Canoe or kayak

[Ratherbefishing75]

I’m not sure if this has been discussed but canoe or kayak which one is better. I’ve been fishing out of a canoe ever since I was young and I’ve been pondering on getting a kayak but I’m unsure about it . My canoe is fully loaded with a trolling motor and a small 4 HP outboard Which is too big for it but I run it carefully I built a stabilizer system using two coolers sheet of plywood and some two by fours . That system seems to work great for me  but there are times that I want to go to some spots where there is no boat ramp  and as you can imagine my canoe was on a trailer with all the stuff I have added to it . So I guess the question is what would you guys prefer a canoe or a kayak and what are the pros and cons of each one

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, Ratherbefishing75 said:

So I guess the question is what would you guys prefer a canoe or a kayak and what are the pros and cons of each one

I don't think I could ever use a kayak...I like the fact that I can take up to 12 rigs, 4 tackle-bags and a cooler with me on the canoe...and still have room to move around.

 

Ya, being able to launch at 'unimproved' places would be a bit of a plus. but there's plenty of lakes around here with launches, so it's not that big of a deal. Besides; at my age/fitness level, carrying a kayak is not in the cards.

[Ratherbefishing75]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I don't think I could ever use a kayak...I like the fact that I can take up to 12 rigs, 4 tackle-bags and a cooler with me on the canoe...and still have room to move around.

 

Ya, being able to launch at 'unimproved' places would be a bit of a plus. but there's plenty of lakes around here with launches, so it's not that big of a deal. Besides; at my age/fitness level, carrying a kayak is not in the cards.

I hear you I like being able to carry all me stuff in my canoe too   I usually Cary 4 rods my tackle box fish finder coolers for drinks and snacks and I have room for 2 more full size adults and all there gear

[CountryboyinDC]

I fished most of my life out of a canoe on rivers.  I got my first kayak over a decade ago, and I don't believe that I'll go back to routinely fishing from a canoe.  The canoe has a couple of advantages - it can carry a lot for its weight and if you need to portage for any distance by yourself, the canoe is easier. 

 

By carrying a lot, I don't mean tackle.  Carrying a dozen rods and a bunch of Plano boxes is no great trick with a sit-on top kayak using a crate.  I mean a couple of barrels, big packs, 60 quart cooler.  

 

The kayak's advantages are it paddles better (for the most part), sheds wind better, and with your paddle in your lap is easier to correct your position and direction.  It also offers better mounting options for all the gadgets we end up using IMHO.  And for sit-in kayaks, it offers self recovery in deep water, something that is virtually impossible with a canoe.

 

That said, a guy in my club makes his Wenonah Fisherman do everything he wants as he paddles with a SUP or a canoe paddle, switching between fly and spinning gear.  I've seen folks with those wide aluminum canoes (not Grummans, just can't remember the name) rigged up like small bass boats.  

 

I've dragged both canoes and kayaks across railroad tracks (it seems like every secret spot on the river involves dragging down a steep bank across railroad tracks), and while the kayak is usually smaller, both are doable.  I would say get a dolly you can make either work for small ponds.

[Sphynx]

I will be purchasing one or the other this year, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for sure. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Sphynx said:

I will be purchasing one or the other this year, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for sure. 

There are so many different ways to rig a canoe that it's scary. Three examples from people here.

@Goose52

 

@Fishing Rhino

 

Mine - inspired by the previous two, but taken a different direction.

 

[Sphynx]

14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

There are so many different ways to rig a canoe that it's scary. Three examples from people here.

@Goose52

 

@Fishing Rhino

 

Mine - inspired by the previous two, but taken a different direction.

 

A big part of the reason that a canoe is in consideration is that I can pack a massive amount of weight on it, there is precisely nothing to stop me from doing a multi day float/camping trip, and still be able to take along fishing stuff, so it's a very serious option for me.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

A big part of the reason that a canoe is in consideration is that I can pack a massive amount of weight on it, there is precisely nothing to stop me from doing a multi day float/camping trip, and still be able to take along fishing stuff, so it's a very serious option for me.

