Fly Fishing Canoe

Sprattoo wrote:
Hi Dave,

I flyfish from canoe quite a bit and can easily say the most important
thing I think about when looking at canoes is: How many things are
sticking up. I swear I am never really sure if I'm fishing if there
isn't something tangled up, but fewer tangles are better.

I have been fishing out of a little aluminum type canoe for a while
and like it a lot for my solo excursions. Its VERY light and easy to
handle in a wind. The bottom is wide and flat. I feel very stable with
a foot on each side when I stand. I used to have a long lake style
canoe, but it was too narrow to feel stable when standing.

My 2 cents.

Lloyd
http://www.mainetackle.com



I hate the idea of fishing in a canoe by myself, without another paddler
to keep it in place and oriented in the wind to where I want to cast. I
far prefer a pontoon boat that I can control with both oars AND fins.
The oars get you to where you want to go and the fins keep you where you
want to be and facing in the direction you want to face.

I've fished in one-man kayaks in the Florida Keys and in Belize. Same
problem. Hated it.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Listen to what Fortenberry sez about canoes. He knows them well and I
trust his judgement/word.

Old Town makes a canoe specifically for fishing. Can't recall the
model, but I have friends who swear by it.

Dave

"rw" wrote in message
m...

I hate the idea of fishing in a canoe by myself, without another paddler
to keep it in place and oriented in the wind to where I want to cast. I
far prefer a pontoon boat that I can control with both oars AND fins. The
oars get you to where you want to go and the fins keep you where you want
to be and facing in the direction you want to face.

I've fished in one-man kayaks in the Florida Keys and in Belize. Same
problem. Hated it.

Ditto, canoes and kayaks. Both are abominable platforms to fish from. Even
with someone else along to paddle, a canoe is still fairly miserable.

Don't know squat about pontoons.

Belly boats are great.

Wolfgang

Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...


I hate the idea of fishing in a canoe by myself, without another paddler
to keep it in place and oriented in the wind to where I want to cast. I
far prefer a pontoon boat that I can control with both oars AND fins. The
oars get you to where you want to go and the fins keep you where you want
to be and facing in the direction you want to face.

I've fished in one-man kayaks in the Florida Keys and in Belize. Same
problem. Hated it.


Ditto, canoes and kayaks. Both are abominable platforms to fish from. Even
with someone else along to paddle, a canoe is still fairly miserable.

Don't know squat about pontoons.

Belly boats are great.

Pontoon boats have three big advantages over belly boats:

1. You can use the oars to travel much farther distances with much less
effort.

2. You sit up higher, out of the cold water and in a better casting
position.

3. You can carry more stuff (tackle, anchor, lunch, etc.).

The only disadvantage is that they're heavier. You pretty much need road
access to the water.

I use both a pontoon boat for when I have road access and a belly boat
for backcountry fishing.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:



Pontoon boats have three big advantages over belly boats:

1. You can use the oars to travel much farther distances with much less
effort.

2. You sit up higher, out of the cold water and in a better casting
position.

3. You can carry more stuff (tackle, anchor, lunch, etc.).

The only disadvantage is that they're heavier. You pretty much need road
access to the water.

I use both a pontoon boat for when I have road access and a belly boat
for backcountry fishing.


I'm trying to decide on a possible craft. Like you started with, there
are pluses and minuses for all the self propelled craft:

1. Belly boats
+ easy to transport, good for fishing, control with feet,
- need to wear waders and fins, difficult to go any distance, suck in
the wind, cold because you're sitting in the water, not for
running water

2. Pontoons
+ great for fishing, fair for covering distance, control with feet, some
models good for rivers
- need to wear waders and fins, difficult to transport if kept together
PIA to assemble if you break it down, nor good for long distances

3. Canoes
+ great for carrying gear, great for long trips, good speed and easy of
rowing, good for rivers
- mediocre for fly fishing, have to use paddle to control, fairly
difficult to transport

4. Kayak
+ fastest and easiest to go long distance, good in rivers, best
(only?) in ocean
- mediocre for fishing, fairly difficult to transport, have to use
paddle to control


It seems to me that each has places where it is better than the others.

I couple I've been looking at:

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_outback.html

and

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/index.html

Willi

On Oct 15, 4:43 pm, Willi wrote:

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/index.html

I like the looks of those. Look pricey though... but froogle just
popped up $775 for the ultimate 12. Not bad.

Jon.

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Oct 15, 4:43 pm, Willi wrote:

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/index.html

I like the looks of those. Look pricey though... but froogle just
popped up $775 for the ultimate 12. Not bad.

Jon.
Joe the elder suggests--that's last years model---new this year improved
rudder--don't stand up if you are moving !!!

Willi wrote:


2. Pontoons
+ great for fishing, fair for covering distance, control with feet, some
models good for rivers
- need to wear waders and fins, difficult to transport if kept together
PIA to assemble if you break it down, nor good for long distances

Willi


I don't know much about canoes and kayaks, except I personally find them
uncomfortable. I do use both a belly boat and a pontoon boat (not at the
same time). My preference really is for the pontoon boat. My only
disagreement with the points you and Steve have raised is the part about
assembly. My pontoon boat (Outcast) is held together by six pins, and is
really easy to assemble. It only takes about 10 minutes to inflate the
pontoons. I usually carry it in its four components in the back of my
vehicle., and it is pretty easy to set up at the lake. If I am hiking
in, of course, I take the belly boat.

Tim Lysyk

Tim Lysyk wrote:
Willi wrote:


2. Pontoons
+ great for fishing, fair for covering distance, control with feet, some
models good for rivers
- need to wear waders and fins, difficult to transport if kept together
PIA to assemble if you break it down, nor good for long distances

Willi


I don't know much about canoes and kayaks, except I personally find them
uncomfortable. I do use both a belly boat and a pontoon boat (not at the
same time). My preference really is for the pontoon boat. My only
disagreement with the points you and Steve have raised is the part about
assembly. My pontoon boat (Outcast) is held together by six pins, and is
really easy to assemble. It only takes about 10 minutes to inflate the
pontoons. I usually carry it in its four components in the back of my
vehicle., and it is pretty easy to set up at the lake. If I am hiking
in, of course, I take the belly boat.

Tim Lysyk

The only time I've disassembled mine was when I met Willi at Duck Lake,
Nev. (Good trip.) The frame didn't fit assembled into my popup camper.
Once assembled, we carried it around lashed to my front window. Crazy
photo, but I can't find it. Willi?

I normally just throw it into my pickup bed; frame, pontoons, lunch,
tackle, anchor, and all. I fill the pontoons tight at the station before
I leave or the night before.

Pontoons are kick-ass flyfishing boats, as long as you can drive in or
float a stretch. I wouldn't carry mine into backcountry, but I've seen
it done. It's not a pretty sight.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:



The only time I've disassembled mine was when I met Willi at Duck Lake,
Nev. (Good trip.) The frame didn't fit assembled into my popup camper.
Once assembled, we carried it around lashed to my front window. Crazy
photo, but I can't find it. Willi?


Duck Valley was fun

http://crystalglen.net/Fishing/DuckValley.htm

Willi