Northwest Fishing Reports

Jay and I have been talking over the winter and we've decided it's time the Puget Sound area had their own float tube BASS chapter. I've been talking with some of the guys who have a float tube chapter down in California, and they were amazed we didn't have a sanctioned chapter up here.

So now we will

The plan is to form a loose chapter initially and then file with BASS, so we need 6 members for the charter. We'll spend this year discussing what we want out of the chapter with the members and making plans for next year, including sponsored float tube tournaments and lake clean-ups and other public service activities. 2009 will be a test run to see how many interested people we can get and how many of them stay interested long enough to make an actual chapter. I know we can get 6 guys together (Jay and I already make up 33% of what's needed hehe) but we'd like to get at least 20 to make this worth all the work we're going to be putting into it. Anything more than that is total bonus.

Fishing season is coming up quickly. We'd like to have our first meeting sometime in early March to gauge interest, plan some fishing trips (not tournaments), and get the ball rolling on making this work. Anyone who lives in the immediate Puget Sound area will be welcome to join us, as long as you have a float tube and can commit to having a good time while donating a little free time every other month or so for some local lake clean-ups (followed by some serious fishing).

So who's interested? Reply here and we'll make sure the float tubers get what they've been wanting

Edited to add: Since good arguments were made for allowing pontoons, we'll open it up to those folks as well. So, float tubes and pontoons, but no motorized propulsion.

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Interested folks so far:

AaronE - Federal Way
Bisk1tSnGraV (Jay) - Spanaway
Kevin K - Seattle
Bigbass Dez - Bothell
Fishnislife (Jeremiah) - Poulsbo
The Quadfather (Chris) - N Seattle
ChrisB - Seattle
Trent Hale - Port Orchard
Gringo Pescador - Shoreline
R0cky23 - Spanaway
hookemdanno (Suzanne) - Seattle
FishingFreak - Spanaway

I am definitely interested. Let me know re times and places for meetings. My schedule is usually fairly open.

throw in electric boats!

T Dot wrote:throw in electric boats!

Pontoons would be cool!LOL!

BB

Sounds like allot of fun! If I wasn't in my club I would be down! Never fished out of a tube but have always wanted to! Maybe Fishinislife can teach me!:-$

T Dot wrote:throw in electric boats!

If we did that then it would be an electric boat club hehe

AaronE wrote:
If we did that then it would be an electric boat club hehe

there are alot of electric bass clubs which include ppl on tubes and toons - and visa versa.

just a thought though. i would join in the fun, but im not jumping into a tube or toon.

I would be interested, count me in.

Hey Aaron .. thanks for getting this rock rolling down the hillside ... laughs. What we are putting the need to be able to catch fish as well? The fish sticks in the freezer probably doesnt count though ... damn. Aaron and I have been talking about this for a while now and if nothing else, just like this forum it will get people with like interests (meaning floating around in cold water ... wait is that just me?) all together. This is still in the lets see if it could work stage but as Aaron had said .. him and I pick up 33% of the requirement but to have fun with it and help the community pushing closer to 20 tubers would work much better. Let Aaron or I know what your thoughts are. By the way I am in Spanaway.

IM DOWN

T Dot wrote:

AaronE wrote:
If we did that then it would be an electric boat club hehe

there are alot of electric bass clubs which include ppl on tubes and toons - and visa versa.

just a thought though. i would join in the fun, but im not jumping into a tube or toon.

The main drawback to that is even an electric trolling motor gives a boat an advantage over the amount of water you can cover versus the amount someone in a tube can cover using kickfins. Same with pontoons - the water resistance is greatly reduced sitting above the water and using oars for propulsion.

I think keeping it to one specific type of craft makes for a more even playing field. The chapter that I've been in contact with, Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club (http://www.scbbbc.com), have a similar rule. Actually, it's their #1 rule:

1. All SCBBBC Tournament fishing must be conducted from an inflatable float tube or kick boat (“FLOAT TUBE”). Tournament Anglers may not fish outside of their FLOAT TUBE for any reason. Anglers must be floating in their FLOAT TUBE while fishing. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the Tournament. No kayaks will be allowed in any of the SCBBBC Tournaments.

I'm open to discussion, definitely, but I think any motorized propulsion defeats the purpose of a "float tube" club entirely.

Any other opinions?

I will have to agree with Aaron. The purpose of a Float Tube Club is to get ones on the same playing field. This would also include trolling motors attached to a float tube. I think trying to keep the Club as close to the truest sense of a Float Tube Club will be a direction that will be easier to manage and more fun for the ones that are paddling. It will give everyone to start at the same point. Just as an example if you have an electric motor boat why not join a boating bass club? The electric boat isn’t going to be able to cross the lake like the Ranger Z21. This gives and advantage many don’t want to work against. Just my random thoughts from all the voices in my head ... hopefully some made sense and I didn’t ramble too wildly.

I agree with the no motors comments, but would not have a problem with pontoon being included. While they may be able to cover more water, they also have to deal more with the control issues presented by any wind. Overall, I would venture a guess that a pontoon would not be a significant enough advantage to where one should be procluded from participating. Just my 2 cents. Even the rules of SCBBC allow oars. Specifically, the clubs regular tournament rules state as follows:

10. Only fins and\or oars may power float tubes. The use of motors, sails, etc. is prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in Tournament disqualification.

Good point Kevin. And this may be a piece that we look more into as we gather interested parties. All of the thoughts we have had are up for discussion. Also getting pontoon into some of the places that a smaller float tube may wiggle into may also level all of that out. Thanks every one for your thoughts and comments as that is the only way to get something like this off the shore and into the water.

Motorized boats should not be allowed in a float tube club, no way. Thats like compared a trolling motor powered boat to a Z21 with a 250 horse. I like the idea. I have a float tube and it will get some use this year so sounds good to me if it doesn't conflict with other events.

OK, good arguments for allowing pontoons in the club. I'm cool with that if there's no objections

AaronE wrote:OK, good arguments for allowing pontoons in the club. I'm cool with that if there's no objections

No objections from this peanut gallery. As long as we stick with the only motive power to be fins and oars. And also keeping kayaks and inflatable rafts out also I think.

Well if you allow toons they would have a better chance at any turnies. Take Lk in the woods, when we had a turnie last year we all fell victim to a hobbie! He could cover more water than we could faster. So I would be down if the turnies were fair like one paddle for the toon. Maybe two turnies on different week ends. Well count me in anyways.