Ya...one of my major mods was taking out the original plastic seats and replacing them with 2x12s supported on 2x2 aluminum angles - which use the original seat mounting holes. That gave me the under-seat area for tackle bags and the battery up under the bow seat.

 

Pre-mod shot showing the original seats

[Sphynx]

17 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya...one of my major mods was taking out the original plastic seats and replacing them with 2x12s supported on 2x2 aluminum angles - which use the original seat mounting holes. That gave me the under-seat area for tackle bags and the battery up under the bow seat.

 

Pre-mod shot showing the original seats

What model of canoe is that if you don't mind me asking? 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Sphynx said:

What model of canoe is that if you don't mind me asking? 

It's a 14' Sun Dolphin Scout SS (SS is for Square Stern)

Also sold as the Field and Stream Scout (sold at F&S and Dicks) - same canoe, just a different name-plate.

 

Sun Dolphin also has a 15' model called the Mackinaw SS

[Ratherbefishing75]

I  loving all the information keep not coming  I still love my canoe and will never give it up and every year I make new modifications to it and seeing pictures of everyone’s canoes and kayak s gives me ideas 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Ratherbefishing75 said:

I  loving all the information keep not coming  I still love my canoe and will never give it up and every year I make new modifications to it and seeing pictures of everyone’s canoes and kayak s gives me ideas 

I swear - after I finish this years mods, I'm posting a vid showing off everything.

[Deephaven]

Not sure what a kayak could ever do better than a canoe.  

[Dens228]

I've fished out of a canoe one time and the wind blew me all over the place.

I fish out of a kayak, can easily bring 10 rods, more tackle than I could possibly use, stand and fish, load on a cart and drag a mile, and also pull into a lot and be onthe water in 10 minutes.....Oh, and have a motor than can cruise me around at 4 mph for hours.........

3 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Not sure what a kayak could ever do better than a canoe.  

We all have our preferences and it's great that we can cater to them.  But just out of curiosity have you fished out of an actual fishing kayak?  Enough to be able to make a clear judgement of it's usability? 

[Deephaven]

2 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I've fished out of a canoe one time and the wind blew me all over the place.

I fish out of a kayak, can easily bring 10 rods, more tackle than I could possibly use, stand and fish, load on a cart and drag a mile, and also pull into a lot and be onthe water in 10 minutes.....Oh, and have a motor than can cruise me around at 4 mph for hours.........

We all have our preferences and it's great that we can cater to them.  But just out of curiosity have you fished out of an actual fishing kayak?  Enough to be able to make a clear judgement of it's usability? 

Yes, owned both.  That being said your idea of a yak and mine are different.  No need for a motor IMO.  I've paddled a few thousand miles and caught 1000's of fish while holding a paddle.  If I am going to bother with all the weight of a motor or batteries it will be a completely different type of craft.

[Sphynx]

9 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I've fished out of a canoe one time and the wind blew me all over the place.

I fish out of a kayak, can easily bring 10 rods, more tackle than I could possibly use, stand and fish, load on a cart and drag a mile, and also pull into a lot and be onthe water in 10 minutes.....Oh, and have a motor than can cruise me around at 4 mph for hours.........

We all have our preferences and it's great that we can cater to them.  But just out of curiosity have you fished out of an actual fishing kayak?  Enough to be able to make a clear judgement of it's usability? 

Out of curiosity, how do you think a kayak would do for an overall adventure craft?

[michaelb]

I love canoes, own two, and have tripped extensively with them; I also have 5 kayaks + 3 paddleboards. Canoes are excellent for hauling gear and people and dogs. You can portage a canoe and a canoe is generally easier to get to the put in than a kayak, dramatically so on rough and uneven ground when a cart may fail or struggle. You can drag it upstream and run tiny creeks and swamps. But they are mediocre for fishing. They float which is good and they can hold your rods sort of on the bottom. But you are seated in a canoe and twisting sideways to cast. Canoes are harder to anchor and they love to spin in the wind in always the wrong direction.

