Evolution of a fishing canoe (and mindset)

[The Baron]

After hating the thought of being “stuck” with just a canoe, I decided to make lemonade as the saying goes.  My first few outings, drifting and blowing in the wind, fumbling with tangled rods, I would curse the elements and swear a trolling motor and casting deck would change my luck.  But, with each outing I came to realize that I’m on the water… I’m healthy… sometimes the fish bite… and life is good.  Slowly the upgrades happened - first a cheap fish finder (Hummingbird 535 - $100 with a battery on a local used fishing gear site).  Setup as a portable unit, I ended up with the transducer attached to a short piece of PVC conduit.  Trimmed just right, it attaches to the gunnel in seconds with a small C-clamp.  When the old school lead-acid battery failed, I bought a LiOn battery from Amazon for $60.  So much lighter, easily lasts all day and charges quickly - very happy with that.  No side imaging or watching wolf packs on live scope, but knowing the depth, bottom structure and water temp. is a whole lot better than fishing blind.  I’ve been able to work some deep weed edges and drop offs with this setup, and put some good ones in the net.

 

Next, I opened up a lot of space by adding a 3 rod holder ($25 on Amazon) behind me.  It works great when I’m alone and sitting forward of the rear seat, but (as I learned) bait covers are essential when I have a partner and have to sit on the rear seat with treble hooks rubbing my back. 

The next upgrade was Spotlock… aka a small anchor.  On days where the wind just won’t do what I tell it to, I can hold while I work some cover or structure.  If fishing along the shore, I can just pull the anchor up a few feet while the wind drifts me another 2 cast lengths alone the shore then drop again and work the new area for as little or long as needed.

 

Fishing alone, I’ve now got a great setup.  My canoe is a 17ft. aluminum and stable enough to stand in for fishing when I need to stretch my legs.  With my tackle bag and rods behind me, net laid across the thwart/seat in front of me ready to go, fish finder just ahead of the yoke I now have a very efficient setup.??  

 

With a partner, a canoe is still functional but that’s where I still really want a boat.  However, with acceptance of my situation I purposely went looking for spots better suited for a canoe and I will say I’ve found some good ones.  Sometimes a short carry but often that means I’m on a small lake by myself.  After changing my outlook from dwelling on what I don’t have, I’ve had a great season in the HMCS Poverty.

 

I think my next upgrade will be a better fish finder - but I’m in no big hurry.

 

So, there’s my story.  Does anyone else have a canoe setup or ideas to share?

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Before the F-9, I had a 14' Sun Dolphin Scout SS that I did intensive modifications to.

 

Replaced the original plastic seats with 2"x2" aluminum angle with 2"x12" painted wood, mounted a standard boat seat to the rear, with 'flagpole holders' and outriggers made of PVC pipe and crab-trap floats.

 

30# MinnKota TM and a 75ah battery under the front seat. Lowrance Hook 2-4 to start, upgraded to a Striker 7CV with the transducer mounted on a Scotty mount.

 

Custom built rod holders and mounted them behind the rear seat. Also an anchor trolley with a 2# fluke anchor...it held position fairly well.

 

 

Worked quite well, but sold it and used the proceeds to finance the F-9 rebuild.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Nice rig.

I say that there's plenty of very nice fish to be caught from your canoe.

Just need to hunt them down a bit. 

Before I got into a boat - I was (and still am) fishing from an Old Town Canoe.

Over time I've made a few handy for me modifications which have helped make the entire experience much more enjoyable.

At least one anchor is a must and sometimes two is better. (bow & stern)

There's a learning curve and you'll need quite a bit of anchor line to do it effectively & safely.

Especially if you fish in relatively deep water.

But it's worth it as presenting baits from a stationary platform can be a real big deal. 

Most all my adventures in the canoe are on smaller lakes.

Sometimes it's paddle only power, other places I use the trolling motor. 

Portage is often part of my deal (I use a small 2 wheel cart) but big wind & waves are not.

Just too hard to fish & often is unsafe. 

I've been able to have some very memorable days on the water the past 14 years or so

and even catch a few decent fish, including bass, in the process.

 

 

I have recorded several videos from the canoe 

Below is a clip of a hefty Pike I got a few years back while fishing from the canoe. 

 

https://youtu.be/02fPoZHOri8?t=125

A-Jay

 

 

[gim]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Most all my adventures in the canoe are on smaller lakes.

This is an important piece of the puzzle IMO.  You wouldn't be taking your canoe on big waters you take the Lund not only because its borderline unsafe, but also probably very ineffective.  Certain watercraft are ideal for certain bodies of water.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

This is an important piece of the puzzle IMO.  You wouldn't be taking your canoe on big waters you take the Lund not only because its borderline unsafe, but also probably very ineffective.  Certain watercraft are ideal for certain bodies of water.

Exactly - Tonka is a larger water, and in the canoe I restricted myself to the smaller bays. Wanted to get into the bigger water of the lake - and that's the reason I 'traded up' to the F-9.

[gim]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Tonka is a larger water, and in the canoe I restricted myself to the smaller bays.

Ya the nice part about Tonka is that even though its a sizable lake, there aren't that many areas that are just big expansive open areas.  Its essentially a series of interconnected manageable sized bays.

[TnRiver46]

I love my aluminum canoe. If I had to just have a single boat, it would probably be a canoe .  I’d love an old town guide 147 probably even more than my alumacraft because they slide over rocks in rapids instead of slamming into them. Aluminum is very light and surprisingly stable tho 

 

 

I do love these things, just bought one after reading this thread. Helps a lot on the long days 

[padlin]

I use a solo 14.6" cedar canoe and stick to waters that do not allow power boats. 2 anchors, both are 1.5" pvc filled with bird shot, lost 2 mushrooms to stumps/roots so I changed to these.

 

Small fish finder which i use like you do. It only goes along once in a while when needled.

 

Seat back added for the longer days, as well as a seat cushion.

 

That's really it, I do like the idea of a 3 rod holder, broke a ML rod my last outting after dropping the anchor on it behind me.

 

I did buy a Bass Raider 2 seater this year to take the grandkids out, works great but I still prefer the canoe.