Man overboard

[shorefisher]

Well I read RonDef's account on flipping a canoe and it sounded so interesting I just had to try it myself.

1st Mistake -Couldn't seem to find anyone else interested in fishing today and sometimes it's better to fish alone anyways so I decided to load up the 17ft. aluminum Grumman canoe and head out to my favorite pond solo. I got her out on the water and quickly realized that she wasn't nearly as stable with the front 4 feet of the canoe out of the water while I was sitting in the back. But no matter or so I thought. I got up into my favorite little cove and proceeded to quickly nail 4 bass.

2nd Mistake -I decided to that my spot was fished out for now so I got ready to go to the next. I leaned over to grab the paddle and the boat shifted and just kept on going. I had one of those really long seconds where the oh crap is flashing through your mind, I tried to counterbalance the other way but quickly realized it wasn't gonna happen so to save the canoe from completely flipping I just went with it and rolled in.

3rd Mistake -My rod and reel were previously on my lap but now around 15ft deep in the muck along with my regular glasses and of course my cell phone was in my pocket. BONUS: Tacklebox with ALL my prize tackle didn't go over. Oh and the flip-flops managed to stay on my feet.  

I wish I had a video of it, it must have been pretty funny. Ahhh SPLASH!   There was a guy shore fishing across the pond and he must have wondered what the devil I was playing at.

So I'm pretty bummed right now. The moral of the story is that If you are canoing solo you may want to try sitting in the middle of the canoe. Thank god it was summer that I learned my lesson the hard way.

Also if anyone has a quality spinning reel for sale in the 2500-3500 size range could you please pm me and let me know? I feel sick that I lost my other one and I don't have anything to use right now.  

[Stasher1]

I can offer a bit of advice on this subject. When paddling a canoe solo or with a small child, turn it around and sit in the bow seat. It moves your weight more towards the center of the boat and will help keep the bow in the water. I know this advice comes too late to save your rod/reel, but give it a try next time you're out.

Oh, don't forget to tether your rod/reel to the boat, along with any accessories you don't want to lose. Again, too late to help but figured I'd toss it out there anyway.  

[shorefisher]

I can offer a bit of advice on this subject. When paddling a canoe solo or with a small child, turn it around and sit in the bow seat.

Thanks for the suggestion, it makes a lot of sense.

[IDbasser]

I have been thinking about getting a canoe, and I am learning from the mistakes you guys are making.  I haven't been in a canoe since I was a teenager.  I have caught a lot fish from canoes, and had a lot of un with them, especially growing up in Arkansas.  Be safe out there guys!

[burleytog]

Just throw some rocks in the bow.

[Sam]

Very glad you are OK.

A canoe or a pirogue can flip so fast that you have little warning.

I would also like to suggest to all bass boat owners that next summer, when the waters are warm, jump out of the boat and into the water and then try to get back into the boat.

Your buddy, which you need to have with you, will have to help you back into the boat so those of us who use bass boats should not laugh when a canoe flips.

I can tell you that it is almost impossible to get back into the bass boat, especially when you have your clothes and shoes heavy with water.  Please believe me, I know.

I am going to get a ladder for my bass boat just in case.  

[rondef]

Shorefisher,

Were you wearing your PFD? I hope you were. I will give you the same advice I got and it worked for me. Get a friend to go out with you and drag the bottom where the canoe flipped. I tried both stringers and magnets and found my rods. I found mine using the magnet to locate the rods.  Once we found them we used another fishing rod with a spinnerbait and snagged the rods. Just remember the magnets will not lock on to the fishing rods, they will lock on to some lures that are attached to the fishing rods. Give it a shot, you might get lucky like I did. If not contact a local scuba diving club and see if you can find someone that will dive for it. This is coming from someone who was in your shoes just days ago.

Good Luck,

Ron

[Mrs. Matstone]

Sorry to hear that your canoe tipped over but glad that your ok and at least you did not lose all your tackle. I spent the whole weekend on the river fishing and saw lots of folks that did the same thing you did. I have done it before myself. I hope you have some luck recovering you rod.  

[suskyguide]

I can tell you that it is almost impossible to get back into the bass boat, especially when you have your clothes and shoes heavy with water. Please believe me, I know.

If you find yourself in the water with no way to get back in your bass boat, try moving to the engine, put your foot on or straddle the cavitation plate and push the trim switch on the motor, it will lift you right out. trust me I know from experience as well :-[

[skillet]

Really glad you are OK (just bummed out ). Don't mean to add to the misery, just feel for you. Would REALLY hate to lose the stuff that has taken me so long to accumulate :'(...

