I don't care how fast it is, or how maneuverable. I'm looking for something that my big ole butt isn't going to fall out of or something that is not too tippy.

I need decent room, and would like something that has lots of stability.

Something Light too, MAX 45 lbs.......

What do you guys recommend.....

Later,

Geo

Wenonah vagabond

My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds.

I'm buying a Wenonah Boundary Waters from LaTourell's. It is wide and 17', and it is a tandem but can be used as a solo, sitting on the front seat facing backwards. Weighs 42 lbs. I've heard this is a great canoe for fishing solo.

quote Dbldppr1250: "I'm buying a Wenonah Boundary Waters from LaTourell's. It is wide and 17', and it is a tandem but can be used as a solo, sitting on the front seat facing backwards. Weighs 42 lbs. I've heard this is a great canoe for fishing solo."

I have that canoe............front/sitting in reverse, it really does not paddle too great.

I think I would need too much weight in it midship to balance it out unloaded to fish adequately.

I've already tried it........and unloaded in the wind it is a BEAR...Am I missing something there.

Thanks,

Geo

quote missmolly: "My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds."

Well......I'm a pretty big guy.....220lbs......

You suppose the pack with my gear (100lbs) is still good.

I've looked at the pack but some folks said it was a little small for the bigger lakes.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Geo

Old Town Pack reviews.

I have the Dick's sporting goods knockoff (Kaynoe) which weighs 43 lbs but it's the same canoe (and it fit my budget) and I have had no problems fishing out of it or handling big water.

As far as capacity goes, it would have no problem carrying your weight +100 lbs. Space may be more of an issue, though. It's only 12' long. I have soloed with it once, here's a pic at my campsite before I unloaded.

quote GeoFisher: "

quote missmolly: "My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds."

Well......I'm a pretty big guy.....220lbs......

You suppose the pack with my gear (100lbs) is still good.

I've looked at the pack but some folks said it was a little small for the bigger lakes.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Geo"

I avoid big lakes, but no because it's a little canoe. Big lakes are more like to have a cabin or a floatplane landing on them. Plus, big water can interfere with fishing on windy days. Anyway, I think it might be a liability on big water because it's such a little boat.

I rented a Souris River Solo Quetico 16 before I purchased a used solo and found it very stable, easy to fish from, tracks fine and is fast enough. (I'm never in a hurry anyway) Last year our group rented a Bell Merlin II and I took it out a couple of times and yes it is faster but I found it not to be very comfortable to fish out of (to narrow). I own a Bell StarFire that I use as a solo it's nice to fish out of but you have to work at tracking - it has 3" of rocker bow and stern.

quote Dbldppr1250: "I'm buying a Wenonah Boundary Waters from LaTourell's. It is wide and 17', and it is a tandem but can be used as a solo, sitting on the front seat facing backwards. Weighs 42 lbs. I've heard this is a great canoe for fishing solo."

I've fished out of this canoe solo a bunch of times. It is a very stable canoe for a big guy like myself-- 5'11" 240lbs. I like fishing out of it tandem too, plenty of room, wide, stable.

I don't know much about true solo canoes though.

ps. If you go this route, bring a dry bag along and fill it up with water and tuck it into the front of the boat to help with ballast, especially for a bigger guy.

I vote Vagabond. It is stable enough for flyfishing, and plenty of room for my legs and Henry(da' dawg).

quote missmolly: "My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds."

Ditto: Miss Molly plus it doesn't cost a lot.

check out the wenonah wilderness, I have one and its super stable

quote Gunflinter: "

quote missmolly: "My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds."

Ditto: Miss Molly plus it doesn't cost a lot."

My standard equipment OT Pack handles a 220 pound fisherman (me) just fine as long as I stay off big, windy lakes.

quote Gunflinter: "

quote missmolly: "My Old Town pack with a kayak seat is a nice boat. It's almost invulneralbe in Royalex and only weights 33 pounds."

Ditto: Miss Molly plus it doesn't cost a lot."

I paid full price for one, but bought the other for $250 used.

I too love my Wenonah Wilderness... Carries a load and is stable!

