New to canoe - always banked fish

[cal9323]

I’ve always bank fished and had great success using different tackle (Ned rigs, paddletail swimbaits, Crankbaits, stick worms, spinnerbaits etc ...). 
 

I just got a canoe and have been out 3x where I only caught 1 bass each time. I slay them from the bank, so I must be doing something wrong because I figured I would catch more from a canoe/kayak/boat. 
 

it’s weird because I’ve done better with a whopper plopper and buzzbait from the bank than from the canoe. 

 

Are there better lures to use and/or any tips? I try to throw under trees down the lake and fish any docks or wood. How many casts before I move on? Better to use moving baits since I am moving so much?

 

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[frogflogger]

Just keep fishing in it and you will figure it out. Great way to fish and you will learn a bunch about boat positioning for better success.

[jimmyjoe]

   If this canoe is aluminum, try to keep quiet. Especially no "thumps". It helps.     jj

[MGF]

Boat control add a whole new facet to fishing Don't be afraid to anchor or tie off to something.

 

My wife and I have a canoe that we use on the river quite a bit and a 14 ft flat bottom boat. I prefer the boat for stability and the amount of tackle I can carry but sometimes river conditions (low water) really makes the canoe the easier option.

 

When conditions are right for it, I sometimes park the boat or canoe, get out and wade.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, MGF said:

Don't be afraid to anchor or tie off to something.

Double down on this. I have a canoe, it's my only way onto the lake. I use a tablet-based map/GPS system with a Hook2-4 under it - cheap and useful. When I get to what looks to be a good spot, down goes the anchor and I fish the heck out of it with whatever I can toss - 10 rigs lets me have variety without having to retie.

[MGF]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Double down on this. I have a canoe, it's my only way onto the lake. I use a tablet-based map/GPS system with a Hook2-4 under it - cheap and useful. When I get to what looks to be a good spot, down goes the anchor and I fish the heck out of it with whatever I can toss - 10 rigs lets me have variety without having to retie.

How do you carry 10 rigs in a canoe? I usually carry two and my wife usually has two. We usually load that thing up pretty good.

 

Also, on the river I tether most of my gear so that it stays with the canoe in case of a capsize.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, MGF said:

How do you carry 10 rigs in a canoe? I usually carry two and my wife usually has two. We usually load that thing up pretty good.

Takes a bit of ingenuity.

 

And yes, they're all tethered too.

[MN Fisher]

Oh - those aluminum 2x2 angles? Holds a pressure-treated, primed and painted 2x12 on top of which I've mounted a standard boat seat.

[Mobasser]

I have a canoe. Mine is a 17ft square back made by Osagian canoe in Lebonan Mo. It's 4ft wide in the center, and very stable. I usually just bring 2 rods and a small box of standard baits. We only use it on small lakes.                         Use your canoe just as you would a Jon boat. Slowly troll, and cast. We also use a portable Hummingbird depthfinder, to locate deep water spots also.

[Bass Rutten]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

...10 rigs lets me have variety without having to retie.

10 rigs? Dang! If it’s not too much trouble I’d like to know how you organize those in your canoe.

edit: nevermind, seen it

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Bassjam2000 said:

10 rigs? Dang! If it’s not too much trouble I’d like to know how you organize those in your canoe.

Look at the pics I posted - two rod-racks with 6 tubes each...got room for 12 rigs. Mounted behind the seat, but far enough forward that they don't interfere with the TM.

 

@A-Jay has a 9-spot rack in his Old Town, so I'm not the only one to carry a number of rigs in a canoe. (Pic from A-Jay's album 'A-Jay's Fish Pics II')

 

[cal9323]

What’s even more odd is that I catch them on random casts out to the middle as opposed to spending a lot of time fishing the coast line under trees. 

[the reel ess]

It's a lot easier to be noisy in a canoe or kayak than on land. Especially easy in the canoe compared to a SOT kayak because there is only one layer between you and the water.

[Darren.]

Study your waters now that you're seeing 'em from a different

perspective. See where you've casted from shore, now you're

going to cast from the opposite direction, but with the added

benefit of getting places you've never been.

 

As always, consider slowing down your approach, your retrieve

if the bite is tough out there. I remember getting out in my canoe

after years of shoreline fishing. Took some getting used to and

different approaches. Absolutely second/third the rec of using

an anchor or branch clamp to tie off and fish an area. Wind can

be a witch with a capital B in a canoe or kayak  .

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Darren. said:

Wind can

be a witch with a capital B in a canoe or kayak  .

Ya, even a mild breeze under 5mph can cause my canoe to drift away from a spot within just a few cast's time. Someway of making sure you stay in place is a must.

