Who fishes solo in a canoe? Either in a solo canoe or a tandem by yourself.
What are the advantages of fishing solo over fishing with someone else?
What things do you have to do differently when solo fishing?
Do you use a kayak paddle or a regular paddle?
Do you ever troll?
Do you use a rod holder?
Do you use any different gear when solo fishing compared to tandem fishing?
Do you fish when it is windy? If so, how do you keep control of the canoe?
Do you prefer to fish solo over tandem, or do you do it because you don't have someone to fish with?

I have spent hundreds of hours fishing solo in my Bell Wildfire. The advantages are fishing where you want, when you want, and for as long as you want. I really don’t do anything differently fishing solo then I do when I’m tandem fishing. I use a regular ZRE carbon paddle as my main paddle, and always have a spare with me. I don’t know how many times I have been trolling and got a heavy strike , and somehow the paddle that was in my hands ends up floating in the lake. This usually happens with larger Lake Trout , or Northerns. I do not use rod holders. I like to put the pole across the gunnels, with the reel end of the rod on my right side. This makes for a fast and efficient hook set. I spend 90% of my time trolling or drift fishing, and will use a slip bobber rig the other 10% percent. I do fish solo when it is windy. I will troll with the bow going into the wind, and when I get tired I will just drift back from where I came from. I can cover a large area of water this way. I feel very comfortable in the canoe , and boat control is easy for me in most conditions. Some of my best Laker fishing has been trolling as fast as I can against 2 foot whitecaps. I can’t say I like to fish solo more then I like to fish tandem, as long as I’m fishing that’s all that counts.

I fish solo in my alumacraft, i sit on the bow seat and put a bucket of water in front of the stern seat. rod holders and a sea anchor are standard gear, but even more important when i am going solo. I do troll solo but i have a much harder time and have never had good success.

I thought this was another plug for one of your articles. Always fish in a canoe with a buddy. In the stern with paddle in my right hand low on the paddle moving around structure until we find fish.

The past two fall trips my tripping partners wanted to solo. I did miss the company but found that I caught bigger fish. Being able to position the canoe at angles that were better for presenting lures was a big plus. I would also circle back and re-fish productive areas and that produced more fish. I didn’t like fishing alone at first but I’m starting to enjoy the solitude. I prefer a kayak paddle,I find it easy to control canoe.
I am not a troller it is just something I don’t enjoy,I like casting for bass.

I usually fish solo in a tandem.

Advantages...boat is lighter, can fish how/where/when you want. Solitude. One disadvantage is less paddle power.

If I'm tripping with my usual partner we fish pretty much the same so there's not much difference other than I'll usually do most the paddling from the back while he fishes more.

I use a kayak paddle either solo or tandem.

I'll troll to locate fish but once located go to a jig/plastic as I prefer to jig/drift/cast. I'll also troll the jigs/plastics a lot.

I use a modified rod holder (involves a forked stick and Bungee Bobs ) but find that I miss a lot of fish especially when trolling plastics.

Same gear.

I'll fish in the wind BUT one lesson I've learned over the years is to fish where it's "fishable". I can usually control the boat with the kayak paddle but when I hook a fish in a strong wind I usually end up in a different province by the time I land said fish.

I prefer solo. However, the person I occasionally tandem with is great to fish with. We think alike which can be dangerous at times. Not to mention that he'll out fish me because he has rod in hand and I have paddle in hand and rod in holder or on my lap (see above).

Started fishing Quetico in 1979. I went back to the trip notes I make after each trip and made a tally. I found I have done 31 tandem and 9 Solo Quetico fishing trips.

When fishing solo I use a Bell Magic with a Folbe Jr. Rod Holder and an older black and white Lowrance X-4 depth/fish finder. Like Mike Peebles I troll to locate fish and then jig/drift/cast when I find fish.

I usually will use my Kayak paddle to troll Spoons and Tail Dancers for Lakers and Flicker Minnows, Shad Raps and other plastics for Walleye. Sometimes I will use my ZRE Bentshaft for slow trolling for walleyes with Lindy rig worm harnesses and slow death rigs.

