Not looking to spend much (any) money here, but have any of you made your own float tube? It'd be nice to have something to play around with on the river, but I wouldn't use it enough to justify spending money on it. I know I could use a car tire tube, but looking for something a bit more comfortable. Thanks!

Most float tubes are made from a Truck inner tube. Something made for an 18 wheeler (Semi). If you have some canvas or heavy nylon loop the ends around the tube to form a seat in the middle and sew the ends together.

Since most people do not have the material or the sewing skills (you need a marlin spike and extremely tough thread such as you would use to sew sails on a sailboat) and because float tubes can be purchased for as little as $75.00 on Ebay it probably does not make sense to make your own.

However, if you want to go ahead by all means do so. Contact your nearest trucking company and ask where you might buy a Truck inner tube or you might contact a company that specializes in tires and such things especially for the trucking industry.

You can also make a seat in the middle of the tube with rope as well.

Good Luck;
Tight Lines;
Uncle Kes

On a lake, how much water can a guy cover in a float tube? How mobile are they?

They are not real mobile. You also need flippers if you plan on moving without giving yourself a heart attack. You can drift in current easily but good luck trying to go against it.

You can cover a decent amount of water in a float tube. I have a float tube and am able to fish most lakes.

Carmike: You can go as far as you like with one. Bear in mind, weather constraints though. I would not want to be caught out in the middle of the lake in a thunder storm in one but they will get you almost anywhere. You do need a pair of Float tube fins. These are large scuba diving fins like you used to wear when you were a kid and bought a diving mask and fins. They are large enough to fit over your hip boots or chest waders. A good floatation device like a Stearns Vest is also a good idea.

Most people, myself included float out about 30 to 50 feet from shore and fan cast a few times and then move on. That does not mean you can't go out further it is just that most people I know who use them see no need to go out farther.

Look on Ebay for them. It is the cheapest place I know to buy one. I was wrong though in my estimation of the cost of a float tube on Ebay. I said you could get one for as little as $75.00. I saw a really nice Float tube and Fins for around $35.00 the other day.

Another option if you have a few more dollars would be to buy one of the new Float boats they have. I have never used one but it looks like pair of canvas pontoons with a seat you sit in above the water and a pair or oars you row around in. Once again, I would look at Ebay before I went to some place and paid full price for one.

Both the Float Tube and Float boats are inflated with an air compressor. I also own one of those small compressors you plug into the cigarette lighter in your car. It takes about 3 minutes to inflate my tube and I am in the water and fishing in about 5 minutes from the time I stop my car.

To deflate you just unscrew the cap on the valve stem, reverse it and stick it down the valve. It has a built in wrench that unscrews the valve and the tube deflates. It takes about 4 minutes to deflate a tube and then you simply roll it up and stick it where you like.

Be aware though not to leave it in the trunk of your car. The summer heat in your trunk is hard on the rubber and nylon. You can leave it in there for short periods but store it someplace where it is cool and out of the sunlight when you get home.

If you have any other questions get back to me at UncleKes@comcast.net

Tight Lines;

UncleKes

If you want to cover a lot of water but still be pretty small (if storage or transport space is an issue) and money isn't a huge constraint - look into a cheap kayak. they're great for fishing, easy to handle, and you can go just about anywhere