Can a canoe be a fishing machine?

[Fishing Rhino]

Yes, it can. In fact, a canoe has some advantages (and disadvantages) over a full fledged bass boat.

I spent considerable time thinking about how to make my canoe as efficient as possible.

I can have eight poles rigged and ready to fish within arm's length. Each rod is entirely within the canoe. No need to worry about plants or branches snagging them while working tight to the shore.

It's easy to fight a fish from a canoe. Nothing in the water for a line to get wrapped around. When the fish is at the boat, you are already in position to grab or net it.

With a canoe, you can fish in extremely shallow rocky water, where few other boats can go.

Here's my creation.

[Fishing Rhino]

I wanted to post more than one image.  Hopefully this works.

[Fishing Rhino]

I went to the FAQs about posting multiple images in one post, but

I'm still having problems.  Here's another.

[Live.2.Fish]

Looks like you have a real nice setup there!  8-)

[cnkale80]

WOW!!  That's a heck of an outfit you got there.  I have a 15'7 Old Town myself and am looking into rigging it up.  I have a 46lb thrust minn kota motor I'm about to mount on mine.  Once I get it all set up, I'll post some pics.  You're like a Rambo fisherman, lol.

[Fishing Rhino]

Thanks.

Like everything else, a canoe has its niche where it is better than other boats.

It is best on small, or sheltered ponds/lakes and some rivers.  It is at its worst when exposed to windy conditions.

When it is calm, the resistance of a lure as you retrieve it is sufficient to pull the canoe through the water.  Some, spinner baits in particular really drag it along.  

The technique I use is to work the shorelines of the ponds I fish.  The canoe is positioned twenty to thirty feet from the shore.  This allows me to work the lure in an area right up to the shore up to sixty feet or so from the shore.

I fan cast that area with 5 - 7 casts.  When that pattern is completed, the canoe will have moved 10 - 15 feet forward, provided there is no wind.  This allows me to find where the fish are holding, and then to work that area.

When it's breezy or windy, I have a five gallon bucket rigged as a sea anchor.  It slows the drift of the boat considerably.

The downside of the canoe is that it gets tiresome sitting in one position for a few hours.  When fishing in windy conditions, I spend up to 80% of the time keeping the boat in position, especially when fishing upwind.

Where I fish, it's too rocky to use a trolling motor.  

On some windy days, I'll back the canoe into the water hyacinth and cast along the shore and outward.  After a few casts, I move the canoe thirty feet or so along the weeds and back it in again.  

Some days require the use of the anchor.

On those days, a jon boat with a trolling motor would be preferable.

On larger ponds and lakes, I'd prefer some type of bass boat.

[Certified Public Angler]

That is a sweet set up.  And if you flip over the rods will stay in. ;D

[Fishing Rhino]

WOW!! That's a heck of an outfit you got there. I have a 15'7 Old Town myself and am looking into rigging it up. I have a 46lb thrust minn kota motor I'm about to mount on mine. Once I get it all set up, I'll post some pics. You're like a Rambo fisherman, lol.

Thanks. That's what my canoe is. I also carry three tackle boxes with me. I've got to get another to replace the large one in the photos. It's too tall. The plan is to get one that will slide under the gap between the bottom and the center brace.

I'll attach a cord to each box, then push 'em forward out of the way using the paddle. Then I can drag 'em back to me.

Now, I have to lean forward, over the cross member to access the large box.

Behind the seat is the mushroom anchor which is stored in the drift anchor bucket. A small net is stored beside them with the handle resting on the seat to my left. A couple of bottles of water are also kept in the bucket. The bucket also stores the pfd.

A watertight rubbermaid container is used to keep keys, cellphone, etc. to keep them from getting wet, and it will float should the canoe ever be capsized. Use a sharpie to put your name and address on it. Then, trace your name and address on the underside of the transparent lid and you don't have to worry about it wearing off on the outside.

The other item I would suggest is a heavy duty boat cart. I got one from LL Bean, and it is great. Center the canoe on it and it rolls as easily over the ground as a shopping cart in the supermarket. The one I have has what looks like knobby small bike wheels. It handles uneven ground well, unless you go too fast.

Push or pull, it works as well either way.

[Fishing Rhino]

That is a sweet set up. And if you flip over the rods will stay in. ;D

As it is now, they won't. The tips are kept in place with bungee cords during transport. The butt ends by plywood pieces with a hose along the edge. These are held in place with vice grips. The plan is to make a strip of wood with an edge cushioned for each side that can pivot and be held down by a bungee or some quick acting arrangement.