When jigging and casting I will normally use my ZRE bent shaft as the longer kayak paddle will get in the way when landing fish.


I prefer soloing as I can go out when and where I want to fish and fish the way I want. Many times when fishing tandem I would like to fish at a certain depth with a certain lure and speed and my partner wants to fish a different method at a different speed. One paddler will have to change up and go the way the other paddler is going to go. Not really a big deal but just saying.

When throwing surface baits and ZMan sub surface plastics for smallmouth bass ... it is nice to be the bow paddler in a tandem. The stern man will usually do most of the paddling and allow the bow man to cast. The stern paddler is the designated chauffeur for the day and will cast too but the bow man gets in most of the casting and more fish too.

I have paddled solo in some very windy conditions, but I prefer to be safe and get away from white caps and will head over to fish calmer water.

In August 1995 during the Bird Lake FIRE , I took my Current Designs Solstice GT Sea Kayak and I really enjoyed being able to solo fish for walleye on Kawnipi Lake in big roller and whitecap conditions. I just hammered the walleye on deep water reefs in the rough wave conditions. Other fisherman using tandem and solo canoes were windbound on their campsites and unable to fish on big water and windy conditions.

I would say that when going tandem, we typically will fish in rougher water conditions. You have a partner to hold the canoe steady when landing fish.

I have only tripped in solo canoes. I usually go in May or early June and I feel more comfortable with the frigid water temps being solo. I troll and cast typically for trout. I have one kayak paddle and one standard paddle in the boat always. The boats trip fast and fish really well. Kayak paddle is a must have especially when windy. The only disadvantage is having to portage the boat every portage vs every other. Keeping the weight balanced in a solo is important. Two separate gear bags can help trim the boat vs one big one.

My trips are solo, but with my dog. I have an SRQ16 which I paddle backwards with a canoe paddle. I have a kayak paddle (for my kayak) but I don't care to use it for canoeing. I chose the SRQ over a solo boat in part to carry more gear but also for increased stability. 95%+ of my fishing is after I've set up camp so my boat is empty except for whatever gear I bring along for ballast - often times my food barrel and/or a couple rocks - as my boat does weathervane easily when empty. I will go out in moderate winds, but am wary about getting pulled out to big, open water as it is very difficult to paddle empty, especially while fishing. Recently I've probably trolled about 60-70% of the time, and cast or jig otherwise. I dont use a rod holder as I got tired of putting it on and off, or having it catch leaves and twigs while portaging thick areas, so the rod just gets tucked under my knee. Sometimes when I've hooked a fish, I've also had to try to paddle with one hand to get away from obstacles, avoid being pulled out to windy open areas, or paddle to shore to make it easier to land the fish. It's workable but not pretty. This was probably the biggest reason I decided to start carrying a spare paddle given how vulnerable I am to losing a paddle while one-handing it. I doubt my gear style would be much different with another person, though I would probably be more willing to go to bigger water when moderately windy. One thing I learned years ago is that I am not very good at landing even moderately sized fish by hand in the canoe, so I have at times paddled to shore to facilitate the landing. This was sometimes too slow or not convenient, so I started bringing a net with rubber mesh. This makes it absolutely easier to get the fish out of the water and then back in while while maintaining balance. While landing I not only have to watch the fish, but also keep an eye on my dog as a sudden shift of 80 lbs at the wrong time could create problems. Fortunately he is remarkably cool and gets the idea of balance, stretching to see and sniff the fish, but while keeping his butt close to the center and front paws away from the sides.

At least that's how I've fished the last few years. This past spring I acquired dog #2 who has a long way to got to measure up to the poise and balance of dog #1! I really don't know what fishing is going to be like this year, but can guess it will be closer to shore. Also, having read more and more about it, I will likely de-barb most of my hooks and experiment with removing some treble hooks and replacing others with single hooks. Even dog #1 doesn't understand the danger the hooks represent for him, and for me, solo, it could be grandly more inconvenient having a barbed hook set deeply into my hand or other place as I would either have to remove it myself or find a way to paddle and portage to medical attention myself - neither of which I like to think about.

