Pitching from Canoe

[Uncle_MC]

I recently got fishing rights to a lake where I am allowed to take the owner's canoe on the water. Now that I'm able to get off the bank, I am thinking of the new opportunities this will open up for me. I was thinking of adding a flipping/pitching setup to round out my 3-rod arsenal, that would also be able to punch and throw frogs. Something like a 7' H/XF Rod w/ a fast reel and 50-65lb braid.

 

But I realized, are flipping and pitching really viable techniques from a canoe? It's really not built for standing up in, I can barely keep it still while sitting, and as its not mine, I won't be able to modify it in any way for optimal performance. I've never even been in a canoe before today when I did a lap around the lake just to get a feel for it. If anyone would like to share their experiences with flipping or any other "stand up" techniques, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

[MN Fisher]

I'm sure @A-Jay will pop in with his experience with his Old Town, but my experience with a canoe involves outrigger stabilizers. Maybe you can make an add-on that just clamps to the canoe. That way it's removable and doesn't permanently modify it in any way.

 

Deck-camera shot that shows the port stabilizer on my canoe - there's another to starboard.

[WRB]

Do know how to swim?

Tom

[CountryboyinDC]

There are certainly canoes that can be pitched from standing up, like the Sportspal, or you can go the way of @MN Fisher and put outriggers or Wingman cooler holder (I guess they sort of accomplish the same thing) on a canoe for stability.  Since you're borrowing it, I wouldn't go too heavy on the modifications, even if the owner didn't mind.  I would just pitch sitting down.  It's not as easy, and I dare say not as accurate, but with practice, it should be more accurate than an overhead or roll cast.  Realistically, you probably won't need a broomstick with 65 lb braid on it - a spinning rod with 8 lb test will usually pull a canoe along unless you're pulling straight up.  Remember the old adage about fishing out of a canoe or kayak, "If your head goes over the gunwales, your body will follow."  It is easy to forget when you're trying to cast to a difficult spot or fighting a fish.

[Uncle_MC]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

Do know how to swim?

Tom

Fortunately, I do. However, I usually like my swimming excursions to be on my own terms.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

Do know how to swim?

Tom

Notice in my pic - I'm wearing my PFD. Even when I was an 'indestructable' teen with my 150#, 17' fiberglass canoe back in the 70s, I've ALWAYS worn my PFD when in a canoe.

[WRB]

Stay seated and enjoy your time on the water using casting techniques that work well.

Tom

[RoLo]

 

When your body-weight is close to the keel, a canoe is more seaworthy than a flat-bottomed boat.

When your body-weight is away from the keel, a canoe is less seaworthy than all hull configurations.

Don the flotation vest before fetching the paddle. 

 

Roger

[A-Jay]

My rig (Old Town Predator Canoe) is just shy of 16 ft has a 40 inch beam, a flat bottom, a squareback and weighs 125 lb empty.  Rigged and ready that number goes way up. It is super stable and I stand to fish most every trip.

IME of fishing from my canoe, 10 years plus, the biggest disadvantage of attempting to 'horse's a decent bass from any heavy cover situation, is even if I manage to get a decent hookset, while attempting to get a buried bass up and out of the slop, the boat moves Toward the fish.  So much so that it can often result in a fairly poor strike to landing ratio.  Unless you are right on top of the fish to start with, or anchored, you'll find that you are bring the boat to the bass rather than the reverse; definitely problematic.

Not saying it can't be done, just that, like many presentations made from small crafts, may not be ideal.

A-Jay 

[Manifestgtr]

I’ve fished in canoes on and off since I started fishing. From a purely logistical, “it’s possible” standpoint...there are some you can stand up in. Of course, I couldn’t recommend it to anyone with a clean conscience but I’ve done it. As a kid, I fished in this huge, ultra heavy, bare aluminum canoe. I stood up every trip and never once went in. On the other hand, I inherited my grandfather’s 12’ Radisson and while it’s my favorite canoe of all time (one man can carry it with one hand), you absolutely CANNOT stand up in it...you would be in the water within seconds. 
 

I’ve had two canoe tipping incidents in the last 30 years and they’re really, REALLY not something you wanna get into...especially in the age of cell phones. 
 

With all of that being said, there are actually some little advantages I’ve found to being low. It puts you nearly at eye level with certain docks and lay downs, so you can really get in there. You can also work your way into little, shallow spaces that a bass boat would never fit.

 

I own both...a bass boat and a canoe. I don’t look at the canoe as being at a disadvantage, really. You get to learn its strengths and weaknesses. Both boats can do things the other could never do. The only true, unique frustration you’ll find in a canoe is that they’re awful in the wind. If you’re trying to work a spot without an anchor (I hate non-talon anchors...) and the wind kicks up, you’re going bye bye...no questions asked. All that means is that you have to consider the wind...find sheltered areas, paddle up the lake then allow the wind to push you while you work the shoreline, etc. It just takes some getting used to.

 

The important thing is that you’re now off the shore. No matter how you look at it, that’s a good thing. 

[scaleface]

Pitching would be difficult . If you havent learned the sidearm roll cast then start and make sure the lures are heavy enough to do it effortlessly . So many people now days use the lightest lures possible but those can be difficult to cast accurately with ease . The reason largemouth bass have such largemouths is so so they can eat large prey .

[Hook2Jaw]

I pitch from a seated position in my kayak all the time, and it's accomplished by sweeping the rod sideways or at a diagonal.  It's not as accurate as standing and pitching, which I also do, but it's close and helps me work shoreline cover while on the move at a much quicker pace than repeatedly standing.

 

Your canoe seat should be higher than my kayak seat, so I imagine you can pitch with a diagonal sweep and get distance and accuracy close to a pure vertical pitch!  Have at it and have fun!

 

Most importantly, please wear your PFD.  I'm 32 years old, climb trees for a living.  Safety has kept me away from injury and death both at work and at pleasure.

[Mobasser]

I have a 17ft aluminum canoe made in Lebanon, Missouri by Osagian canoes. It's 4ft wide in the center with a square back, so it's very stable. I've stood and fished many times, but mostly just casting. It still works best for sitting down and fishing.