                            As Ever,

                             skillet

[shorefisher]

Thanks for your support guys. I learned my lesson the hard way as usual. But it's not all bad. I needed a new pair of glasses anyways.

[rondef]

Shorefisher, have you tried to retrieve your gear yet?

[CFFF 1.5]

Next you go alone just put a cinder block in the front of the canoe and everything should be ok. I fished out of canoes for years before getting my 12' jon boat. All I can say is I don't miss the canoe. Not being able to stand up all day really suck and taking pictures is not easy.

[shorefisher]

Shorefisher, have you tried to retrieve your gear yet?

No I've been a little under the weather. I would like to get my rod and reel back, but I don't really have much faith that I will. I will try to drag for it the next time I'm there. Do you have any suggestions to make snagging it easier?

[rondef]

Does the rod have a lure attached to it? Do you know exactly where you flipped?

I would bring a fishing rod with a weighted hook or a heavy spinnerbait, a powerful magnet with a rope attached to it and a stringer. I would drag the stringer and the magnet in an attempt to locate the rod. If you can find the area you should be able to drag a spinnerbait or a weighted hook along the bottom to snag the rod, reel or line.

In my case the magnet locked on to my bait but it couldn't pull up the rod so we dropped a 1/2 ounce spinnerbait down where the magnet was and hooked the line and then pulled up the line. The reason I was able to do this was due to the fact that I knew exactly where we tipped over so I knew where to search for my gear (that was the key to finding the gear). Good luck if I lived near you I would give you a hand.

[shorefisher]

Does the rod have a lure attached to it?  Do you know exactly where you flipped?

I would bring a fishing rod with a weighted hook or a heavy spinnerbait, a powerful magnet with a rope attached to it and a stringer.  I would drag the stringer and the magnet in an attempt to locate the rod.  If you can find the area you should be able to drag a spinnerbait or a weighted hook along the bottom to snag the rod, reel or line.

In my case the magnet locked on to my bait but it couldn't pull up the rod so we dropped a 1/2 ounce spinnerbait down where the magnet was and hooked the line and then pulled up the line.  The reason I was able to do this was due to the fact that I knew exactly where we tipped over so I knew where to search for my gear (that was the key to finding the gear).  Good luck if I lived near you I would give you a hand.  

Thanks for the advice. I would have been happy to have given you a hand as well. I'm a certified diver. But if you wonder why I don't just dive it myself the answer is its below a landfill and I don't relish the idea of going back in that water anytime soon.  :-/ Although as ponds go it looks remarkably clean with surprisingly little snot algae. Unfortunately I only had a senko (salty stick on the line) so I'm not sure the magnet would work as well for me. What I was thinking was making a small grappling hook by brazing some hangers together and dragging the area.

Ron were your cork handles permanently ruined by their prolonged soak?

[rondef]

No the handles are just a little dirty. I am thinking of using some super fine sandpaper to clean them up. You will need to take you reel apart to clean and lubricate it though. If I was a diver I most certainly would have taken the time to dive for mine, I still have some takle in the water that I have written off. Good luck with your search, the stringer may work for you, just open all of the clips before you drag it.

[avid]

I tipped once.  Lost alot of gear.  Someone called 911 and I had rescue trucks and emt's yelling at me to get out of the water.  I kept diving to get my stuff.  finally a cop showed up and ordered me out.

Here is my solution

[FD.]

go to the local bait shop and get a 4" grapple hook. Tie a light rope to it and throw and drag from different angles. I got my wife's quantum/fenwick back on the second drag. Take your time and drag slow.

[rondef]

avid, I like the idea.  I wonder if I could make something like that for my canoe.

[Certified Public Angler]

Avid, I probably would have been free diving too  ;D

The alligators freak me out, but the adrenaline of being dumped and losing a rod would of had me going down for it.

Good luck getting your stuff back and at least you don't have to buy new tackle.

[shorefisher]

Avid that is the coolest canoe I've ever seen. Did you make the outriggers or did you buy them?

I didn't lose my tackle because I rolled out at the last second knowing that I wouldn't be able to stop the flip.

The biggest bummer was I lost my glasses. $250 I just had to spend to get a new pair...thats could've been a GLX.  :'( The new glasses are sweet though