Jaywalker,

Good Looking Black Lab you have there sitting in the bow.

I have been trying to get the Mrs. to buy in on a Black Lab at our house, now that we are empty nesters. Wish me luck.

For years I fished solo out of my Merlin. I carried a kayak paddle and a bent shaft paddle. I preferred it to tandem simply because I could fish where I wanted and for as long as I wanted. As long as the water wasn’t frozen I was on it. Crazy winds and lightning would keep me off the water though.

I used a shoot through the hull transducer and sometimes one rod holder. I also rigged up a camera mount.

I know this will sound like blasphemy but 3 years ago I bought a Hobie pedal kayak and have never looked back. The Hobie allows me to fish hands free. In fact my paddle usually stays strapped in except for launching and landing.
Now I use 2-3 rod holders that are mounted on tracks. The tracks also have spots for my locator and my camera.

The drawbacks would be less storage and forget taking it to the Q or the Boundary Waters. For those waters I still own my Merlin and my Q17.

Sorry for my turn to the dark side but fishing out of a pedal kayak is one of the best things I have ever done.
~JOE~

I have flyfished solo a fair amount. It is very difficult because while you are casting the boat is blowing or turning away from where you want to fish. Unless the lake is totally still it is two casts, get the boat under control then two more casts. You have to fish the protected shoreline and fish downwind. I put a dry bag full of water in the bow to level the boat. If you can find shoreline to walk and cast that is a good way to get a break from fighting the wind and the dog likes getting out also.

I would say most of my life's fishing has been solo from a turned around tandem. I troll a lot, no rod holder, use my knees. I jig a lot. A drift sock has been my #1 fish catching tool, a real game changer. I also anchor a lot when the fish tell me to. I like to fish by myself when I'm figuring things out and looking for patterns. Then, when I dial 'em in, I like company.
I use a short paddle and a long rod when I troll so I can paddle inside the line, other than that the equipment is the same. Oh, and a long net, and old aluminum smelting net with a deep replacement.

Agree with Wally13, jaywalker - beautiful dog. Hands down, my favorite breed! (sorry, Manny)

My experiences with fishing were social. When I began solo paddling last summer, it was difficult to fish because it extended the empty nest mourning period. I've kept at it, more out of habit ("this is what we do now") than passion.

In the early part of last summer (my first as empty nester), I fished like jaywalker, in my SRQ16 from the bow, backwards (except my old Lab is too old). Control issues were constant, even with trimming. So I bought a solo canoe (NS Trillium - thanks to advice from this forum). Control issues are much less; the buoyancy is a blast!, And I'm hoping I will get better as I become a more experienced solo paddler, which will be years in the making. But I'm patient. It's been a great experience, and I miss paddling so much now that the water is in solid-state.

If I'm traveling, I don't fish. This is probably the biggest difference from tandem experiences when tackle was always out and ready, and we always trolled. When I'm ready to fish, I trim the canoe with water-filled dry bags and I use a very simple set-up. One pole, a little plano kit with an assortment of jigs, plastics, Mepps and small spoons. No live bait. I flatten barbs and leave only one set of treble hooks on the plastics. I found that a net increased the power of entropy so I stopped bringing it. I haven't considered a rubber mesh one like jaywalker. I don't target NP as I'm not good at landing mid-sized pike from the canoe in a solo situation. I've gotten better as I learned to let them tire, then quickly get them off the hook alongside the canoe without lifting them out. No rod holder, no depth-finder, regular paddle. I was fishing for walleye on Alton last summer when the wind picked up and blew me to shore, which is all sharp boulders. It was difficult keeping the lightweight kevlar from smashing into the rocks. I found a spot to safely land and wait out the wind for the afternoon, fishing from shore, keeping dry, fed and hydrated with the ditch kit. So, it's a learning curve - a different boat and a different experience for sure.

I don't fish much solo, but when I do I gotta have my drift sock.

