article about fishing out of tubes in Sunday's paper

was a good read and brought back lots of memories. The sports editor didn't quite go back far enough in the history of fishing tubes but it was still a good article. Bob Brown didn't invent the tube, although as George said in the article, he perfected it in Oklahoma. I had an elderly neighbor put me in a tube and teach me to fish from one as a young teen in the 50s. He and I spent many a day in Black Fork Creek catching bass and crappie. They were almost as good as Bob Browns later ones and were made in Ft Smith, Ark by the Tucker Duck and Rubber Co. As I recall from conversations with Bob he used one of the Tucker tubes for a pattern when he made his. I used one for many years before getting one of Bobs. The big coolers full of large crappie were one of my favorite things at the annual Tackle Show back then. Bob took many of them from Thunderbird. I have one of the new ones now but haven't fished from it in some time.

This article didn't mention it but brought back another memory from him. He primarily used one jig in either 1/8 or 1/4 oz. It was a brown head in the style that some now call a walleye head. It had sparse brown bucktail over white and he used a small pearl colored worm trailer that had a thin flat tail. I bought a bunch of those over the years and they are all gone now. I have looked and looked for a jig to duplicate it and cannot find exactly that. Most have different heads and way too thick bucktail on them. I could probably tie one myself and come close but with my now arthritic hands it would take me forever. The large crappie loved them. Those were good times.

I'm gonna start tying jigs soon and if I had a picture of it I'd be glad to try and make some.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

IkenI - I did not know that Tucker Tubes were the first tube on the market. I found my 1969 purchase last week and installed a new tube it it and aired it up. The cover is still good and will be pressed into service soon. Lol, you remember the coolers full of crappie at the old Tackle Show too. I always looked for them as well. I purchased the jigs and worms but never got around to using them. I think the brown jig was an 1/8 oz.

Yes, they were good times. I hope I have a few more years yet to enjoy tube fishing. The tube fed me regularly during college days at Stillwater. I understand that the cost of a new tube from ODP is around $325.00. Thank heavens I don't need a replacement. I think I paid $70.00 for my nylon cover way back then. The current price tag may be reasonable if you consider that it will last you a lifetime with reasonable care.

I think I know where one is sitting in my tube box.

George, I don't think Tucker was the first. They been around a long time in one form or another.

A friend of mine, a few years older than me has one of the original Fishmaster float tubes he's had since he was a kid, he tells of walking through locust trees using the tube to shield his path and protect him as he walked through. With the float tube I own (one of those 'U' shaped jobbers), it's hard to believe a float tube could withstand that kind of abuse. Mine would surly have many puncture holes if I went anywhere near a locust tree with it. I guess it's just another example of how "they just don't make 'em how they used to". I am curious how sturdy ODP builds them. I'm guessing it's not quite to the same standard of the original but what can I say, I'm a bit of a pessimist. That same friend tells of float tube fishing with THE Bob Brown, I guess Bob and his father were friends. I passed this article along to him as I'm sure he will enjoy the read and recall fond memories, perhaps it will spur him to dust off the old tube and chase some slabs with me (fingers crossed). Thanks for sharing the story, I now realize I lost my waders along with so many other things in the move down here haha.

~J. Babcock

Those tubes are also great for backpacking into high mountain lakes. Many a brookie or cutthroat has been caught out of our float tubes, dry fly fishing mostly, but sometimes using spoons. Mountain trout cooked over a camp fire are delicious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IkenI

was a good read and brought back lots of memories. The sports editor didn't quite go back far enough in the history of fishing tubes but it was still a good article. Bob Brown didn't invent the tube, although as George said in the article, he perfected it in Oklahoma.

---

The first time I ever heard of tube fishing was an article in Outdoor Life (?) about Bob Brown and one of his buddies. Very interesting!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Babweiner

A friend of mine, a few years older than me has one of the original Fishmaster float tubes he's had since he was a kid, he tells of walking through locust trees using the tube to shield his path and protect him as he walked through. With the float tube I own (one of those 'U' shaped jobbers), it's hard to believe a float tube could withstand that kind of abuse. Mine would surly have many puncture holes if I went anywhere near a locust tree with it. I guess it's just another example of how "they just don't make 'em how they used to".

---

I fish out of a Wood River V-boat. I bought it used ten years ago. It's probably twenty years old. Back in the day, it was called the "Cadillac" of tubes, but it's built like a tank. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bigskyfisherman

Those tubes are also great for backpacking into high mountain lakes. Many a brookie or cutthroat has been caught out of our float tubes, dry fly fishing mostly, but sometimes using spoons. Mountain trout cooked over a camp fire are delicious.

---

Tubing is very popular out west. Here in the south, everybody's too scared of snakes.

Buncha pansies. :biggrin

Used mine all thru the 70s when living in Colorado.

It's waterproof!
Attachment 260244
Attachment 260241
Attachment 260243

Floyd

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Tubing is very popular out west. Here in the south, everybody's too scared of snakes.

Buncha pansies. :biggrin

---

My buddy fished Monster Lake in Wyoming a number of years back. For some unknown reason, a rattlesnake decided to join him in the tube. His high dollar fly rod can never be repaired (after flailing the water to a froth trying to beat back the snake).

I remember fishing from my Grandpa's canvas tube in the late 50's in farm ponds. The tube inside was red, not black and lasted until the cover rotted away.
I have one of the nylon cover tubes. Haven't used it in years. Used to put it on Ponca Lake and fish the docks early mornings. Keep saying I need to get it out and use it again, but never seem to.