Fishing Canoe Recommendation

[New Bass Man]

Looking for recommendations for a good fishing canoe to use on some of the small ponds and lakes. I've never owned a canoe before so clue me in on what to look for.  Thanks

[G3 Fan]

It comes down to the question everyone asks, how much do you want to spend? I like the Old Town Predator series http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/huntingFishing/ but if they are more than you are willing to spend you might want to check out Dick's or Gander Mountain. They have retail stores in my area and they usually have canoes on sale for around $400.00. I am not a fan of aluminum. Square backs are nice for motors. The largest Predator has oar locks and being able to row would make it easier if you are going to fish solo. Weight is another concern if you have to do any portaging. I am seriously considering selling my 14' aluminum boat and getting a Predator canoe. I fish a lot of small water and usually by myself and I guess I am getting too old because launching the boat by myself is getting to be a hassel. (no boat ramps, just get close and push)

[mudcatwilly]

I did a lot of research before I bought my canoe.  Probably, Old Town is the best for the money.  If you fish alone, get the stillwater 12.  It's light, wide, and easy to manuever.  I got the pelican navigator 13'6".  It's a good canoe and I only paid about $400 online (plus $100 shipping) at sportsmansguide.com.  In hindsight, I should've spent a little more and got the stillwater 12 (it's lighter and more stable).  The pelican is 60 pounds (75 with all my gear).  I can lift it off my truck by myself, but getting it up and down steeper banks is tough, even with the canoe cart.  Be prepared to spend $100 on the canoe cart (you will need it), $20 on a paddle, $20 on misc straps, bungees, etc.  I fitted mine with a transom mount fish finder $120.  I'm a little sick of paddling, especially when it's windy (you'll see).  I am going to get a transom mount trolling motor and deep cycle battery and a charger ($180).  Let's see, I've spent $940 on this canoe.  Canoe's are great by getting into tight spots, but looking back, I could've bought a jon boat with a 10 hp motor and a trailer for less than what I've spent on the dang canoe.  My advice, save your money and get a boat.  That's just my $0.02 from having gone through the canoe process.

[SFC Hall]

I don't buy anything I can make.... coat the bottom with glass and these will be stonger than a glass one you buy, much much cheaper and a lot of fun to build... great project with your kid if you have one... well, just my .02

flat bottom http://www.alaska.net/~fritzf/Boats/Wacky_Lassie/Wacky_Lassie.htm

round bottom http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=RowBoats/glide_easy

more fun boats... http://www.svensons.com/boat/

[Smib]

check out gheenoe.com.  They make a squareback canoe the is supposed to be a good product.

Smib

[nboucher]

Bass Man, have you considered a kayak? I used to fish from an Old Town Kingfisher canoe, but I found it not that easy to maneuver alone. Last summer I got an Old Town Loon 111 kayak, which I can easily lift onto my car rack and carry down to ponds singlehandedly. It is more stable and easier to fish from than a canoe when it's windy, and you're sitting close to the water, which makes landing fish a breeze. I also mounted a Scotty rod mount on the kayak and a FishEasy fishfinder, which has turned it into a fishing machine. (You can see a little of it in my Avatar.) The Loon also comes with a cord and hooks that allow you hook your paddle out of the way when you're fishing. I put my paddle there and fine tune my position sculling quietly with my hand while fishing. All in all, I love fishing from it. The only time it's a pain is when the wind is howling, but aside from that I've fished in it rain or shine, from 40 degrees out to 90.

[New Bass Man]

Nboucher,

I haven't considered and kayak but I'll give them a look.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[Travlin_Man]

The Gheenoe is much better than a canoe and even the 13 ft. model is rated for a gas outboard. They will not tip over and dump you and all the $$$$$ fishing gear in the drink. Also they can be powered with just a paddle or electric power.

[Guest avid]

I use a 14' old town osprey 140.  Excellent canoe.  I got the rowing model.   It has a wide bottom.  I stand in it all the time while fishing and only tipped once.  that was over a year ago and was due to improper centering of tackle boxes and foot placement (stupidity).  Remember even a stable canoe is still a canoe, but a good canoe is as stable as most jon boats.

I loved rowing around and used it for about 300 trips over the last year and a half. I toss it in the back of the pickup and tie it down with those snap clip dog collars.  These are very strong and secure the canoe really well in a matter of seconds. 14' is long enough to be steady if it gets a little choppy, but the canoe weighs less than 60 lbs.  It has oar locks so you can use it like a jon boat.  Much easeir and faster than paddling. Unfortunately, I overdid it, and injured injured my elbow and shoulder (I'm 57 years old).  But no problem.  I bought a sidesaddle mount and just ordered a trolling motor.  

I haven't been fishing for about 6 weeks and feel much better.  By the time my motor gets here I should be all healed up and ready to go bassin again.

got the itch real baaaaaaaaaaaaaad.  Can't wait.