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Welcome to the Big Hammer™ Premium Lures Website - Float Tubing Section:

Float tubing is a relatively inexpensive, easy, and portable. It allows an angler to launch almost anywhere, fish almost anywhere, fish structure not accessable from a larger boat or from the shore. It is also quite a thrill being right there at water level when you tie into a nice fish.

I have been float tubing since 1985. I spent a lot of my first fishing years at a small pond in my hometown of Goleta, California called Lake Los Carneros. I read an article in Field & Stream entitled "Bass, Bats & Belly Boats". I was instantly intrigued. I ordered my first float tube, a "Bass Tracker", from Bass Pro Shops, complete with big heavy rubber waders and Duck Fins. For the next 6 years I spent most of my time bobbing around learning everything I could about Lake Los Carneros. I also put my float tube in the ocean a few times but didn't really know too much about sport fishing in the salt so it was never too productive. In 1992 I moved from California to Northern Virginia where I started float tubing in some of the lakes around the area such as Beaverdam Reservoir and Burke Lake. A couple years after I moved I discovered the larger slow moving warm water streams such as Goose Creek and Bull Run and found yet another use for my tube. Float fishing down these streams. In 1998 I moved back to Goleta and finally discovered float tubing in the ocean.

Since I have been bobbing around in the ocean I have caught lots of California Halibut, White Seabass, Calico Bass, and my largest fish, a 43 inch, 55 pound Black Seabass.

Over the years I have learned many do and dont's, tactics, tips, etc. The purpose of this section is to try and share this information with other float tubers and anyone interested in taking up float tubing.

Rod Holders:

Finding the perfect rod holder for the float tube has been a long and expensive journey. I've probably bought and tried them all and basically have wasted my money. Finally I got the inspiration to design and build my own. After a few alterations and some ideas from my brother-in-law Mark I have come up with something that works great.

I have also designed a second set of holders that I use for my Fishin' Buddy Depth Finder, Pliers, and a place to hold my rod while I'm un-hooking fish, tying knots, etc. See below.

Click here to download the plans for my float tube rod holders.

Depth Finder:

Even though a depth finder is optional I find it useful - especially when fishing new water. When fishing shallow it is not really used as a "Fish Finder" but more for located depth & structure. It also has a temperature gauge. The depth finder I use is a Fishin' Buddy II made by Bottom Line. They do not make my model anymore but I believe it is comparable to the 2200.

I originally used a float tube holster sold by Cabelas to mount my depth finder to my tube. It worked okay but was kind of flimsy and the depth finder would move around too much. I recently built a holder for it using PVC pipe which is much like the rod holders mentioned above.

Click here to download the plans for my depth finder holder.

Waders/Wetsuits:

For most saltwater conditions I currently use a 3/2 wetsuit made by Body Glove. The wetsuit has a few advantages over waders if the conditions are right. Launching is easier, they are more comfortable in warmer conditions, and it is very easy to relieve yourself.

In freshwater and in colder saltwater conditions I use Hodgman Brighton Neoprene Waders. They have a high back design which is great for float tubing and velcro type shoulder straps which I prefer. Most waders will do the job. I highly recommend neoprene as opposed to rubber. Rubber waders may be a little more durable but I find the comfort of neoprene outweighs the need for durability.

Booties:

Neoprene diving booties are optional but I feel they are well worth the money. If you are using a wetsuit you pretty much have to have them. With waders you need to buy ones that are about 1 size larger than your normal shoe size (I brought my waders into the dive shop and tried them on). These not only protect your waders from the elements and your fins but they also allow you to be able to walk places with your waders on instead of having to carry them along with your tube and tackle. They also provide yet another layer of padding between your feet and fins for even more comfort.

Float Fishing:

Another highly productive and fun way I use my round style float tube is to float fish down warm water streams and rivers for largemouth and smallmouth bass. On the east coast there are plenty of these bodies of water that hold bass. Goose Creek in Virginia and Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania are two of my favorite rivers for this type of fishing.

By sitting on the back of the tube with my feet on the seat I can comfortably float and fish down miles of water catching and releasing lots of hard fighting running water largemouth and smallmouth bass. When I want to stop in shallow water at a good looking spot and fish it more thoroughly I just move my feet off the seat, into the hole, and slide down into the tube until my feet hit bottom.

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