown around by the wind a lot more than I do in my tube. Also take up a lot of space.

On the other hand, my budys with toons beat me to the hot spot 90 % of the time with their ores.

[garyk]

After duly considering the wisdom of this august group.....

I think I'm going to upgrade my comfort level and get one of those big, comfy, hydrodynamic Outcast Fatcat float tubes. However, I'm pretty intriqued by those Merrill Lake Hex stories, so I'll take the pram down from the rafters and get that ready for the evening fishing....in the dark it will be safer, warmer and it easily fishes a second person.

If I was still doing a lot of Deschutes trips, the pontoon would be a be a better option...but again, this was just for stillwater.

I'll likely be putting an experienced floattube or two up for sale...if anyone needs one (or a cheap, quality spare).

[GraphiteZen]

To chime in late..

Have you considered a small (5 or 6 foot) pontoon? You can still use fins very easily to move around but are provided the option of using oars for longer travel. With a nice seat, they are far more comfortable than a tube and put you higher up for better perspective. Also, you can pack more gear, more than one rod and a little three or four pound anchor is all you need to combat the wind.
I understand that distance to the water from your parking space is a consideration. A small pontoon weighs at most 40 pounds so you can get straps and tote it in just like a large frame pack.
In the winter you get pretty cold in a float tube, but in the summer you can still hang your legs in the water to cool off if you are using a pontoon.
If you have owned everything but a pontoon I would get one. I feel you have have a lot more options with a pontoon.

[garyk]

Thank you GraphiteZen, I appreciate your input.

[40ishnewbie]

KAYAK...Lots of storage space, cover lots of water, multiple positions to sit, so many options to customize yak to your specific style...

Jay

[Noyb72]

I'm getting ready to build a pontoon boat. Wooden pontoons small enough to fit in truck bed. Able to be disassembled for storage and with a solid deck to keep me and passenger completly out of water. This design isn't pretty, but is quick w/ a trolling motor and can be poled in the skinny water. Another advantage is they draft almost nothing. The price is right, depending on how crazy you get with the finish work, and it'll be made my way, exactly what I want.

Ron

[BarroomHero]

It depends...how strong are your legs!