 

Kayaks are generally miserable to have to carry, so any distance you want help or a cart or both. Fishing kayaks weigh a ton and are beasts to move, and dragging one through rocks and stumps and trees and mud puddles is not that much fun. No one seriously portages a kayak any distance voluntarily. Kayaks can be rigged with lots of gear including anchors. They generally handle wind much better and sit on tops are self bailing and if you are nimble enough, you can self rescue in deep water.

 

But for fishing, the biggest and most obvious factor is: you can stand on a kayak. This is a game changer for fishing, both in terms of your comfortable level and in terms of what you can see in the water. Even if you fish sitting down much of the time, it is really nice to stand (yes, you can stand in a canoe but you really aren't doing that fishing).

 

You need a kayak cart to get to the water no matter what. Your rigged up canoe with the motor and all, could be more easily handled with a cart. There is no reason to get a kayak if the motivation is ease of moving from the parking area to the water. Many kayaks can handle trolling motors. So if you have an extra $1000-2000, and want to try a fully rigged fishing kayak, the fishing would probably be better than the canoe.

[Deephaven]

If you are going to have that much weight and hassle a small jon boat or even a larger boat makes even more sense.  

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, michaelb said:

But for fishing, the biggest and most obvious factor is: you can stand on a kayak. This is a game changer for fishing, both in terms of your comfortable level and in terms of what you can see in the water. Even if you fish sitting down much of the time, it is really nice to stand (yes, you can stand in a canoe but you really aren't doing that fishing).

I stand in my canoe to pitch or long cast all the time...it's called outriggers.

[michaelb]

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I stand in my canoe to pitch or long cast all the time...it's called outriggers.

 

Yes, obviously you can rig up stuff lots of ways. the OP should get outriggers on his canoe and cart to carry everything to the water. But you aren't portaging a canoe with a motor and outriggers and bolted seats and rod holders. So while it all works, you are taking away one of the major advantages of a canoe: getting to water that isn't off a parking lot.

 

Also, if you are miles from the put in and off shore, and rolling in heavy waves, you are going to probably want to be in a kayak. Since once that canoe swamps you are in a lot of trouble. But two strong paddlers in a properly loaded canoe can move along pretty well, and I assume a motor works too. So there are choices and options and tradeoffs with each type of boat.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, michaelb said:

So while it all works, you are taking away one of the major advantages of a canoe: getting to water that isn't off a parking lot.

Well, personally I'm to old and unfit to cart my canoe much less go into the wilderness anymore. So my canoe is trailered and I launch at boat ramps...so I can afford to put all that 'extra stuff' on it.

 

3 minutes ago, michaelb said:

Also, if you are miles from the put in and off shore, and rolling in heavy waves, you are going to probably want to be in a kayak. Since once that canoe swamps you are in a lot of trouble.

 

Lakes I fish around me, 1/2 mile from shore max. Also, I never remove my PFD and I don't go out when the wind/waves is going to be an issue.

 

4 minutes ago, michaelb said:

So there are choices and options and tradeoffs with each type of boat.

Yep - if a kayak is for you...go for it.

 

It's not for me - I'll keep my heavily modified canoe, thank you.

[Darth-Baiter]

47 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Not sure what a kayak could ever do better than a canoe.  

 I got one.  You can’t launch a canoe off the beach into the surf

 

I kid!

 

I love my kayak.  But it has pedals for power.  Hand free for fishing. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'd much rather have my pedal kayak than a canoe. I spent a lot of time in a canoe growing up and it was never comfortable. We get so much wind here, they're pretty worthless on anything other than rivers/streams.

[CountryboyinDC]

7 hours ago, michaelb said:

But for fishing, the biggest and most obvious factor is: you can stand on a kayak.

I like most of what you said, but you can definitely stand in a canoe too.  I wouldn't recommend you try it in my Dagger Encore or a Jensen racing model, but you can definitely stand and fish.  A couple of people that I fish with turn 360 in their Wenonah Fisherman and Old Town Osprey.  Definitely could do it in a Sportspal.

[Ratherbefishing75]

7 hours ago, Deephaven said:

If you are going to have that much weight and hassle a small jon boat or even a larger boat makes even more sense.  

already having the canoe and lack of space to store something larger plays a big roll in what you can have