Small Canoe or HobieCat FishCat 75

I'm getting one or the other for 2009, but have very limited experience flyfishing from a canoe and have never used a one man pontoon. If you are not familiar with the FishCat 75 it has solid pontoons, it's not an inflatable.

The advantages I see in a small canoe are that I can take a friend with me who does not have a pontoon of thier own and it may be better in moving waters than the pontoon.

The advangages of the HobieCat 75 is that it will be smaller, so it will be easier (I think) to manuver on land and probably more stable on the water (when looking at tipping over).

So, what do I need to know about both so I can make a well informed purchase? Pros and cons of each?

Thanks.

I have no experience with pontoon boats but I do with canoes.I fish alone so I have a 12' solo canoe that does everything it needs to do.Its light and easy to throw in the bed of my PU and easy to launch in the ponds.Ive had canoes of 17'and 14' but this one is best for what I do now.Pontoon boats would be a good choice for still water but I wouldnt want to run any rivers with them.They have limited space for gear also.If you plan on taking someone else with you,a 14' canoe is the minimum I would look at and a 16' would be better.Canoes are not as tippy as you think but you do need to learn how to handle them.Another option is that you can get outriggers for a canoe that would allow you to stand up and cast.Just a thought.Personally,I have never had a problem fly casting while sitting in a canoe but you will need anchors fore and aft to maintain your position.

You might want to take a look at the Nucanoe.

http://www.nucanoe.com/specs

A couple BB members have commented on them quite favorably.

Slate Drake 9,


A tandem (2-seat) canoe would let you take a friend fishing, true. But ask yourself how often this is likely to happen? Keep in mind that a lot of people are afraid to get in a canoe.

By chance to you have a buddy who already owns a tandem canoe? If so, perhaps you could talk with him or her and ask if you can occasionally borrow it -- you know, for those occasions when you want to take a friend fishing. That would free you up to purchase the Hobie pontoon rig and use it as the primary platform for your (presumably more numerous) trips where you fish alone.


Joe
"Better small than not at all."

I am not familiar with the hobie cat, but I do know that for fishing, I'll choose a pontoon style boat. If I was fishing shallow fast moving water I am not sure I would want the hard 'toons though. That said, pontoon boats do not have as great range as a canoe or or kayak if you want to be able to get away from the crowds.

Have you considerd a pram? They are portable and stable fishing platforms as well.

Take a look at http://www.onefrogtwo.ca/home_en.htm I haven't fished out of a frog boat but I have seen them at shows and will say I am impressed with what I saw and their possibitilies.

Tight lines!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guy

I am not familiar with the hobie cat, but I do know that for fishing, I'll choose a pontoon style boat. If I was fishing shallow fast moving water I am not sure I would want the hard 'toons though. That said, pontoon boats do not have as great range as a canoe or or kayak if you want to be able to get away from the crowds.

Have you considerd a pram? They are portable and stable fishing platforms as well.

Take a look at http://www.onefrogtwo.ca/home_en.htm I haven't fished out of a frog boat but I have seen them at shows and will say I am impressed with what I saw and their possibitilies.

Tight lines!

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I think the Frog Boat is a great choice -- not just because it's Canadian made either (sorry if that was a blatant show of Canuck pride!!!!) -- but I would also agree that a canoe might be your best bet depending on whether you'll be fishing alone primarily or with a friend --if more times out with a friend I would likely go with a nice lightweight canoe (Kevlar perhaps?!?!?) -- one with less rocker and designed for flatwater rather than moving water -- more stable -- and yes, you can stand up in a canoe without tipping (used to demonstrate that by standing on my head in canoe at boys' camp I worked at -- mind you that was a FEW years ago -- but then getting back to that Canuck pride thing again: the definition of a Canadian is somebody who can make love in a canoe without tipping!!!!!)

I'll probably have someone with me (the wife flyfishes about as much as I do) more times than not, except for really cold weather.

I live about 350-400 yards off of one of PA's biggest(longest) trout streams (actually a river, but called a creek for some reason). I also have withing 20 minutes of me 2 pretty good trout lakes and within an hour/hour and a half a ton of lakes for both cold and warm water. I want to fish on them all (if possible).

I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck, but don't know if I really can. I figured at the price of the FishCat 75 I can probably get a decent canoe at we can both use it. I'm afraid that a 2 person canoe will not be the best one man platform for my needs though.

I definately don't want a kayak or anything close to a kayak as I find them terribly uncomfortable to sit in.

I have a 9' pontoon that is great for lakes and class ll rivers. The only experience I've had with a canoe was not bad but I would not be able to handle one by myself as far as loading, unloading and portaging it to the water. A lot of people in this BB use them successfully tho. I've seen their reports. My toon can be assembled next to my SUV and transported to the lake or river on a makeshift wheelbarrow I made for it. I can also put it on top of my car and strap it to the roof rack and drive with it there. I'm sure that's all possible with a canoe.
I see a lot of husband/wife teams fishing together on float tubes and toons. They seem to enjoy being able to go their seperate ways to try different spots on the lake. I bought my wife a float tube one year for Christmas. We went out together several times. She doesn't fish so she would take her I-pod and a book. What she didn't like was putting on the waders, shoes, fins. Now she sits on the bank and reads while I go out. I gave the tube to someone who uses it for fishing. My penny's worth. Merry Christmas, Jim

I'm a canoe guy myself
And the one I use is the same one my father bought 45 years ago
As you could imagine, it's fairly heavy. 78 pounds as I remember.
Still I have no problem portaging it or loading it on the truck by myself
There's a trick to it, but fortunately it's an easy skill to learn
I like to fish while standing a good portion of the time. It can a bit of a balancing act, but I've never gone for a swim....yet.:rolleyes:
In saltwater, I'll fish out of my kayak, but for fishing in the weedy ponds I like, you can't beat the canoe. I can pole or paddle myself into areas you're never going to get into in a kick boat.
Canoe fishing is relaxed fishing for me. Barefoot, kick-back, sippin' a frosty
Can't beat it
:-P

This would be my choice. Maybe this year. Row it, fin it, electric or outboard. Take it down rivers, or fish in the lakes and ponds. Buy two, and take mama. You only live once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfDgbCPt2g0
Another place to look.
http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/d...ons/index.html