I fish solo 2 8-9 day trips a year. I enjoy fishing solo. Fish as long and hard as I want......sometimes 8 hrs at a crack in the am and then another 4-5 in the evening....sleep and repeat.
I don't troll as a technique but if I'm traveling between walleye fishing areas on LT water I'll troll down the lake. I don't use a rod holder but rather stick it between my legs.
I mostly fish for walleyes by casting and don't use a drift sock. I thought being solo battling the wind would be a big deal but found the low profile of a solo canoe ( I have a prism) to not catch much wind. I like to fish big water ( big walleyes) that can fish small by my camp for the big blow days. I bring two straight shaft paddles.
I've been working on my fish landing techniques? Big fish are a challenge.

Another good thread, Mike.

Who fishes solo in a canoe?

I do.

Either in a solo canoe or a tandem by yourself.

Bell Rockstart, a big, solo boat

What are the advantages of fishing solo over fishing with someone else?

The best casting spots are for me, me, ME!

What things do you have to do different when solo fishing?

I'm more cautious with a fish at boatside. You don't want to get stuck with a hook when you're alone.

Do you use a kayak paddle or a regular paddle?

Canoe paddle

Do you ever troll?

Oh, yes.

Do you use a rod holder?

Not yet, but I'm considering it.

Do you use any different gear when solo fishing compared to tandem fishing?

I don't think so.

Do you fish when it is windy? If so, how do you keep control of the canoe?

I fish on windy days, but try to hunker behind islands or in covers, which is a shame, for I do want to fish those wind-beaten shores.

Do you prefer to fish solo over tandem, or do you do it because you don't have someone to fish with?

I like to be on the water at four in the morning and often paddle back to camp at night. It's hard to find a partner who wants to begin in the dark and end in the dark.



P.S. - Jill, Manny appreciates the love!

jillpine: "
I haven't considered a rubber mesh one like jaywalker.
"

Ah, thanks Wally13 and Jillpine. I'm normally not much for bragging, but he really is a wonderful dog and fantastic canoe partner. He has 9 BWCA trips under his belt and should add one in the spring and a WCPP in later summer. Dog & Fishing Video His little sister is a hellion, but she is just 10 months and loved her first BWCA trip. I've got a LOT of work to do with her.

As a brief aside, I'd encourage anyone who brings a net to change to a rubber basket net. When I first brought a regular one (as in the video above) I was shocked at how much slime was coming off each lake trout - especially when they spin - and frustrated by how long it took me to free all the hooks from the mesh. When I got home I immediately cut the mesh out and ordered a new rubber basket on Amazon for about 10 clams. It took about 5 minutes to attach, removes a tiny fraction of the slime, and unhooks super easy. One of the biggest improvements I've made.

I usually fish solo. Mostly because nobody I know loves fishing more than me. I’ll occasionally jig, but I mostly troll or cast. I’ve used an anchor but I do not like it. I end up with a lot of muck, sand and water in the canoe. I don’t use a rod holder as it’s more difficult to grab when I get a strike. I prefer to lay my rod across the canoe. Wind is the biggest challenge. It’s not so much paddling when trolling, it’s what happens after I hook a fish. If the wind is strong enough, it can take me half way across the lake before I land the fish. I use a canoe paddle and I usually lay it on my lap-which is really not a good idea as it has slid into the water several times. That’s why it’s good to have a spare. Gusting winds are my biggest threats and have driven me off the lake.

Haven’t done much fishing out of my solo (Northwind Solo)— yet. But I’m aiming to fix that this year. I purchased a Werner Camano Kayak paddle today in 250 cm length (based in part on the foregoing comments by others on this topic). Never used a drift sock, but I’m thinking I may have to give one a try. Wind can make canoe fishing really challenging, especially when soloing. Good topic.

I prefer a single blade a kayak paddle is too clumsy.

One role is all I want to deal with at a time.


I lay my pole one top of my left leg, under my right leg, and the butt end of the rod on the right gunnel. I have great control of it.

Haven't lost a pole yet.

Jim

My rod holder when fishing solo - of which I have done plenty:

1JimD: " I prefer a single blade a kayak paddle is too clumsy.

One role is all I want to deal with at a time.



I lay my pole one top of my left leg, under my right leg, and the butt end of the rod on the right gunnel. I have great control of it.


