The Roanoke Times: The Wild Life

Comments

# 1

[February 19, 2008 11:55 AM]

Backlash

How cool is it?

Man you had a great day from were I am sitting. Wait till it warm up a bit......

# 2

[February 19, 2008 3:42 PM]

Mark Taylor

Thanks, Backlash. It really turned out pretty nice that day, but it was right nippy in the morning.

So you are really on this belly boat thing, aren't you? They have their uses. I was in one when I caught my biggest largemouth bass ever -- 23 inches and fat -- from a small public lake in Virginia Beach. It was a Friday afternoon and some people were partying on the balcony at a nearby condo. They all stopped to watch me fight that fish, which had a couple awesome jumps. When I lipped that bass I gave an Ike-like scream and they cheered. Pretty cool.

mt

# 3

[February 19, 2008 11:28 PM]

Joey

Hey Mark awesome size carp, they can put up a great fight, I caught one down at the wasena low water dam about 24 years ago, I was about 15-16 years old, was fishing with bread and caught a 22 pounder and a 33 pounder, took them to the crappie hole to be weighed and measured and to get my citations papers to fill out and send in, went back to the dam afterwards and was walking across it and two guys gave me 30 dollars for the both of them, they did that after I told them I was gonna put them back in the water, but they wanted to eat them, so i sold them to them and went and bought another rod and reel, cant have too many of them. good luck on your next trip out Joey

# 4

[February 20, 2008 8:54 AM]

Backlash

Mark, I am completely pumped by the ideal of Belly Boat or Float tube fishing.

After seeing the Kids of Generation X and Outdoors with Bill Dance the ideal of doing the "Budget Bassin" as it is referred to by by B.A.S.S. Insider were they did a 9 part story of viability of the float tube.

The ease of stealth, and there are those hard to get to areas we see from the highways of Virginia that a 16 ft. Bass rig or two man John boat boat is too bulky to maneuver or basically no access points.

On all points The float tube allows one to those spots rarely conquered by the average fisherman and mastered by the water loon.

With the proper equipment and personal life jacket most waters that yield that trophy fish is no longer out of reach. My point is this in this beautiful area of Virginia how many people have to reside to the bank and fish when they can slip into a float tube and drift slow moving currents and relax and fish in comfort.

Why have so few Virginians or east coasters be the last to enjoy what is the craze in all European countries and the West Coast of California Sonoma County Belly Boat Club, a recognized member of B.A.S.S. international have all the fun.

It's our time to float and shine.

# 5

[February 20, 2008 3:21 PM]

Mark Taylor

Backlash, When I lived in Virginia Beach, my belly boat was my boat. They can be useful, but they're aren't perfect. One thing, you can't sight fish. Also, it's can be pretty physically demanding if you want to cover much water or if you're dealing with wind. The upside is it's great exercise. For little ponds, they are pretty great.

Joey, Interesting story about the carp. The Roanoke River has some huge ones. I've wanted to do some bowfishing on the river but just haven't gotten around to it.

Thanks for reading, and for the comments.

mt

# 6

[February 20, 2008 4:10 PM]

Mike

They don't call carp the poor man's bonefish for nothing. They're strong enough when hooked in the lip much less foul hooked that far back on the body. I'm amazed you were able to land it at all. By the way, after reading your article and watching the video of your fly fishing outing for carp at the VPI duck ponds I managed to get there a couple of times last year before the ponds were drained. I do a little fly-tying and cut a small piece of 1/8"-thick yellow pressed foam rubber and glued it to a stouter scud hook. It looked exactly like a piece of whole kernel corn and the carp loved it. I caught one that fell just shy of 14-lbs and did quite a bit of jogging around the upper pond to keep up with it. I was really glad that I had my 8-wt rod. I'm looking forward to warmer weather soon to try this again.

Mike

# 7

[February 20, 2008 11:12 PM]

joey

Hey mmark, if i can find the picture of the 33 pound carp, ill sent it to you, this thing was approx 3 feet long take care

joey

# 8

[February 21, 2008 11:34 AM]

Backlash

Mark you are correct in some aspects of float tube fishing, but with modern advances some of those short comings have change to give those anglers the edge depending on the type of tube you choose.