I have made a couple of modifications to the original which held all the rods in a straight horizontal line. I like the curved style better. It's not as tall at the sides.

At the rod tips, the plywood with 1/4 inch dowels pins is held in place with a couple of hand spring clamps. I put a piece of reinforced clear plastic hose from the hardware store over the edge, then drilled through it into the plywood for the dowels. The dowels are glued in place.

I should get with it and make the retainer for the butts, just in case.

[bigfruits]

is that a gci seat? how do you like it? i was going to buy a pair but i wanted to hear a review first.

thats a great set up btw. ive seen sit on top kayaks rigged up but never a canoe.

where will you put the depth finder?

thanks

-z

[Fishing Rhino]

is that a gci seat? how do you like it? i was going to buy a pair but i wanted to hear a review first.

thats a great set up btw. ive seen sit on top kayaks rigged up but never a canoe.

where will you put the depth finder?

thanks

-z

The seat is from LL Bean.  It works great.  There is an adjusting strap on the right side to adjust the back tension to your liking.

The orange (ammo style) box houses the fish finder.  It is the portable Eagle Cuda model.  The transducer has a suction cup mount.  The mount in the box is for use on the stern.  I used a couple of lengths of 1/8" x 1" aluminum to make it work on the side of the boat right beside where I sit.  

This allows me to remove it when I'm in shallow rocky water, or to remove the weeds it harvests.  

I'll post a photo of it mounted on the boat so anyone interested can copy it.  

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q155/HomarusAmericanus/Picture034jpgedit.jpghttp://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q155/HomarusAmericanus/Picture034jpgedit-1.jpg

[DADto4]

Now thats a rig to be proud of.

Do you fish mostly alone or is there enough room for another person to accompany you?

[Fishing Rhino]

Now thats a rig to be proud of.

Do you fish mostly alone or is there enough room for another person to accompany you?

I do fish mostly alone.  When I do fish with another, removing two screws is all that is necessary to remove the rod holder from the center cross brace (thwart).  The unit for the rod tips is held in place by two hand spring clamps.

As set up in the photos the boat is set up "backwards".  I paddle with the stern facing forward.

The reason for doing so is that the "front seat" is closer to the middle of the boat to allow leg room for the forward paddler.  There is little difference if any between the bow and stern.  By paddling stern first, I am closer to the center of the boat which keeps the bow from rising out of the water and having the stern squat.

It also provides room behind me for the sea anchor bucket and the anchor.  

That is the one drawback to the setup.  It is a one person rig.  

[ArcticCat500]

thats an awsome rig rite there man....I saw a canoe all done up years ago at a sprotmans show in MN and it was really cool.

Nice Job Fishing Rhino

[Fishing Rhino]

thats an awsome rig rite there man....I saw a canoe all done up years ago at a sprotmans show in MN and it was really cool.

Nice Job Fishing Rhino

Thanks.  It works better than I ever imagined a canoe could.

[kikstand454]

i fished exclusively from a canoe for many years and i love the set up u have there.

one thing i found was super important was to have a cushion to sit my paddle on and even padded the paddle itself so when you paddle up on those unsuspecting fish, the paddle doesnt make any noise when you set it down.

this was esp true where i fished cause it was super crystal clear water and it was spawn.

also i found that a kayak paddle was much better to travel any sort of distance,  but a straight paddle was the best for manuvering.

i also inshore fished just fine in a canoe.

fun= 25in. redfish in a canoe. ;D

not fun= 4 ft. bonnethead shark in canoe :-/

[Fishing Rhino]

i fished exclusively from a canoe for many years and i love the set up u have there.

one thing i found was super important was to have a cushion to sit my paddle on and even padded the paddle itself so when you paddle up on those unsuspecting fish, the paddle doesnt make any noise when you set it down.

this was esp true where i fished cause it was super crystal clear water and it was spawn.

also i found that a kayak paddle was much better to travel any sort of distance, but a straight paddle was the best for manuvering.

i also inshore fished just fine in a canoe.

The work end of the paddle sits on the webbed seat.  While it may not be clearly seen, the center "rack" has 3/8" clear plastic tubing.  The red pieces are plastic wire ties to hold the tubing in place.  I have a silicone mat to sit the anchor on when I use it.

I do try to minimize the sharp sounds that can be transmitted through the hull.  I even put silicon dabs on the bottom of the tackle boxes for that reason.  Plus, it prevents them from sliding around when loading and unloading.

fun= 25in. redfish in a canoe. ;D

not fun= 4 ft. bonnethead shark in canoe :-/