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jpainter
08-17-2017, 11:23 PM
I am a 15 year old kid and i recently got a float tube and have used it a couple of times. I have never caught anything on it. Im going to big bear this weekend to fish for trout and im going to use my float tube. I need some tips for fishing while on a float tube. Anything helps.

5shot
08-18-2017, 02:18 AM
It's still a little warm up there so the trout are suspended at 12-25 '. Most people either troll with leadcore, or drift fish with nightcrawlers and a slip bobber set at the 12-25' depth.
You have to get out quite a ways to get into deeper water if you go from the south shore, so it's better to launch your float tube from the north shore. Don't forget to get a lake pass for the float tube, $20 a day, or $50 a year. If you get checked by the lake patrol it'll cost you $30 for the day pass.

jpainter
08-18-2017, 08:43 AM
It's still a little warm up there so the trout are suspended at 12-25 '. Most people either troll with leadcore, or drift fish with nightcrawlers and a slip bobber set at the 12-25' depth.
You have to get out quite a ways to get into deeper water if you go from the south shore, so it's better to launch your float tube from the north shore. Don't forget to get a lake pass for the float tube, $20 a day, or $50 a year. If you get checked by the lake patrol it'll cost you $30 for the day pass.

I really appreciate the helpful tips. My dad says that you like meet up with other fisherman to fish. If that is true. I would really like to fish with you.

5shot
08-18-2017, 11:17 AM
I kayak fish mostly around the mouth of Boulder Bay, Papoose Bay, and the island. That's really too far to go out to with a float tube. It's good tubing in the spring because the bass move into the shallow water to spawn, so you can work all the docks in Boulder Bay. But the bay's only 3-6' deep until you get close to the main body of the lake. So summer time is not good for trout.
Go to the north shore past the dam to the parking area where you see a porta potty. Lots of shore fishing there. Take your tube about 50 yards off shore and you'll be in 40-60' of water. You'll see 12
Mooring bouys out in the middle that boats will tie up to. It's 68' deep there. Trout will be cruising around 12-25' deep in that area. You don't have to go out that far, just far enough that the shore fisherman won't be casting around you.

DaFish
08-18-2017, 03:19 PM
Use a lifevest

A lot of dangerous people on the weekend

First timers on the boat

Maybe a orange flag

5shot
08-18-2017, 03:28 PM
Use a lifevest

A lot of dangerous people on the weekend

First timers on the boat

Maybe a orange flag

Very good advice. Out on the yak I always wear a life vest and either red jacket or cap. Some of the boaters and jet skiers don't pay much attention to the 5mph zones most fishermen are in.

seal
08-23-2017, 09:28 AM
I will also chime in about life vests at BBL, having tubed on busy weekends and normally in the 5mph zone, even in that area they come blasting in and don't throttle down till well into the zone. It can be chaotic, best to tube early or late, oh and that's normally of course when the best bite occurs. If fly fishing can't go wrong with a black woolly bugger with a red head.

DarkShadow
08-23-2017, 09:49 AM
I guess I should be the first to add....

A buddy system is probably a good idea, since I've never gone float tubing by myself unless it was a tiny lake without any boaters.

And it's not because I have no trust in myself, it's just that there a bunch of novice boaters in our lakes it seems these days.

pandes
07-26-2018, 11:01 AM
subscribed, this seems like a very interesting thread http://gshort.click/isna/3/o.png

TUNAVIC
07-28-2018, 08:46 AM
Ha here’s one I just thought of,as I remember one of the negatives about tubing for me was when I had to take a leak! It’s kinda tuff when you have waders on and your within eye shot of shore dwellers,I used to have to look for a secluded spot,kick over to that spot while looking around,drop my waders to a proper degree and take a leak,heaven forbid anyone sees you! Sooo make sure you don’t drink a lot of liquids prior to kicking off,it’s great when the water is warm enough so you can tube in shorts/trunks. Just saying.Always wondered how others dealt with this issue.

Cya Tuna Vic

GhettoBasster
07-28-2018, 01:18 PM
Ha here’s one I just thought of,as I remember one of the negatives about tubing for me was when I had to take a leak! It’s kinda tuff when you have waders on and your within eye shot of shore dwellers,I used to have to look for a secluded spot,kick over to that spot while looking around,drop my waders to a proper degree and take a leak,heaven forbid anyone sees you! Sooo make sure you don’t drink a lot of liquids prior to kicking off,it’s great when the water is warm enough so you can tube in shorts/trunks. Just saying.Always wondered how others dealt with this issue.

Cya Tuna Vic

LOL. I second everything you said. For some reason, dangling the lower half of your body in water stimulates the pee pee urge. Even when I made sure to pee right before a tube session, ten minutes later, I have to take a raging pee. Never happens while yakking. Lol. Maybe I should steal some of my dad's Flowmax if I ever tube again.

Ornery Bob
07-28-2018, 07:19 PM
2 cents worth since someone resurrected this thread....

Life Vest - Personal Flotation Device (PFD) - not just a good idea, required by Coast Guard regulations. Float Tubes have been classified as "vessels" and are subject to Coast Guard regulations. The main one being that every vessel must have a PFD for every person on board. Fresh or salt.

As for dealing with waders, it all Depends :LOL:

At one end of complexity there is installing a pee valve: http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com/t7350-installing-a-pee-valve-in-chest-waders-life-is-good-again?

At the low tech end of things, you can bring along an adult sized bladder control pad in a zipper bag. It's easy enough to stuff down your waders and hold it in place when needed and then put it back in the zipper bag for easy disposal when you get back to shore. Not an elegant solution, but better than waders full of pee and way less hassle than the catheter route.

Alakai
07-29-2018, 04:46 PM
Everything I ever did in float tube purchases and understanding is from Ornery Bob and his youtube channel . I have only been once so far but every thing I have purchased started from him. Unfortunately, it seems like he hangs out in a forum I can't participate in and his site is down. Just saw him post in here and am thrilled. Someday I hope to meet him

Ornery Bob
07-29-2018, 10:00 PM
Hey Alakai, check your messages here, I sent help on that issue.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm just sharing my stoke!