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Thread: New to canoe flyfishing

  1. #1

    Default New to canoe flyfishing

    Hey there- I have done a lot of flyfishing and in the past a lot of spinfishing out of a canoe, but never flyfished from a canoe. This week I purchased a wenonah fisherman canoe (ultralight kevlar- getting too old for the heavy stuff).

    I plan on flyfishing out of this canoe for smallies and trout. I will probably stop and wade on some of the rivers. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had tips for flycasting from a canoe. It doesn't take much to throw a spinning line, but I am wondering if I need to alter my flycast? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

  2. #2

    Default new to canoe flyfishing

    what i've been doing for the last couple of week since i bought a used yak,is. going out on the lawn and sitting my butt on the ground and practice casting from that low.
    like JC says keep the backcast up

  3. #3

    Default Lap towel

    Here's a tip if you don't want a lot of line coils down around your feet on the canoe floor. A small towel in your lap will collect the fly line sort of like a stripping apron except its a stripping towel.
    Robert B. McCorquodale

    "Flip a fly"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Southern Illinois
    Posts
    305

    Default longer rod

    I had some trouble with my distance of cast.Read somewhere else about float tubers using 9' rods.Tried a friends 9'6 and fell in love.acording to the article the 9 ft rod gets your tip higher more like standing.sounded reasonable so now 9' 5 wt takes a lot less umph in my cast so less wobble in the canoe.
    I also added outrigger to my rig now I can stand and dbe stable when sideways in the canoe.Working on an anchor set up soon.
    Dennis

  5. #5
    nighthawk Guest

    Default

    Use the longer rod for certain. I have three 9 footers myself. Does your canoe have a center seat? Sitting in the center of the canoe will keep the boat stable and provide better control of the track. If you don't have a center seat Old Towne makes a snap in seat and Cabela's sells a folding one. I have the Cabela's folding canoe seat and it's very comfortable. If your canoe has a pointed stern you can sit in the front seat, face the stern, and fish with relative ease.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Bonneau, SC USA
    Posts
    1,622

    Default

    Hey Flywag,

    Can I cast as far or as well while seated in a kayak? Nope, not even.
    However, it has not been a problem for me at all. With the stealth of the
    kayak, I am getting closer to the fish and I don't need to aerialize a lot
    of line to catch fish. At least that has been my experience. Mileage
    may vary depending on how often you bang the boat and how clean
    your paddle stroke is. Warm regards, Jim

    P.S. Not only did I not opt to go for a longer rod, but actually have
    started using rods as short as 5 foot. I really can cover the water
    with them and I can slide them in my sit inside yak while travelling.
    Works for me.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Clara City, MN USA
    Posts
    1,756

    Default

    I place a stadium seat in front of the back thwart. Also, before heading out check into Joe Hyde's dual anchoring system in the forum. The rest of the advise is right on, especially the towel over the lap. And toes. Always find myself fishing barefooted. Casting has not been an issue, at least not that I remember. I've been fly fishing out of a cedar strip canoe for over 16 years so my memory of problems have perhaps faded. If you put a lot of body motion into your casting I could see that being a bit scary. I use mainly an arm and wrist motion and my canoe doens't even rock. Sometimes there are two of us in the canoe and still not an issue. We always cast sitting down, and practice that way. JGW

  8. #8

    Default

    Thanks everyone. Great advice. I will definitely use the towel for line coils (had visions of line everywhere).

    I initially was thinking that a shorter rod would be easier from the canoe. I guess it will take a little practice with both the long and short to see which feels better to me.

    I definitely appreciate the help and can't wait to get out in the new canoe. I have family obligations so it's going to be two weeks before I can test it out. Thanks again for the great advice and for the great new forum.

  9. #9

    Default

    I often fly fish from a canoe. On busy water, I float from spot to spot and then wade fish. I easier water, I am comfortable fishing while the canoe drifts. Trick number one is to pay attention to weight distribution. The heavy end of the boat will naturally tend to go downstream first. If you are by yourself, sit backwards on the front seat and pack your heaviest gear in front of the center thwart. Weighted that way, the canoe might still tend to spin as you drift down stream. When I am by myself on the river and fishing while I float, I don't try to fight the spin. I just let the canoe do it's thing and move back and forth between sitting backwards on the front seat or facing forward while sitting on the center thwart. It's all great fun except when you have to try to land a fish and paddle at the same time.

    Get a copy of Bill Mason's "Path of the Paddle". It is an excellent primer on using all of the traditional paddle strokes and on reading running water.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Nassau Bay, Texas, USA
    Posts
    41

    Default some thoughts

    I use canoes as my primary means for hitting the water. I have an Old Town Canadienne and a Swift Shearwater. I collect canoes almost like fly rods, they take up a lot more room. Anyways, I am a kneeler for the most part and use a Bell kneeling pad. Kneeling may take a bit of getting used to and you may need to play with the seat position. I raised my seed a couple of inches so I could ge my size 12 4E gun boats under the seat easily. Kneeling also gives you more stability in the canoe by lowering your cg, and a better position for casting, almost as if you are standing. I actually sit and kneel both, changing your seating position is lessens fatigue, or it does for me anyways. Try changing you the seat positions to your comfort level, it may take a bit of playing around, but in the end, it will be a custom fit to your rear.

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