How many have modified their canoes for fishing and/or filming? I recently picked up a swift prospector 14 and am thinking of adding some Yakattack mightmount track to the thwart in front of me to hold a fishing rod holder and a camera mount. But a little hesitant screwing into the thwart. In my old kayak fishing days I wouldn't think twice before putting holes in the kayak to install mounts, anchor trolley etc... Anyone do this with their canoes?

I don't know how to modify a canoe for fishing, but I drill holes in thwarts, yokes, gunnels, decks, and even the hull to attach lines, tie downs and other various things. It's what you do.I

I've drilled holes in thwarts, yoke, and decks. When my needs changed, I plugged the holes and re-oiled the woodwork.

Thanks for the feedback. Not sure why Ive been so hung up on it since I've had no issue doing it to kayaks.

I have owned a Prospector 14 now for a year. Swift recently started offering a fishing package for new canoes that I saw on their web site and at Canoecopia. What they provide is Scotty track mounts on the thwarts, so it's definitely possible to drill the thwarts for mounting accessories. Here is a photo of a "dashboard" that I made over the winter. I didn't want to hand drill my non-removable carbon thwarts. The dashboard is mounted over the top of the front thwart and held down with trapeze clamps. Don't know if I would take it on a long trip into the BW, but for day trips it should work fine. The plate is 3/16" x 3" aluminum. Gunwale clamps from Swift. Aluminum track from Yakattack. Ram ball mounts for the Garmin and camera. (post revised 5/2)

Thanks JonSolo. That looks good. My prospector came with cherry thwarts instead of the carbon. I did see the fishing package swift has started offering. From what the gal I talked to at swift made it sound like I could not replace my cherry thwart with the fishing package thwart as they were actually mounted in different locations on the canoe?

Having a removable wood thwart would definitely present different options for customizing. The carbon thwarts are not removable. I wouldn't be afraid of drilling it, just use a drill press if you have one available. There are a lot of pictures on this message board to get ideas from.

I put other things in the bag other than batteries and cords. Everything stays on during portages.

AmarilloJim: "
I put other things in the bag other than batteries and cords. Everything stays on during portages."

Thanks that looks like a good setup.

singlebladecanoe: "

AmarilloJim: "
I put other things in the bag other than batteries and cords. Everything stays on during portages."

Thanks that looks like a good setup."

Occasionally I will need to remove the fishing thwart at night when securing my canoe so that the rod holders are not damaged. Takes a few seconds.

I picked up this fancy rod holder somewhere, which didn't require drilling any holes. I sort of clamp it onto the side of my canoe, and the V-shape on the other end is where I set my rod.

I did a write up on my set up with my go pro.
GoPro set up

I think I have some pictures of my rod holder as well. I will look for those.

I found the write up on the fishing modifications:
Fishing modifications

I have drilled the triangle plate in the bow and stern of my Old Town canoes to install a Scotty flush mount to use with a Scotty anchor lock. Probably overkill, but it works well.

milk crate rules for me. you can attach rod holders to the side or just use pvc in all 4 corners. dump your tackle in the middle, and move the whole thang anywhere you wish. like this : https://paddling.com/storage/images/articles/rodHold101.jpg