While every angler dreams of their own drift or motorized boat, sometimes the spare cash is just not available. There are other options to get out on the river and drift through otherwise inaccessible areas or hit the shallow mountain lakes, and one of the most effective options are float tubes or some called them belly boats.
In this article, we will take a look at five float tubes that will be able to safely put you in those sections of the water that would otherwise be inaccessible to you.
What is the best fishing float tube?
Here is a list of our top 5 options:
- Classic Accessories Cumberland
- Caddis Sports Pro 2000
- Outcast Fishcat 4-LCS
- Classic Accessories Colorado
- Caddis Sports Nevada Gold Belly Boat
Does the Classic Accessories Cumberland Inflatable Tube have what it takes to be considered the best fishing float tube?
This belly boat uses a hydrodynamic hull design that gives you much better control and steering. The thick foam seat also sits a bit higher than other float tubes giving you much better visibility.
This float tube has a 350lb capacity, but around 300 lbs you will start to notice the tube sitting pretty low in the water. Without any gear, it weighs in at 14lbs and can be easily packed down for an easy hike to and out of the water.
It’s a durable watercraft with a rugged PVC bottom that gives it puncture and abrasion resistance.
You will have plenty of gear storage room with this float tube. There are two main storage compartments on both armrests that have a total of four zippered pockets. It also features a large back open storage area for larger pieces of gear.
This Classic Accessories Cumberland has Boston valves that are tight sealing and allow fast inflation and deflation. You also have two integrated drink and rod holders as well as a mesh stripping basket on the front of the float tube.
If you are looking for a tube that is a little small the Caddis Sports Pro 2000 Float Tube might be the best fishing float tube for you.
This tube from Caddis Sports has a low profile teardrop shaped hull that gives great performance and stability. It has a 250lb weight capacity, so if you alone are around this weight, the belly boat is going to be pretty low in the water given its design.
It has a comfortable and adjustable 2” foam seat and a back rest that gives plenty of stability for casting and working fish.
It’s a durable float tube with a nylon outer shell that is double stitched in critical areas. It has tight seals that will not leak any significant air during a day of fishing.
You have plenty of storage room in this float tube with two large compartments on either armrest and two auxiliary storage compartments and a large cargo storage area behind the seat. It also has other accessories such as a mesh stripping basket as well as integrated foam fly patches.
The boat, when deflated it easy to pack out on its own, but it does not break down enough to carry in a backpack which might make it a bit more unwieldy if you’re carrying extra gear.
Continuing our search for the best float tube for fishing we have the Outcast Fishcat 4-LCS.
This tube from Outcast Fishcat is a great minimalist float tube and is perfect for anglers who will only have it on the water several times a year. The hull design makes it easy to navigate around the shallow lake or in a slow-moving river, and it sits up out of the water extremely well unless you exceed the weight capacity.
It has a 250lb weight capacity and is made from vinyl aircell material as well as a more abrasion resistant 500 denier PVC material along the bottom and ends of the float tubes.
It has two main gear storage areas on both armrests as well as an open storage area right behind the seat. There is not a lot of organizational compartments within each storage area, but there is enough room for any gear you might need. It also features a mesh stripping tray that sits across the front of the vessel.
This is a heavier float tube at 16.8lbs, and it doesn’t pack down as well as other float tubes, but it works great on the water. Valves are tight, and it inflates and deflates quickly with a manual or electric pump.
What do you think? Is the Outcast Fishcat the best fishing belly boat?
Are you looking for something a little different? You might want to check out the Classic Accessories Colorado Inflatable Pontoon Boat.
This pick might be on the edge for classifying it as a float tube, but with the inflatable pontoons, we are going to throw it in this article as an option. This is an inflatable pontoon boat that is for the serious angler. It is available in both pumpkin and sage green color schemes.
This vessel uses two inflatable 9ft pontoons that are made from abrasion-resistant PVC bottoms. The boat has a weight of 68lbs but comes with a transport wheel to get it down to and out of the water and back to the truck. Two 7’ aluminum oars come with this fishing boat and it has three different locking positions. It comes with a padded fold-down plastic seat which is adjustable as well are the non-slip footrests.
This inflatable pontoon boat has a 400lb weight capacity and is very versatile in its gear setup. The powder coated steel frame provides incredible support to the craft. There is room to mount a trolling motor and hold a battery on the back wire basket. The side gear bags can also be removed and customized. The gear bags have over 20 pockets and two insulated drink holders. It also comes with a removable stripping basket that can be mounted to the front or side of the vessel. There are three different positions to mount the rod holder.
The accessories and components for this vessel do not stop there. You also have a mesh bag anchor system that can be moved to either side of the boat. One of my favorite features and I am sure many other fly fishermen will agree with me are the two detachable foam fly pads.
This is a great option for the most avid of fisherman looking to gain access to more secluded fishing holes.
Let’s conclude our search for the best fishing float tube with the Caddis Sports Nevada Gold Float Tube.
This is another affordable option that provides top performance and durability. The U-shaped design of this float tube provides excellent water stability and maneuverability.
You are going to have to go a little lighter out on the water since this vessel only has a weight capacity of 225lbs. If you stay below this threshold, you will be well above the water for better visibility when trying to cast and navigate. It is light at 9.5lbs and packs out of the water very well which makes it great for hauling to some secluded mountain lake.
This is a very durable option with nylon rip-stop material on the upper portions of the float tube and a heavier Cordura covering the bottom and ends of the tubes. It also uses a padded stabilizer bar that runs across the front of the boat between the two main tubes that give extra stability in the water.
There are four main equipment compartments on this float tube located on both armrests. There are also two auxiliary pockets that all together offer a decent amount of storage space. Lastly, it comes with an integrated rod holder and fly patch.
Final Thoughts…
If you’re looking for a more affordable and easily transportable watercraft that is going to give you the ability to reach those fishing spots you have only been able to look at in envy, an inflatable float tube might be your best option.
We have outlined five excellent float tube models that you can fish in while feeling comfortable and safe. These are proven watercraft and you will get more than your money’s worth out of them.
What do you think is the best float tube for fishing? Please share with us your comments in the section below…
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