SPLIT from Kayak thread. How do YOU go solo? Canoe, float tube, john, etc... 2025

RandySBreth reply :

So? How do you go hit those spots?

I'm using the solo Old Town Pack Canoe - 33-pounds, just a perfect Smallmouth Stream/small lake canoe.

I even patrol Table Rock and Beaver Lake from it from time to time.

Goose52 reply :

Well, my parting words on the kayak thread were basically that all small watercraft have strengths and weaknesses - all are compromises to some degree. Each angler may come up with a different solution to satisfy their own particular needs. The point is to get off the bank and get on the water and catch fish. It's all good...

Having said the above, the solution that fit my particular needs at this time was a canoe. Modular, 34lbs for the basic canoe, it can be car-topped and all gear in the photo, plus 6 rods, fit in the trunk of my car. Works for me - I caught 425 fish out of it last season.

RandySBreth reply :

I like to keep it simple - obviously you don't!

Hey - if it works for you - that's the way to do it.

Wow - even an outrigger set-up, complete with trolling motor!

Keep them coming.

B-Dozer reply :

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Well, my parting words on the kayak thread were basically that all small watercraft have strengths and weaknesses - all are compromises to some degree. Each angler may come up with a different solution to satisfy their own particular needs. The point is to get off the bank and get on the water and catch fish. It's all good...
Having said the above, the solution that fit my particular needs at this time was a canoe. Modular, 34lbs for the basic canoe, it can be car-topped and all gear in the photo, plus 6 rods, fit in the trunk of my car. Works for me - I caught 425 fish out of it last season.

I use both canoe and kayak. I have an OldTown K140 that was made for hunting and fishing. I also have a Grummen canoe. What kind and length is the canoe in the picture? I could do w/o the TM and outrigging, but otherwise it looks sweet.

Goose52 reply :

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[What kind and length is the canoe in the picture? I could do w/o the TM and outrigging, but otherwise it looks sweet.

Radisson 12' (actually 11'6") with a 38" beam. It doesn't paddle as well as something with a narrower beam (or a better beam to length ratio) but I don't paddle often and usually motor it (my biggest lake is nearly 2 miles long and I'd rather fish than paddle...).

J Francho reply :

Goose52 reply :

Looks good. Cost effective, gets you off the bank, and if you're good, you might catch as many fish as the guy in the 20k bass boat that is going around the lake beating the bank.

I would add some rod holders to this boat though and maybe root through the trash and come up with some more planks to add more decking. It's a good start and could be improved quite a bit depending on how good of dumster pickins' you can find.

B-Dozer reply :

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All you need now is a cooler, and a shade umbrella ;D

Stasher1 reply :

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All you need now is a cooler, and a shade umbrella ;D

Nah, a John Deere cap and a proper mullet will keep your head/neck from getting burnt.

B-Dozer reply :

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All you need now is a cooler, and a shade umbrella ;D

Nah, a John Deere cap and a proper mullet will keep your head/neck from getting burnt.

Yeah, buddy

Goose52 reply :

One of the lakes I fish is 16 acres. One guy that lives on that lake built something like JFs photo above. He took what looked like two styrofoam blocks from an old floating dock, put a piece of 4'x8' plywood on top. Added some 2x4s around the edge to keep gear from falling off. Trimmed it out a bit with rod holders, boat chair, TM, etc. It's really a mini-pontoon boat with 48 square feet of deck. I guess it's about equivalent to an 8ft bass raider. He takes it out on calm days without much wind. Wanna bet that he catches as many fish (if not more) as anyone else in that lake - including the guy with the 20' bass boat that lives across the lake from him.

It's all about getting off the bank, safely, and getting your fish, right...

The one that got away reply :

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One of the lakes I fish is 16 acres. One guy that lives on that lake built something like JFs photo above. He took what looked like two styrofoam blocks from an old floating dock, put a piece of 4'x8' plywood on top. Added some 2x4s around the edge to keep gear from falling off. Trimmed it out a bit with rod holders, boat chair, TM, etc. It's really a mini-pontoon boat with 48 square feet of deck. I guess it's about equivalent to an 8ft bass raider. He takes it out on calm days without much wind. Wanna bet that he catches as many fish (if not more) as anyone else in that lake - including the guy with the 20' bass boat that lives across the lake from him.
It's all about getting off the bank, safely, and getting your fish, right...

Couldn't agree more. I was a shore guy until a few years ago when I finally bought a canoe to get on open water. Now I can finally fish those spots that aren't accessible from shore.

BTW, love that Radisson setup you have. I got a trolling motor on Xmas for my Old Town canoe and can't wait to do more fishing and less paddling.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

Here is my sea eagle 124smb it gets me on the water and everything fits in the back of my suv when done. I really like this thing I can stand move around its very stable. I just got a seat for it so can lean back and enjoy when the fish arent in the mood to have fun.

