Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 34
Float-Tube Basics
by Ben Moyer
photos by the author
Pennsylvania’s waters offer diverse settings for fishing,
from white-capped Lake Erie to tranquil streams and
quiet ponds. Well-equipped anglers need to be able to
wade, paddle and powerboat if they wish to exploit all the
possibilities. But, the most creative anglers use one other
method of getting around on the surface. Float-tube fishing
is often overlooked, but it offers flexibility, lightweight and
inexpensive access to fish that a long cast or even a pair of
waders can’t reach.
Float-tube pioneers in the 1950s and 1960s rigged
all kinds of set-ups, all of which were basically truck
inner tubes with an improvised seat. Today’s float-tubes
are high-tech, mini-craft engineered for maximum
effectiveness and safety.
“There’s a unique appeal to float-tube fishing,” said
Bill Lessman, Fayette County. Lessman has built a
business out of float-tube fishing. His Acme Dam Fishing
company, a Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2013
registered guide service (PFBC Charter Permit No. 115),
leads beginning and veteran tubers for bass and pike on
public lakes in the Laurel Highlands.
“Stealthy, quiet movement is the true key to float-tube
fishing,” said Lessman. “When a fish strikes your lure, it’s
often point-blank, within 10 feet of your tube. Once you
experience a big fish, battling on eye level, you’re hooked.
You can’t get that level of excitement from shore or in any
kind of conventional boat.”
Tackle and craft manufacturers have responded to the
growing interest in float-tubing and now offer a range of
models. Some are made especially for fly fishing while others
feature a more general design ideal for spinning or baitcasting. Weighing as little as 7 pounds, some models can
fold to fit into a small backpack for easy transport to remote
lakes or launch points on quiet streams. Float-tubes offer
anglers versatility for times when a boat is inconvenient or
unavailable but when fish lurk beyond reach.
PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013
Straight Talk
Contents
Smallmouth Bass After Dark
Tying the Mouse
Your Fishing Field Guide
One Walleye Pattern Does Not Rule Out Another
Reflecting on the Water
Wading Smallmouth Bass Streams
A Weather Watching Primer for Anglers and Boaters
Notes from the Stream
Onboard Tools and Gadgets
Pennsylvania Anglers Needn’t Go Far to Enjoy Great Fishing for Bass
Do-it-yourself Boat Suspension Seats
Powerboating and Camping
Targeting Big Summer Bluegill
Float-Tube Basics
Bass Fishing Tips from Pennsylvania Pro Anglers
Lower Susquehanna River Flathead Catfish
Deep Water Bluegills by Boat
Summer PLAY Newsletter
Fish-For-Free Benefits New Anglers
The Lampreys: Still Hangin’ Around
Living on the Edge: Trout are Key to Endangered Mussel’s Survival
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Smallmouth Bass After Dark
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Tying the Mouse
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - One Walleye Pattern Does Not Rule Out Another
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Wading Smallmouth Bass Streams
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - A Weather Watching Primer for Anglers and Boaters
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Onboard Tools and Gadgets
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Pennsylvania Anglers Needn’t Go Far to Enjoy Great Fishing for Bass
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Do-it-yourself Boat Suspension Seats
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Powerboating and Camping
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Targeting Big Summer Bluegill
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Float-Tube Basics
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Bass Fishing Tips from Pennsylvania Pro Anglers
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Lower Susquehanna River Flathead Catfish
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Deep Water Bluegills by Boat
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Summer PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Fish-For-Free Benefits New Anglers
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - The Lampreys: Still Hangin’ Around
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Living on the Edge: Trout are Key to Endangered Mussel’s Survival
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2013 - Cover4
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