Something I am finding is that poling a canoe seems to be a bit of a lost art here in the Midwest. I've been trying to learn how to do this on my own for about a year now on the rivers in northern WI, but I'm at a point now where I'm realizing I could really benefit from spending some time with someone who really knows what they're doing. I thought it'd be worth tapping the collective knowledge here.

I'm wondering how many people on here are even familiar with the practice of canoe poling? Along with that, I've been searching for a class one could take to learn, and it seems like I'd have to drive out to Maine or someplace far out east (or NE in Canada).

Does anyone know of an organization/individual who does this closer to our area?

Poling is my primary means of transportation during the summer months here in Pennsylvania. It is extremely effective on the shallow rivers near me, not so much in deeper lakes. I went to college in Ashland, WI and some of the rivers in that area are well suited to poling.

Agreed, there is not much of it around here. Find a group of people who go wild ricing. They use canoe poles to move around. That is the only time I have seen it in the Midwest.

Contact the person who runs bull moose patrol. He loves poling and will offer instructions and occasional clinics.
Link

jillpine: "Contact the person who runs bull moose patrol. He loves poling and will offer instructions and occasional clinics.
Link "

Thanks I did just that! Love that the article talks about the Brule as well as that's been my training ground.

I attended the canoe poling seminar at Canoecopia. I want to learn to pole, also. Please share any hands-on poling clinics you come across.

Thank you Thomas for introducing this topic. I have a Roylex 14' Wenonah Vagabond and will be experimenting with this technique. I have access to camping near the Brule also.

I see some real benefits to practicing poling including balance.

Trying to find a pole is quite the challenge as well. I actually put in an order with Hayden Canoe Pole for one of their two-piece aluminum poles before I noticed their message about supply chain issues from a couple years ago. I've reached out to ask whether or not they're still taking orders, but still no reply.

Pole and Paddle makes and sells some nice looking poles as well, but I'd have to make a trip out to Main to get it.

So far I've been using a 12' fir pole I made myself. It works just fine, but it'd be nice to have one that would actually fit in a vehicle...

I only use a pole for ricing (although when I was younger, we also used them for duck hunting out of a canoe). The pole has a 'duck bill' on the end. I usually make my own pole, out of wood. I am sure aluminum would be lighter, but it is cold when cold out, and turns my hands "aluminum black." Poles for this application are relatively long, guessing much longer than for your purpose.