Any Other Fishers Who Prefer Canoes?

[Ratherbfishing]

But then again, I like to ice fish so who am I to judge?

[Gavin]

I have two canoes...a 17' Wenonah Tandem, and a 14.5' Mad River Solo Canoe...I dont lake fish very often...but they suit my need for a fishing platform that has enough gear capacity for several nights of camping on the river. Pretty easy to stand & fly cast out of the 17'...not so in the 14.5'.

[Swamp Girl]

I use these: http://www.c-tug.com/

Cool tool. How do you think it would perform on the rocky terrain of the Canadian Shield?

[Brent Christian]

As to say prefer a canoe I don't think I could say that but I equally enjoy both my bass boat and canoe. Both used for different applications, I can catch just as many fish out I my canoe as anyone can out of a full blown bass rig. I love fishing streams for smallies on my canoe..

[J Francho]

Cool tool. How do you think it would perform on the rocky terrain of the Canadian Shield?

You probably want to use the pneumatic wheels. They work well on the rocky Great Lakes shoreline.

[Bankbeater]

How does a canoe do in the wind??

[Marty]

How does a canoe do in the wind??

Mine doesn't do well, even a mild breeze moves it around. It's an ultralight and I don't know how much that has to do with it, but I know the fact that it's got lots of freeboard is a big factor. I've never been in a kayak, but I'm pretty sure it's less affected by the wind than a canoe.

[Goose52]

Mine too. Even with all the gear in mine, it floats like a cork and catches wind like a sail....

[ClackerBuzz]

How does a canoe do in the wind??

wind blows my canoe around like a sailboat. its an easy fix with an 8lb mushroom anchor. on non-wind day's i get away using my 2lb grappling style anchor.

as stated kayaks are much less effected by the wind. 99% of the time i can get away with my 2lb anchor. on 15mph+ windy days i need the 8lb even in my kayak

[Fishing Rhino]

A five gallon bucket works pretty well as a wind anchor. Slows the drift considerably. If the pond has bushy vegetation, such as arrow head plants in the shallows, backing the canoe about half way into them works very well. Back into the plants, fan cast to the open water 'til you've worked it to your satisfaction. then pole or paddle the canoe into the open water, move along the shore and back her in again.

If you have a trolling motor, you'll need to tip it up. A double ended canoe, like the one in my avatar works better than a square stern canoe for backing into the vegetation. Notice the tips of the rods in my avatar are all below the small foredeck and gunnel. The tips cannot be snagged by the plants. This allows me to paddle along, just inside the edge of the plants, which works well in the wind.

[Marty]

A five gallon bucket works pretty well as a wind anchor. Slows the drift considerably.

I have a bucket in the bow which has 20-30# of water in it. That's for the purpose of trimming the canoe. I've never been out without it so I don't know if it slows the drift. But even with that it doesn't take much of a breeze to blow me around.

[rb56]

last spring i purchased a pelican 15.5. it's my first canoe and i grew up in a 14' flat bottom with a 9 1/2 johnson, then an 18 evinrude. my dad had a ouachita stick steer bass boat and a roughneck which both i used as my own. i started paddling the canoe but soon bought a minn kota motor and added a home made transom. i added front and rear anchor line locks to control them from my seat. i added a cgi sitbacker seat, i made a dash boars that slides in and locks in place and slides out. my rod holder is mounted so they stick out the back of the boat out of the way. this winter i have designed and am adding stabilizers i'm making from pvc. i have learned that in a canoe standing isn't done, if you cut the motor sharp from a start make sure you are positioned in the seat at to why adding the stabilizers. i'm making them so they attach to my dash and slide out to fish then retract to the sides when moving and serve as anti tip devices. i say all of this because i have enjoyed the canoe so much and learned as i go things to do to make fishing easier, safer and more productive. it's not the best canoe, i bought it at academy sporting goods for $279. that is a heck of a price for almost any boat and other sites are as high as $500+. i love fishing from this boat and it gives me something to do adding to it and so on. i was loading up to leave and it's a mess and changes have been made.

[Fishing Rhino]

I have a bucket in the bow which has 20-30# of water in it. That's for the purpose of trimming the canoe. I've never been out without it so I don't know if it slows the drift. But even with that it doesn't take much of a breeze to blow me around.