As I have done some pretty tough research and still it is not totally complete yet I will say this if you are adventuresome, and common sense wise to water hazards and dangers and many responsible boaters are the float tube can be just as productive as $26,000 dollar bass rig.

Now saying that there are some limitations as you spoke of Mark if the bank angler understand those limitations the Belly Boat can be economical and fun. The overall wording for any water activity is responsibility. I encourage any reader to check out youtube Belly Boating videos to fully understand my enthusiasm.

There are three different basic float tube styles and for some styles wind don't seem to be much of an issue for the belly boater.

Doughnut-style float tube

U-Boat style float tube

Pontoon style float tube

Prices can rage from $60 to $1000.00 dollars which gives this type of fishing the name "Budget Bassin".

# 9

[February 25, 2008 1:57 AM]

Backlash

Now that I have given readers of your blog a few days to digest and inquire stores about float tubes as I have found out this weekend. Let's discuss the least desirable float tube or belly boat I have consider the most dangerous of all and should be avoided period.

The independent bladder float tube should never be bought if you recently bought one take it back for a full refund ASAP! Why it speaks for itself "independent bladder". There are three stories plus reviews were the bladder has sprung a leak and with the combined weight of the user it sank rapidly causing one death and near drownings. Belly boaters forums advise to leave this one at the store and opt for the multi- bladder system.

Reason if it springs a leak you got other air bladders to rely on to get you close to shore before major problems occur. And regardless of that fact a PFD should be worn at all times why belly boating. You owe it to your family to be responsibility.

Now for the float tube research wind may become an issue, my research has found that the round donut-style float tube is the lowest-profile tube available. Pontoons or U-boats, which have sides with more surface area to catch a breeze, can be tough to control when strong wind hits the craft. Typically, these vessels sit higher in the water, presenting a bigger target — as well as more of the fisherman — to the wind.

“In a round float tube, you can brace your knees against the bottom of the tube for leverage when kicking down,”. Also by doing this helps conserve energy, and will provide more power in each kick. With this technique to hold your position in waves, while continuing to fish, while other crafts would require more energy to maintain position.

“If you were in a U-boat you would have to paddle from your hip, which provides less power, and is more exhausting. In choppy waters you can take a hit from a wave from any direction and still hold your position.”

Remember this: Most newer U-shaped float tubes are fitted with a bar to keep the tube ends from collapsing inwards. I have seen one of these at a bargain price in a store inflated with out his bar I would past on this one unless you like the feeling of crossed legs all the time while you are fishing. The bar is a must too keep both ends from converging upon you in this style of float tube.

The design I chosen is the Fish Cat float tube by Outcast Sporting Goods purchased at Sportmans Warehouse special order lower price than the one offered by any other store around.

The actually shape is more like an A than a U, enables you to sit higher in the water. The back ends of the Fish Cat are welded together, providing a storage area in back and a higher, firmer casting chair. Research shows the A-shape helps you to move through the water a bit faster than the O- or the older U-shaped tubes.

My personal choice is the Pontoon style float tube it has multi air bladders a higher seat that offers you some viewable areas for sight fishing and faster mobility but it is the more expensive than other float tubes.

One last thing try to avoid the nylon float tubes research has shown those of nylon have a penance for ripping along the seams, And the Poly-Urethane is the better and safer buy don't take my word you can do some research as well warmer weather is around the corner...... Why wait take your time make your decision's and purchase one at a time.

I am not finished by a long shot more to come as long as out host allows.

# 10

[March 5, 2008 11:42 AM]

WillK

Sounds like a great trip! I've been meaning to try some of the rivers here in VA west of I-95 for geese, but just haven't gotten around to it. Did y'all set out decoys, or were the geese taken incidentally to the fishing?

# 11

[March 5, 2008 5:10 PM]

Mark Taylor

Hey Will, It was a planned cast-and-blast trip, but we didn't take decoys.

Basically, we just fished until we saw geese. And sometimes, we kept fishing as we got closer. I think the fact that we were in a big, blue raft helped us. I seriously think some of those geese would have been much more wary of three guys in camo in a camo boat.

You should try a combo trip next September when the early Canada goose season opens.

Thanks for reading.

mt