Armchair Fly Fishing

Destination fishing, big fish and exotic locations are on most fly anglers’ bucket lists. England international Steve Smalley had float tubing on his and shares the magic of armchair fly fishing.

- Steve Smalley

As fly anglers, many of us aspire to visit exotic and tropical destinations in search of a range of species. Wild brown trout fishing in New Zealand or even tiger fish in Tanzania, the list of opportunities is endless nowadays. I guess there are many others on fly anglers’ bucket lists but what about float tubing in the UK? I’m not sure this will be on everyone’s wish list but it should be.

I am only a relatively recent convert and I have to say I am well and truly hooked. The float tube gives the angler unlimited access to water that would usually be inaccessible but it allows you to target fish that always seem to be out of reach! Whether it’s your local small still water or a small wild hill tarn, or even one of our larger reservoirs, the opportunities are there. The sense of freedom is unparalleled because you are able to get into every nook and cranny, and for a reasonable outlay you too could be enjoying the freedom that a float tube brings.

Trouble-Free Tubing

Health and safety is part and parcel of everyday life these days and float tubing is no different. A little care and planning is all that’s required for a trouble-free float-tube trip.

Checking the weather forecast before your planned trip is a must. It’s easy to get into difficulty in high winds or prolonged spells of heavy rain or a thunderstorm, so it’s best to not put yourself in that position in the first place. There’s no pleasure fishing in these conditions anyway! Tell someone where you’re going if you’re on your own and roughly what time you expect to be home. A good-quality life jacket is a must and should be worn at all times. Take your mobile phone with you but be careful not to get it wet!