Bruce

the best fishing solo canoe is which ever canoe I am fishing from solo at the time, never fished from any canoe solo I did not enjoy

I've been fishing out of my Prism without any difficulty. I don't remember who said it on the forum before, but it has been said that most any solo canoe will feel lippy the first time you try one. I know it was true for me, but that doesn't mean they will be apt to dump you out. Also, the best advice about solo canoes I found on the forum is to try and paddle a couple before you decide. Good Luck

Good grief, I just noticed who I was giving advice to. Geofisher has way more experience than I have, so my earlier message intended for a rookie.

quote GeoFisher: "I don't care how fast it is, or how maneuverable. I'm looking for something that my big ole butt isn't going to fall out of or something that is not too tippy.

I need decent room, and would like something that has lots of stability.

Something Light too, MAX 45 lbs.......

What do you guys recommend.....

Later,

Geo"

If that's your criteria, Geofisher, why limit yourself to a solo canoe? Why not a lightweight tandem? Maybe replace the bow or stern seat with a seat closer to the middle. I did that with my Northwind. It's mid-40s in weight and with a kayak paddle, it paddles very nicely even in windy conditions and is very stable in all types of water. Pics of lakers, smallmouth and pike I've posted in earlier threads.

I am still looking at getting a true solo in a year or two. But a tandem has worked for me on solos for many years now.

quote Troutman: "I've been fishing out of my Prism without any difficulty. I don't remember who said it on the forum before, but it has been said that most any solo canoe will feel lippy the first time you try one. I know it was true for me, but that doesn't mean they will be apt to dump you out. Also, the best advice about solo canoes I found on the forum is to try and paddle a couple before you decide. Good Luck"

I too had no problems fishing out of a Prism although it was not designed with fishing in mind. I do feel a little more secure fishing out of the Pack, though.

George, I'm picking up a 16' Wenonah Fisherman tomorrow. They now make the Fisherman as a 14' and the 16' is called a Kingfisher. I would think the 14' would be a great option. Soon as I get a chance I'll take the 16' out solo paddling from the front and let you know what it's like.

I am hoping that the best fishing solo canoe is a 15' Bob's Special, as it is getting fiberglassed in my basement on Easter weekend. :)

Her name is Burgundy. We have been together for 8 years, but I never knew her name till she whispered it to me on our first trip this year, when the lake was still half ice. Last year we teamed up to boat more fish flesh than a japanese trawler. The only improvement I plan on making is painting her in a camo pattern and adorning her bow with a sharkmouth and eye decal like a flying tigers P40 warhawk plane. But her name will still be Burgundy.

quote Troutman: "Good grief, I just noticed who I was giving advice to. Geofisher has way more experience than I have, so my earlier message intended for a rookie."

When it comes to Solo canoes.........I am a rookie. I've only tried to paddle my boundary waters solo a couple times, and both times have been near disasters.

Thanks.

Geo

quote 1stSatInMay: "George, I'm picking up a 16' Wenonah Fisherman tomorrow. They now make the Fisherman as a 14' and the 16' is called a Kingfisher. I would think the 14' would be a great option. Soon as I get a chance I'll take the 16' out solo paddling from the front and let you know what it's like."

MOST EXCELLENT......I had no idea you were getting another canoe.

Do you have a trip planned this year?......you know Mots and I may need another person.......

Yea, I'd LOVE to try that also. I have a Penobscot and a Boundary Waters. I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of my Penobscot for a solo, but maybe the Wenonah Fisherman in the 16 will work as a compromise.

Thanks,

Geo

Picked it up yesterday and it is cherry. Looks brand new, can't wait to get out in it. Nelson, 3 others and I are going into Duncan/Rose area in late Aug. I'll try it out solo soon and let you know.

the wenonah wilderness is pretty stable solo too. 47 lbs. in royalex.

quote 1stSatInMay: "Picked it up yesterday and it is cherry. Looks brand new, can't wait to get out in it. Nelson, 3 others and I are going into Duncan/Rose area in late Aug. I'll try it out solo soon and let you know."

Did you purchase it used??

