Fishing From A Canoe

One of my favorite ways to fish is from a canoe. This allows you to access seldom-fished water. You can get out and fish likely spots or you can drift with the current and fish as you go. My best day fishing in Montana was one spent in a canoe floating the upper reaches of the Swan River. We took native cutthroats on the top with large stonefly patterns and didn't see another person on the river all day. With a canoe you are self-propelled and in control of your own destiny. They don't weigh much and can be easily carried on top of virtually any car. They don't make much noise so that you can drift through remote areas and appreciate nature as it was meant to be enjoyed. It is incredible how close you can approach wildlife. Last week my cousin Quinn and I were able to come within 30 feet of a bald eagle perching in an overhanging sycamore while we were floating the White River.

Canoe rentals are inexpensive and convenient. There are outfitters on just about all the rivers that I fish that can provide decent canoes at a reasonable price. What you are looking for is good equipment. Avoid renting an aluminum boat if possible because they are heavy and tend to grab rocks in low water. Go for a plastic boat instead. They will weigh less and be easier to paddle. Make sure that the provided personal flotation devices (pfd) are comfortable so that you will wear them. Outfitters also provide shuttles, that is, they take you and your canoe to the put in and your car to the take out. They can handle your shuttle if you provide your own boat.

Lori and I bought our own boat last year and we have really enjoyed it. We got a large slightly wider boat made of abs plastic. We wanted one that would be more stable and easier to steer through shallow water. With the boat we also purchased two high quality pfds and two paddles. Our total cost was about $1200. Since then we have fished and floated the Big Piney, the Spring, the Buffalo, and the White rivers.

Canoeing requires a certain amount of skill. I first learned to canoe 45 years ago at Camp Kia Kima and I thought that I pretty well knew what I was doing. When we bought our own boat, I thought that it would be a good idea if we took a basic river course (Berry's Law - Whenever You And A Significant Other Undertake A New Sport Seek Professional Advice). We attended the Bluff City Canoe Club's white water course and they taught us stuff that I had never heard of. We had a great time, learned new boat handling skills, and Lori and I learned to work together. I personally feel that any two people considering marriage should spend one day in a canoe.

The front of the canoe is the best position to fish from. The person in the stern should concentrate on steering and not try to fish. Canoes require a delicate balance that requires that at least one person concentrate their efforts on controlling the boat. They are too small for more than one person to cast from. The idea here is to change positions from time to time, a concept that has not been accepted by Lori. The designated angler should keep their back cast high and away from the person in the rear of the boat and bring along a long handled net to help handle the fish. Finally, always wear a pfd. This is just common sense; you can never tell what can happen out there. My pfd has a couple of D rings and a couple of pockets so that it also functions as a fishing vest.

Fishing from a canoe, give it a try!