On another thread several commentators mention that they have stood in their canoes while fishing. I have tried this once but found it too risky for the rewards. I am wondering how many of you on the board do this, that is stand while fishing in your canoe. Do you feel safe doing it? Does it really help your fishing success? Have you fallen it doing it? Just curious. Jerry G

what?...No!

Confucius Say, he who stands in canoe is all wet.

On a 1990 trip, my paddling partner and I paddled around a point and there's two in my group and one was standing fighting about #10 pike. It was hooked in the tail in shallow water so it was a heck of a fight to watch someone standing and playing this fish. It finally got off, but I couldn't believe this guy. One who helped turn me onto the BWCA. Mike Ranthum out of Duluth, if anyone knows him, tell him to contact Shock! He actually held the state record chinook out of the Baptist for a year? Late 80s? I want to say it was broken 3X that same week. They were running!

Kind of.

When anchored on a good spot it really is a lot of work to paddle to shore to relieve yourself......

I would say yes it definitely helps the fishing success.

Savage Voyageur: "Confucius Say, he who stands in canoe is all wet. "

;-)

My first canoe was a big Coleman tank. It was pretty easy to stand in. In most canoes though, no. It does seem like I see at least one person doing it every trip though. Good question.

Saw two guys if Quetico doing this once. I thought how stupid is that. We watched in amazement waiting to see if they would flip the canoe the first time someone got a bite while they were drifting a shoreline. They never got a bite so we moved on.

I have fished standing up while solo in a big aluminum canoe floating down my river. Back and butt got tired. If you have decent balance it isn't too difficult. I would never do it with another person in the canoe. As soon they would try to set the hook I would be going in the drink.

I fish standing in a big old aluminum canoe when im solo and will paddle, cast and catch. I also stand up in my prism sometimes, its not much harder to balance. I've skateboarded for almost 20 years so standing up in a canoe is kinda like a yawn.... but to each his own! I dont stand up with other people in the canoe, its just much harder to balance with someone shifting unknowingly.

What is it called again when you stand up on the very end of a canoe and bob up and down to propel it?

No.
But a Forrest Gump quote comes to mind.

Thanks for your responses. Not surprised. Standing does give you much better capacity to see into the water which at times could be useful. JerryG

Gunnel pump is the phrase you are looking for.

I've never felt the need to stand and fish from a canoe. Bathroom breaks happen on shore, the fish are always there when I get back.

Not I but my nephew has done it while flyfishing and targeting bedded smallies. My brother paddles the stern and said nephew stands not just on the seat but balanced an the gunnels while casting. Go for it.

Apparently, it's possible if you have an SRQ17. I've never done it but those boats are quite stable.

I remember standing up briefly in my SRQ16 a couple years ago when I was in some tall grass trying to find the main river channel. I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't have to. It did occur to me that someone who was accomplished at paddle boarding might find it much easier given the right boat.

I've done it in an old Osagian canoe I have. It's about as wide as southern Vermont, and it has incredible initial stability. Never tipped that boat.

I would NOT stand and fish in my other boats.

yeah, I don't- I think I tempt fate enough in other areas of my life :)

Never done it fishing but have spent days and days doing while wild ricing.

I have fallen/tipped the canoe on occasion doing so.



I love the old clips of guys do the gunnel pumps and other canoe tricks.

HighnDry: "Apparently, it's possible if you have an SRQ17. I've never done it but those boats are quite stable."

+1 - the first time I pushed off from shore in a fully loaded SRQ17 I was standing just looking at scenery without realizing I was in a boat. Trip partner had to yell at me to sit down.

I either sit in a folding bag chair that fits over the canoe seats, or I stand. The only time my Back side touches the canoe seat is when im paddling, and then not always. How do you do this, you may be asking...Well I fish with 4 people. 2 canoes. I attach the 2 canoes with 1" x 8' square aluminum tubing when we get to base camp, or if its windy, or if im too lazy to unhook them. We call it a "canoe moran". Unless you figure out a way to flip one canoe up and over the other, you can not flip this system. When fishing rivers in the south for cats, we put a 3.5HP gas motor on it. When in the BWCA we use a trolling motor on lakes that adjoin the BWCA and then hide it in the woods for the trip out. It paddles just as easy with 4 paddles in 2 canoes as it does with 2 paddlers in 1 canoe. It also allows us to bring a TON more extra stuff if we are base camping on fishing trips. The only tips I would suggest is use 2" wide Velcro straps and not bolts to hook the poles to the canoe, as the poles will bend at the bolt holes in very big waves. No issues at all with Velcro straps wrapped 3-4 times around the poles and the canoe supports. We also put "sticky back" Velcro on the canoe support and the aluminum poles, this doesn't help keep them connected, but it stops the poles from sliding side to side. Also, you want to "toe in" the front of the canoes just a small amount, to make sure it tracks straight. 3 inches is plenty. I will never fish the BWCA again without bringing these super light weight 8 foot poles, unless we only have 1 canoe. (plus, the looks on people faces are epic...until they realize that you cant be "winded in" past your exit date. Unless the waves can break over the canoe sides and swamp you, wind is no longer a concern.) Your back and your backside will thank you!

At my age, I ofter stagger when I get out of the car after as little as 20 minutes driving.

Getting out of the canoe is also more difficult than getting in if I've spent any time paddling or just sitting.

Stand up in the canoe? Not me.

All the time while solo in my Old Town Discovery.

Two of us would stand at the same time in my buddy's Scanoe, if I started to lose balance, my knees would go into buckle mode and I would plop down into the seat.

But those were during my younger days.

These days in my SR Tranquility..........very rarely to stretch my legs. And all concentration is on the task at hand.

Geriatric, I'm with ya baby..drove up to Minneapolis last wed to get boat.
Drove to south bend on Friday to pick up kid from school....
When I get out of the car I'm definitely holding on to something for a second...

Getting out of the car ain't for sissy.
God did I just say that.