[Kdizzle]

On 7/3/2020 at 6:54 PM, Mobasser said:

I have a canoe. Mine is a 17ft square back made by Osagian canoe in Lebonan Mo. It's 4ft wide in the center, and very stable. I usually just bring 2 rods and a small box of standard baits. We only use it on small lakes.                         Use your canoe just as you would a Jon boat. Slowly troll, and cast. We also use a portable Hummingbird depthfinder, to locate deep water spots also.

As a native of LebAnon, MO, I sir am insulted by your haphazard spelling of the name of this beautiful city.  May god have mercy on your poor soul. 

 

And to add to the conversation, I don't river fish out of anything but a fishing kayak or a jon.  Canoes are too unstable for a simple float trip for me, where a simple butt repositioning can feel like hitting a white cap on Lake Michigan.   

 

[A-Jay]

On 7/3/2020 at 2:51 PM, cal9323 said:

I’ve always bank fished and had great success using different tackle (Ned rigs, paddletail swimbaits, Crankbaits, stick worms, spinnerbaits etc ...). 
 

I just got a canoe and have been out 3x where I only caught 1 bass each time. I slay them from the bank, so I must be doing something wrong because I figured I would catch more from a canoe/kayak/boat. 
 

it’s weird because I’ve done better with a whopper plopper and buzzbait from the bank than from the canoe. 

 

Are there better lures to use and/or any tips? I try to throw under trees down the lake and fish any docks or wood. How many casts before I move on? Better to use moving baits since I am moving so much?

 

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

The challenge of finding bass in open water along with effective boat position has added a couple of layers to your learning curve that often take a while to figure out; and we can be talking years here.

So three trips into it,  my friend you're still in the infancy stage.

Give it some time.

Remember that bass like edges, and the bass you slayed in the past were at or at least near one - the bank.

Perhaps try to locate more 'edge' type stuff from the canoe. 

If you have access to a map of the water you're fishing that can help but is not necessary.

Hard cover & soft cover all have some type of 'edge' - usually makes a decent ambush point.

Bass like those, especially this time of year. 

As for baits, topwater can and often is very effective, but might not be the deal in deeper open water.

Consider fishing lower and slower.

Texas rigged worm / soft plastic can be super productive as is a jig & craw.   

Keep reading, keep learning and most importantly, keep fishing.

btw - if you don't already have one - get an anchor & line - and Use It.

You'll be glad you did. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Mobasser]

1 hour ago, Kdizzle said:

As a native of LebAnon, MO, I sir am insulted by your haphazard spelling of the name of this beautiful city.  May god have mercy on your poor soul. 

 

And to add to the conversation, I don't river fish out of anything but a fishing kayak or a jon.  Canoes are too unstable for a simple float trip for me, where a simple butt repositioning can feel like hitting a white cap on Lake Michigan.   

 

You must not have read through my post. My canoe is 4ft wide in the center. It's more stable than some jon boats I've been in. I use it a lot on small.lakes with 0 problems. So, I know very well how stable it is. Didn't mean to misspell the name of your beautiful city.  I'm a fellow Missourian myself, so I apologize. I'm glad you use your canoe as you've stated, for your fishing. But sir, your reply makes no sense. Insults won't get you very far on this site. Thank You.

[Kdizzle]

13 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

You must not have read through my post. My canoe is 4ft wide in the center. It's more stable than some jon boats I've been in. I use it a lot on small.lakes with 0 problems. So, I know very well how stable it is. Didn't mean to misspell the name of your beautiful city.  I'm a fellow Missourian myself, so I apologize. I'm glad you use your canoe as you've stated, for your fishing. But sir, your reply makes no sense. Insults won't get you very far on this site. Thank You.

Sir you have insulted me to the core.  I metaphorically use my glove to thrash you across the face and demand satisfaction for the inappropriate spelling of my homeland and the insult to the people of said land by said spelling.  I give you the choice of method of satisfaction of course seeing that I am a man of nobility and honor.  Pistols at dawn or rapiers at some other time of day. Your choice good sir.  I will be becamped at the corner of jefferson and highway 5 tomorrow morning breakfasting upon my customary starbucks caramel macchiato and blueberry scone if you wish to accept the challenge and prove you are a gentleman.  Good day sir.

[LCG]

I catch far more fish when fishing from a kayak. It just allows far more access than Bank fishing and is so quiet. I fish Ned rigs, texas rigs, spinnerbaits, etc and do fairly well considering the area. 

 

Keep at it and you will catch more fish. The key is to target the obvious spots lay downs, Rocky areas, cover, etc. 

[cal9323]

Thanks everyone. How far should I position my canoe from the bank to throw/retrieve?

[MN Fisher]

Depends where the fish are. They can be in water that's 2'-3' or even shallower - or out hanging around drop-offs sitting at 15'-20' or even deeper.