A group of fly fishers in Florida, including Chico Fernandez and Flip
Pallot, use a special 'cottage style' or 'tumblehome' canoe for fly fishing
in the 'backcountry'. These are 16' canoes that are 36" wide with a flat
bottom and a small keel. They will actually pole them with a 12' pole if the
water is less than 4 feet deep. Some canoes are wider and better for fly
casting on flat water than others. I would go for a canoe that was more
stable so you could stand and cast in the right situation.

When fly casting from a canoe or kayak you need to be able to cast without
using you entire body, just your arms.

I prefer small (8'-16') flat bottom prams or Jon boats with electric or 4
stroke outboards.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Pete Knox" wrote in message
...

I've been a spinner fisherman for a bit of a while, and would like to get
started in flyfishing. I will be moving back to NJ in about a month, and
will mostly be fishing medium to large sized lakes. I have a free canoe,
that was given to my dad. I believe it is about 14', but I'm not 100%
sure. I have experience spin fishing from a canoe, but wonder how
practical it is to flyfish from one. Do I need to go up/down in line
weight and/or rod length/action to accomodate sitting down? I do also
plan
on doing some stream fishing for trout(where I'll wade) and was planning
on
a 5 or 6 wt, 8.5 to 9' medium-fast action rod. I was hoping I could use
the same rod on the lake in the canoe - where I would go after trout,
smallmouth, and the occasional other species (if lucky ). Is that
possible? Will it be harder as a beginner to learn to cast from the boat?

Lots of questions, I know.

Thanks in advance,

Pete Knox