Goose52 reply :

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Couldn't agree more. I was a shore guy until a few years ago when I finally bought a canoe to get on open water. Now I can finally fish those spots that aren't accessible from shore.
BTW, love that Radisson setup you have. I got a trolling motor on Xmas for my Old Town canoe and can't wait to do more fishing and less paddling.

Just get the TM battery as far forward as you can to better balance the boat. Also, I actually motor my canoe backwards - since I use it solo, I use what used to the the front seat, and sit backwards facing "aft" with the battery in what normally is the stern. This gets your weight more towards the center of the boat, with the TM behind you, and the TM battery ahead of you. Trims out better that way.

Goose52 reply :

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Here is my sea eagle 124smb it gets me on the water and everything fits in the back of my suv when done. I really like this thing I can stand move around its very stable. I just got a seat for it so can lean back and enjoy when the fish arent in the mood to have fun.

Sea Eagles have a great rep...and sure are handy for storage and transportation...

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

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Here is my sea eagle 124smb it gets me on the water and everything fits in the back of my suv when done. I really like this thing I can stand move around its very stable. I just got a seat for it so can lean back and enjoy when the fish arent in the mood to have fun.

Sea Eagles have a great rep...and sure are handy for storage and transportation...

I was hesitant at first but the material is quite durable. I held a lighter on the material for 10 seconds and it didnt melt through the stuff, that surprised me. I tried pushing a key through it didnt happen. I can park and be on the water in 25 minutes thats not too bad. I use to have a 14jon and didnt get on the water much quicker than that especially when the boat launch has 10-15 in line waiting.

J Francho reply :

Here's how I roll:

RandySBreth reply :

Nice fish. Steelhead?

The one that got away reply :

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Couldn't agree more. I was a shore guy until a few years ago when I finally bought a canoe to get on open water. Now I can finally fish those spots that aren't accessible from shore.
BTW, love that Radisson setup you have. I got a trolling motor on Xmas for my Old Town canoe and can't wait to do more fishing and less paddling.

Just get the TM battery as far forward as you can to better balance the boat. Also, I actually motor my canoe backwards - since I use it solo, I use what used to the the front seat, and sit backwards facing "aft" with the battery in what normally is the stern. This gets your weight more towards the center of the boat, with the TM behind you, and the TM battery ahead of you. Trims out better that way.

The factory seats in my canoe are plastic with the built-in backrest, so going backwards so to speak is a bit out of the question right now.

When I'm solo (which I usually am), I put a couple 40lb bags of topsoil in the front to distribute the weight a little better and the bow won't rise up so much.

This year, I will either replace the seats and go "backwards", or just throw some more dirt in the front. ;D

Goose52 reply :

Ah - I understand about the molded seats. Mine are wood & webbing seats and are flat so you can sit either way (or remove them completely).

J Francho reply :

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Nice fish. Steelhead?

Yes, cookie cutter, though caught in open water, on a spoon. Bone jarring strikes - no need for delicate gear (though that was my old Kistler DS rod, LOL) to detect the bite. My favorite way to fish for them.

Not_Here reply :

my ninja vessel is a fishcat 'toon with a 55# minn kota on the back. to get into those unaccesable spots i lift the tm & oar in over the slop/pads, sweeeeet 8-)

Goose52 reply :

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my ninja vessel in a fishcat 'toon with a 55# minn kota on the back. to get into those unaccesable spots i lift the tm & oar in over the slop/pads, sweeeeet 8-)

VERY cool. Do you just stick that in the back of a truck or do you disassemble/deflate for transport?

Not_Here reply :

its either trailered or topped to cut out setup time. but you could break it down easy enough, 4 cinch straps per toon is all...

Bigbarge50 reply :

This is my boating option. Live in an apartment in the D.C. metro area and did not want pay for a storage unit, drive there, get a canoe or yak, throw it on the roof, load up and go.

It is a seamax, Canadian version of a zodiac.

This deflates, goes in a bag, and goes in the backseat with room to spare. Keep it in there for when I can get outta work a little early and want to hit the water. Can have it inflated and on the water in under 20 minutes. Aluminum floor is unbelievably steady (stand for as long as I want with no issue) 10.5 feet long, I run a 55lb thrust minn kota on it, this season I will also will add a lowrance downscan.

I could not be happier with the purchase. Can handle a 15 hp outboard which i would love to upgrade to in the future (some lakes I fish are electric only while the Potomac river needs a outboard to handle some of the places further out there.)

Has a 4 person capacity, but have not had anyone go with me yet..... more fish for me. Company was great to deal with and the price was great.

Will maybe repost pics with the sonar and new chair for this year in there.

Goose52 reply :

Looks good. Another example of assessing your needs and finding a good solution to get on the water. AND, Jacques Cousteau was out in the open ocean with those things so they should work for bass fishing... ;D

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SPLIT from Kayak thread. How do YOU go solo? Canoe, float tube, john, etc... 2025

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