Well I know it is not a kayak but it was in the budget and I can take the family or just me in it.
Picked up a good used Old Town Guide 14 last week and had a chance to solo it today. I have done a lot of kayaking over the years but this is the first time I have ever even sat in a canoe. Took a little getting use to but after a while I got it. Took the rod with me and tried a liitle fishing while I was out there. Did not get a even a hit, but that is the norm for me . One thing I really like about it is how much I can move around and access to stuff is easy. Thought I heard some bass smashing some bait in the distance and I was able to stand in the middle of the canoe, paddle and look for the action. Thought that was kind of cool too.
I did find the down falls to be a bit on the heavy side. Wind got it pretty good to but as long as I got down on my knees in the middle, it was not bad.
People are often looking for information about fishing from canoes. I have covered a lot of ground (salt water and fresh) in canoes but, none of it recently. Keep letting us know how it is working out for you as a fishing craft.
Well I took the wife and little girl out in it last night. All I can say is MAN. Maybe I should have just gotten a solo boat .
No matter how nice I tried to give my wife tips on paddling so she would not tire herself out, all I got back was " I GOT IT!! " And my 4 year old little girl got to chime in too on instruction as well.
All in all we had a good time though. It was fun.
I think as a fishing machine, it will be a good boat in salt or fresh. I did put a couple of cleats in it for anchoring. That really helped a lot the other day. And I think I might make some sort of a rod holder in it too. Something that can hold a couple of rods in it but I think I want to fish it a few times first before I come up with something for that.
The other thing I was thinking of doing for it, is knee pads. Back when I use to do a little white water kayaking, the canoe guys use to have a pretty neat padding system that was good on the knees and butt. I might make or get something like that to just sit in the center of the boat for going solo. I would not glue it in, just set it in place for when I need it.
The biggest thing I have found is that if you are looking for biggest bang for the buck, the canoe seems to be hard to beat. I had a really tight budget (really should not have spent anything at all) and I found something that I could just paddle, fish, and take the girls in too. Camp, play or what ever. It seems like it will do it and do a pretty good job for the money with a lot less spent than what I would have spent on even a good used kayak. I dont think it is a kayak replacement, but I do think they both have good points.
Next time I fish, I will up date the post. Anybody got any fishing tips or set ups for fishing it?
I fished out of mine a ton before I got a boat. The biggest key is finding places to launch close to fishing and worry more about wind then tide/current. I have a set of outriggers which make standing and fishing very comfortable, it can not be flipped, you can stand on the side. I have a 12 foot wood pole and it is great for poling tailing flats or mud flats.
Well I took the wife and little girl out in it last night. All I can say is MAN. Maybe I should have just gotten a solo boat .
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Now you can see the reason that kayaks are sooooo popular. Wives.
You might be able to temporarily mount some rod holders to a milk crate and be able to move it around til you find a good spot and the right angle. If you zip tie the rod holders (at first) you can move them pretty easily.
Yep, canoes catch more wind but, they sure can haul some camping gear. Best of luck.
Anybody try using a kayak paddle on a canoe this size? I know I have seen it done on smaller canoes but why not on a little bit bigger one? Just wondering if it would not be faster when going solo.
Watch out sliding the noe up onto your rack. The metal screw heads holding on the seats will scratch the coating off your rack and the salt water will drip all over the scratches, you can guess what happens next. My rack is all rusted out from the exact same rig. My advice is to do something about it sooner than later, it’s too late for me.
Thanks for the advice but I dont have to worry about that to much on mine. My rack is stainless steel and aluminum so for the most part, rust is not to big of a deal.
Rigger - I tend to use a cheap plastic “seasense” kayak paddle when I take out the canoe. It’s a little longer than my normal paddle so it works better for the higher position of the seat. I don’t think it has as much ‘force’(?) as a canoe paddle, but I think it makes a good rhythm in paddling more like a kayak.
. One thing I really like about it is how much I can move around and access to stuff is easy. Thought I heard some bass smashing some bait in the distance and I was able to stand in the middle of the canoe, paddle and look for the action. Thought that was kind of cool too.
