Walter & Group...
I WILL BE AWAY FROM MY GROUP SOFTWARE FOR A FEW DAYS
GORDY
From David Lambert:
Gordy, hey
I fish from canoes frequently and have for years. I have a
couple of thoughts.
For fly fishing shallows and shallow rivers, get a
canoe you can stand it. I settled on Wenona KingFisher, 16 ft, Royalex.
And I bought a Quick Blade 7.5 foot graphite paddle (used by paddle surfers).
Nice.
Royalex is a great, flexible, patchable material (patch with Shoe
Goo). It's not the fastest boat, but the material is tough, and the bottoms of
the fishing boats actually form a sort of tunnel hull when you stand in them.
And I pole mostly in the river, along the shallows. (Florida guide and
author) John Kumiski suggested that to me. He was right. I keep a 14-16 ft pole
in the boat all the time. I use it 3-to-1 over the paddle. It provides a third
leg while standing and is often easier to work in stiff current than a
paddle.
Also, a pole is a pretty damn good paddle, odd as that may seem,
and it's very quiet. With a pole, you can alter your point of pivot out to the
point where the pole goes into the water, which is a huge benefit when fishing
alone. Acts as a form or outrigger for stability and soft
sculling.
The Punting Pole Bamboos (Bambusa tuldoides) are best for canoe or boat
poles.This species is preferred throughout the Orient for their thick walls and
tight culms. Great flex-and-straighten function, straight and even for most of
its length. It grows wild on US 90 east of Madison Florida. Help yourself. The
county comes in yearly and thins the bamboo out, leaving many poles for the
likes of me.
On the downside, this variety takes 3/4 year to 'cure' in
the shade. Bamboo is surprisingly light. Not graphite, mind you, but lighter
than the fiberglass Moonlighter poles of same length.
Also, you'd be
surprised how many new canoeists don't realize that one should turn the boat
around and 'paddle' from the bow seat when solo-ing. Hence Rene's suggestion
about the 5 gallon bucket (with top preferred).
On canoe casts:
Learn and use the myriad roll-type and 'spey' type casts. Learn to cast short
and learn to throw all casts with both dom and non-dom hands.
Also, very
important for the solo canoeist - learning the old-school sculling skills and to
cast with one hand only.
David
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David,
Some good advice ! I used sections of skiff push-poles which had been broken yet with enough usable length that I was able to apply new ends. Also, since these canoe poles don't have to be long, other wood can be used as well.
I never have need for any "hero" distance casts when fishing from a canoe. Sometimes I use the Bow-&-Arrow cast or the extended version as the canoe is used to gain access to tight fishing places such as mangrove "tunnels". Same when fishing from my kayak.
Gordy
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From Peter Minnick :
Gordy....Years ago I was invited to the Hartwood Fishing Club to
fish the Beaverkill with a friend. When we arrived our host escorted
me to the main lodge where there were some historic photo albums of
catches in the years past. Among the photos of happy anglers and fish
were gigantic, grotesque snapping turtles with evil bent beaks and
claws weighing upwards of 80 lbs....Such were the images that were
imprinted in my mind, when the ladies and my host decided to take a
snooze while I meandered out to the lake in a canoe for bass. I was
working the coves and lily pads with a popper and a 6 wt.and having
the time of my life. Suddenly, as I ended a retrieve at the canoe a
bass took a swipe at the popper, hit the canoe and scared the bejesus
out of me! Next thing I knew I was in the lake trying to retrieve the
gear and that's when the images of the 80lb snappers came alive and
you never saw anyone get out of the water so fast....I thought only
Jesus could walk on water but I beg to defer . So I suggest being
totally prepared for anything.... and remain calm at all cost !!
Peter
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Peter.... Yes. Lesson to be learned. Load your canoe and yourself as though you expected to capsize.
Gordy
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From Troy Miller :
Regarding casting from an unstable craft such as a canoe or kayak, I teach a few things that I have not heard mentioned yet. First, in my description of the casting technique, I do not restrict my student to any specific style. I simply ask them to keep three words in their mind at all times: CENTER ? YOUR ? CASTING.
Then I go on to explain
what I mean by that ? i.e. ? that the caster needs to maintain their CG (center
of gravity) in as close to the same spot as possible. So as Mel K noted,
one of the benefits of hauling can be to maintain body balance. Hauling
can permit a very sidearm casting style if the hauling hand cancels out the
torque or moment arm of the casting hand/rod. If you are significantly
rocking the boat when casting, you are not centered. Imagine the cast as
originating from the bottom of your sternum ? NOT from your casting side
shoulder. Not from your hips.
I have an exercise that
I practice and have students practice if they express a desire to tighten up
their casting for fishing from unstable craft. I stand on one foot and
wrap the other foot around the back of the knee of the standing leg. Then
false cast 20 to 50 strokes. Casting from this position will not allow you
to move your CG much, or you?ll have to return to two feet on the ground.
One of my students maybe 10 years ago dubbed this the ?Flamingo Cast?,
which has kinda stuck. Say it once and everyone remembers it. It
definitely refines the casters motions ? and as a side benefit, improves overall
efficiency for all casting.
Center your casting
while practicing the Flamingo Cast, and you?ll really enjoy casting from your
canoe or yak a lot more.
Regards,
Troy
Miller
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Troy... I like that concept ..... CENTER YOUR CASTING. Also, the "FLAMINGO CAST". Great word pictures. G.
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Liam Duffy :
Hi
Gordy,
As a famous Irishman once said (quote used by JFK in a speech) Some people
say "why" but I say "why not?" This is what makes man reach for the stars (or go
fly fishin' in a canoe) I say try it, the man who never tried anything, did
nothing.
Best Regards,
Liam Duffy
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