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CommentsAngler Flotation Devices
Don't stand on shore and miss the action—launch out to the fish.
Beau Beasley
A pontoon boat is stable, easy to maneuver and keeps the angler out of the water.
From the steep grade on which I was standing, looking down to a crystal-clear Oregon mountain lake, I could easily spot fish. I watched at least a half-dozen trout rise, coming up like small porpoises, diving on their prey.
I got directions to this secluded water from Old Joe, "the fish guy" who worked at the local hardware store. I told him I was in town for a few days visiting family and wanted to know about the local fishing. He said, almost apologetically, that my choices were limited to a series of nearby lakes that unfortunately were "infested" only with brown trout. Then he advised me almost as an afterthought to take a handful of Parachute Black Ants because "that's all they'll eat." I assumed that the guy was half nuts—only brown trout?—but I was grateful for any leads. I bought a few flies and thanked him, and headed out on what I assumed would be a wild-goose chase.
But Old Joe was right—the lake was teeming with browns. However, as I descended the steep bank of the lake I realized Joe had left out one important bit of information: The brush at the water's edge made it nearly impossible to cast from shore. Here I stood, all alone, beside a lake of feeding trout—and I had no way of reaching them.
I rushed back to the hardware store to ask his advice, but Joe had left for the day. What to do? I wandered aimlessly around the store until I happened to see the day's salvation sitting on the shelf above me: a float tube. This stripped-down model was little more than Read More »
I got directions to this secluded water from Old Joe, "the fish guy" who worked at the local hardware store. I told him I was in town for a few days visiting family and wanted to know about the local fishing. He said, almost apologetically, that my choices were limited to a series of nearby lakes that unfortunately were "infested" only with brown trout. Then he advised me almost as an afterthought to take a handful of Parachute Black Ants because "that's all they'll eat." I assumed that the guy was half nuts—only brown trout?—but I was grateful for any leads. I bought a few flies and thanked him, and headed out on what I assumed would be a wild-goose chase.
But Old Joe was right—the lake was teeming with browns. However, as I descended the steep bank of the lake I realized Joe had left out one important bit of information: The brush at the water's edge made it nearly impossible to cast from shore. Here I stood, all alone, beside a lake of feeding trout—and I had no way of reaching them.
I rushed back to the hardware store to ask his advice, but Joe had left for the day. What to do? I wandered aimlessly around the store until I happened to see the day's salvation sitting on the shelf above me: a float tube. This stripped-down model was little more than Read More »