I have it on a six foot piece of line and toss it over the side so the canoe has to drag it through the water. It really slows the drift considerably. I drill three holes at the top edge of the bucket to make a "bridle" much like parachutes have. Wind socks, which come in various sizes can also be used, but the bucket is cheaper and provides storage for my anchor.

[Marty]

I have it on a six foot piece of line and toss it over the side so the canoe has to drag it through the water. It really slows the drift considerably. I drill three holes at the top edge of the bucket to make a "bridle" much like parachutes have. Wind socks, which come in various sizes can also be used, but the bucket is cheaper and provides storage for my anchor.

Thanks. I just wasn't thinking. I can easily see how the bucket over the side can slow things down.

[The one that got away]

I can't say I prefer fishing from a canoe as opposed to a bass boat, because all I have is a canoe.

I have a Old Town Guide147 that I bought from Dick's in 2008. I think I paid $350 for it on a special. I HAD to get something to get off the shore. A "real" boat was out of the question, so I went with the canoe.

Couldn't have been happier with it, but paddling got to be a real PITA after a few years. I bought a trolling motor and used it in 2011 and 2012. I added a Garmin 300c depthfinder this year. The transducer attaches to the bottom of the trolling motor. I mounted the depthfinder unit on a short piece of hardwood floor, and clamp the hardwood onto the yoke when I'm on the water. It's not in the photo below.

I have stood in the canoe, but only when I'm out alone, with no wind. When I'm out alone, I put three 25lb weight plates in the bow to help even it out. If I forget the plates, it's not much of a problem unless it's windy. Then I will get blown pretty much in circles.

If the proper technique is used, lifting the canoe and transporting the canoe is fairly easy. I'm 47, but it's really not too tough if done correctly.

I doubt I will consider a kayak in the future. Nothing against kayaks, but I can fit more in my canoe, and one of my old fishing buddies has caught the fishin' bug again and he went with me almost every time out for the last couple of months this season. No room for him if I only had a yak.

The only thing I could use a little help with is with casting technique, specifically flipping/pitching. I can't figure out a proper way to do this from a seated position with the water being so close. Back in the day when I was shore-bound, I just casted every time and before I knew anything about the flipping/pitching technique.

Here's the "SS Minnow":

[salmicropterus]

I think this last post was really a good one. I've been keeping up with this thread but have held off posting. I've been bugged by the word "prefer". If budget isn't an issue then I think many would "prefer" a fully tricked out 21' Triton/Ranger/Skeeter with a 250HP Mercury, Evinrude or Yamaha. That said, it's complex and it depends on where and how you fish. I am lucky enough to a) live on a small residential lake where I have a BassTender 10.5' with a TM (Yes, I have often used a five gallon bucket as a wind anchor and it's a great idea) and have a 21' Triton with a 250 Evinrude HO (I'm a dealer so it costs me less) that I use on big Florida lakes like Okeechobee. Either rig would be totally useless in the opposite scenario. I can say this: in my business we deal with everything from 10' john boats with a TM or 9.9 kicker to 40' ocean boats with trip 300hp Verados. All boats are "preferred" in the eye of the owner and thus all should be respected, as should the owners. I guess my point is that "prefer" is often dictated by finances and how and where you fish. It's all good.

[Goose52]

I sorta see your point. BUT, some people DO "prefer" canoes - budget independent. It's a totally different experience. Nothing like paddling, silent, through a quiet stream, river, or lake - just you and nature. Many of those folks would never consider any gas propulsion and the associated noise, smell, and pollution; many wouldn't care for electric propulsion either. It is indeed a preference. Canoe purists even look aghast at my canoe contraption...

However, for me, a canoe wasn't a "preference." As I mentioned in post #14, I studied all small watercraft from float tubes up to bass boats. My budget could have been up to, say, $25k or so. BUT, the best solution for me, given my needs and wants, was the tricked out canoe. Budget independent, would I have "preferred" how-ever much bass boat $25k would buy? Absolutely not. If I wanted a bass boat, I'd just buy one...but I won't...because it's not the best solution to the problem.

As you said - it's more about where and how you fish, determining the best solution to get yourself on the water, and then going out and catching fish. For me, a bass boat would get me absolutely NO more fish on MY water...than my canoe...

[The one that got away]

I wasn't following this thread until I posted earlier today.

Due to finances (or lack thereof), it was either "prefer" to get a canoe, or "prefer" to keep standing on the shore, lol. Too many important things to pay for - mortgage, bills, college for three kids. I don't think the wife would appreciate it if I spent the equivalent of a couple years of tuition on a boat.