When I remove the front seat from my Souris River Q17 and slide the back seat forward it works great as a solo. Not as good as a true solo canoe but it keeps me from buying/renting a different canoe when I go solo. As a tandem it's one of the very best canoes.

I've only tried to paddle my boundary waters solo a couple times, and both times have been near disasters.

just use the BW!! seriously!! ive fished solo out of my BW a lot. i weight 190, it takes me about 50lbs of ballast MINIMUM but if the wind is blowing, ive been known to put in well over 150 lbs of rocks and gear. its not fast, but its stable and a dream to fish out of. i can stand up in it, move around, its really a dream.

i bet you just need more weight in it. 4-5 rocks the size of basketballs between the bulkhead and stern seat, and a lot of gear in the middle. youll be hard pressed to find a stable solo boat that you can get more than 3 strokes per side on anyway.

I would not recommend rocks as ballast. If you start to sink for any reason the rocks will not allow your boat to stay somewhat afloat like it was designed(assuming built in floatation in bow and stern). It will sink like a rock. Use dry bags filled with water. or anything that can carry water. square water jugs work well and won't roll around on you nearly as much.

quote serenityseeker: "I would not recommend rocks as ballast. If you start to sink for any reason the rocks will not allow your boat to stay somewhat afloat like it was designed(assuming built in floatation in bow and stern). It will sink like a rock. Use dry bags filled with water. or anything that can carry water. square water jugs work well and won't roll around on you nearly as much. "

I use my anchor bag full of rocks as my balast. They are less likely to leak and fill the bottom with water. If my canoe starts to sink, then I'll get out.

I don't know if its the best, but at 215 lbs, my Wenonah Prospector 15 makes a VERY stable fishing canoe. When by myself I sit backwards in the front seat and have excellent control. The front does rise a bit and catches wind but this is easily cured with minimum ballast. I bought this canoe specifically for solo or tandem fishing on lakes and weekend river trips. I've been very happy with its performance.

Here's a Deal on a factory second if you are intrested.

Edit: I forgot to say mine is Royalex and weighs 59 lbs, but I have no problems loading or carrying it short distances. Its definitely not a BW tripping boat.

Geo, keep an eye out for a mad river slipper. I am 220 lbs and trip with mine. best thing is you don't need to add ballast to paddle empty or fishing. handles waves well loaded or empty. there are a few around. had mine for over 20 yrs.

bump

Souris River Quetico 16. I'm 6' and weigh 230, and I have found this boat very comfortable. La Tourell's has a solo Q16 for sale for $1775. Not bad for a boat they claim has been used 3-4 times.

I have a Bell CJ Solo (15 foot) which is quite stable and easy to paddle, fish out of, and portage (mine is in kevlar). The CJ stands for Cliff Jacobson, and I read a post from him stating this boat is good for bigger paddlers - I am not necessarily in that category (5'11 and 194). Great for BWCAW trips.

If you are not considering long trips with many portages, I would highly recommend any of the many fishing-based kayaks. I consider many of these hybrids between a kayak and a canoe. I have the Wilderness Systems Commander 12 foot (there is also a 14 foot). It is great to fish out of and has many features that make it easy to carry, great to fish out of, very stable, and nearly indestructible. I got rid of my Crestliner boat because I simply prefer to fish out of the Commander or a canoe. I did try the Commander on a BWCAW trip (Ham Lake to Poplar Lake) and it was not the best for that. But it would be fine for going in two or three lakes with average portages. It is much more stable for fishing solo than the canoes. I have also had a Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5, which was similar to the Commander. But the Commander a few nicer features so I sold the Native and got the Commander. For the record, I do not have the fully decked out fishing versions of these, but you can get those models. Oh yeah, and the seat in the Commander is outstanding. And the Commander allows you to slide the seat out of the way and sit up higher while fishing.

monker

12ft Grumman solo. Extremely sturdy and great to fish from. Tracks well and is only 42lbs, which is plenty light IMO.

Nevermind...

Bell Rock Star Royalex.. .it will take you fast to your fishing hole and keep you stable as you slay the eyes

http://bellcanoe.com/products/default.asp?page=product&id=616&catid=193