Maybe I'm wrong - because I don't have a "real" boat to compare it to - but I don't really feel like only having a canoe is causing me to miss out on any fish. Even better, I go to a number of places that don't have a boat ramp that a boat owner can't even get into. And, I don't have all the ongoing expenses of a typical boat owner.

And Goose52 - that is one awesome yacht you've got there. I've always enjoyed those photos when I see you post them.

[Swamp Girl]

I prefer the canoe. Motors need batteries and batteries need charging and motors won't always start and to even get your boat into the water, you need a ramp. Best of all, my canoe reaches lakes that no boat with a motor can reach unless you're willing to drop a couple thousand to hire an Otter to drop you on that lake. I like to fish for stupid fish because you catch a lot more of them and the canoe takes me to stupid fish, thus I prefer it.

[Swamp Girl]

@ The one that got away

Nice looking rig. My canoe is just a banged-up Bell Kevlar with no tricks and even then, it's hard to carry through the bush .

[Fishing Rhino]

I can't say I prefer fishing from a canoe as opposed to a bass boat, because all I have is a canoe.

I have a Old Town Guide147 that I bought from Dick's in 2008. I think I paid $350 for it on a special. I HAD to get something to get off the shore. A "real" boat was out of the question, so I went with the canoe.

Couldn't have been happier with it, but paddling got to be a real PITA after a few years. I bought a trolling motor and used it in 2011 and 2012. I added a Garmin 300c depthfinder this year. The transducer attaches to the bottom of the trolling motor. I mounted the depthfinder unit on a short piece of hardwood floor, and clamp the hardwood onto the yoke when I'm on the water. It's not in the photo below.

I have stood in the canoe, but only when I'm out alone, with no wind. When I'm out alone, I put three 25lb weight plates in the bow to help even it out. If I forget the plates, it's not much of a problem unless it's windy. Then I will get blown pretty much in circles.

If the proper technique is used, lifting the canoe and transporting the canoe is fairly easy. I'm 47, but it's really not too tough if done correctly.

I doubt I will consider a kayak in the future. Nothing against kayaks, but I can fit more in my canoe, and one of my old fishing buddies has caught the fishin' bug again and he went with me almost every time out for the last couple of months this season. No room for him if I only had a yak.

The only thing I could use a little help with is with casting technique, specifically flipping/pitching. I can't figure out a proper way to do this from a seated position with the water being so close. Back in the day when I was shore-bound, I just casted every time and before I knew anything about the flipping/pitching technique.

Here's the "SS Minnow":

When fishing alone, set the boat up so the stern becomes the bow. It will put you closer to the center of the boat. It will also put your trolling motor closer to the center as well.

The canoe in my avatar is rigged "backwards". Here's a couple of images that show how close to the center I'm seated. The bucket behind the seat serves double duty. It holds the anchor, and on windy days, I remove the contents, and toss it over the side to slow the drift. You can see the white cord that makes a three point harness to make the bucket stable when it's dragging behind the boat.

[Goose52]

When fishing alone, set the boat up so the stern becomes the bow. It will put you closer to the center of the boat. It will also put your trolling motor closer to the center as well.

X2. If you look at my photo in post #14, you'll see that's how mine is rigged. I sit on what used to be the "front" seat, facing "backwards." You might have to mod your motor mount so it can handle a wider span however.

In my little 11'6" canoe, running the canoe "backwards" is just about mandatory - otherwise, you get the condition shown in the photo below... :lol:

[Swamp Girl]

You could also move the seat the center. It will require four more holes in your gunwales and purchasing a new seat, but if you go solo, it could make your paddling easier.

[The one that got away]

Setting my canoe up backwards is pretty much out of the question, as it is currently set up. Both seats are plastic molded seats that have a seat back.

I'll take the trade off and keep the seat backs! I wouldn't like the canoe nearly as much if I couldn't lean back. I know I could always swap out the seats and get an aftermarket portable seat back, but I think I'm going on 4 or 5 years with it the way it is so I'm OK with it.

If the water doesn't freeze over around here soon, I might take it out after Xmas because I have a few days off after the 25th. I specifically remember it being unseasonably warm in my area on New Year's Day and also on Super Bowl Sunday last winter, and I almost went out both days - but didn't.

[Neonsnow78]

if it wasnt for this snowstorm i would have went out tomorrow. thats out of the question now...lol