Haven't lost a pole yet.


Jim"

I also find the kayak paddle too clumsy. It's another long thing in the canoe beyond the fishing rods, except it's heavier and thicker.

I troll a lot from a canoe but rarely if ever troll at home. I fish for eyes and LT primarily.
I use a yak paddle almost exclusively for any vertical or casting situations. Sometimes I'll use a bent shaft for trolling just to stretch different muscles. When landing a fish or while fishing, I'll just lay the yak paddle in my lap. When it gets windy I usually will move backwards in the boat.

I fish from my solo canoe, a Bell Magic, and almost exclusively troll. I tried fishing more traditionally my first solo trip, but it was a windy week, and it was so hard to stay in my target area. I had both a kayak paddle, and a bentshaft single, and only used the single while fishing.
I now use a rod holder, and troll unless there is no wind. It has been a very effective technique for me.

Jaywalker: "
As a brief aside, I'd encourage anyone who brings a net to change to a rubber basket net. When I first brought a regular one (as in the video above) I was shocked at how much slime was coming off each lake trout - especially when they spin - and frustrated by how long it took me to free all the hooks from the mesh. When I got home I immediately cut the mesh out and ordered a new rubber basket on Amazon for about 10 clams. It took about 5 minutes to attach, removes a tiny fraction of the slime, and unhooks super easy. One of the biggest improvements I've made. "

Jaywalker, is this what you ordered as a replacement net? I have a really nice collapsible net with a cord net that I despise for the same reasons as you and would love to replace it. Rubber replacement net

TomT: "

Jaywalker: "
As a brief aside, I'd encourage anyone who brings a net to change to a rubber basket net. When I first brought a regular one (as in the video above) I was shocked at how much slime was coming off each lake trout - especially when they spin - and frustrated by how long it took me to free all the hooks from the mesh. When I got home I immediately cut the mesh out and ordered a new rubber basket on Amazon for about 10 clams. It took about 5 minutes to attach, removes a tiny fraction of the slime, and unhooks super easy. One of the biggest improvements I've made. "

Jaywalker, is this what you ordered as a replacement net? I have a really nice collapsible net with a cord net that I despise for the same reasons as you and would love to replace it. Rubber replacement net

I'd consider a floating fish gripper if you release most of your fish.


"

Do you use a kayak paddle or a regular paddle?
Straight shaft single.

Do you ever troll?
Yes.

Do you use a rod holder?
No. prefer tucking pole handle between my thighs.

Do you use any different gear when solo fishing compared to tandem fishing?
No.

Do you fish when it is windy? If so, how do you keep control of the canoe?
Mostly troll then.

As I solo about 95% of the time I just passed anything to do with tandems.
Also not very serious about fishing. It's for my entertainment only.
Favorite forms of fishing, 1 flyfishing for whatever including pike. 2 medium heavy casting for large pike. Will switch up flyrod for a 6.5 foot ultra/medium light spinning setup

butthead

I have been fishing out of a solo canoe almost exclusively for over 35 years. My first solo was a Wenonah Solitude that I bought in the early 80's at one of the first Canoecopias. My current boat is a Souris River Carbon Tranquility. I also have owned a Grumman 17ft that I bought in 1980 and a Wenonah Champlain for the last 10 years. I am a teacher and so I am able to go on 4-5 canoe trips a year, My next Quetico trip will be my 25th and I have been to Sylvania over 130 times in the last 40 years. I have worked weekends in a fly fishing shop for 13 years and fly fish out of a solo canoe almost every day on the lake across the street from my house.
I wholeheartedly agree with Miss Molly's observations on solo canoe fishing.
I also like having a solo canoe if we have an odd number of people on a trip and because most of my companions are not as into fishing as I am and don't want to fish 15 hours a day. I use a canoe paddle and "J" stroke fairly well but there have been times when paddling into a crosswind on a big lake that I couldn't switch sides and thought my arm would fall off. I own 2 kayaks and have brought a kayak paddle to Quetico but ended up not using it and not liking to portage it. If you want to use a kayak paddle in a solo canoe, make sure that you have a long on since you are sitting considerably higher in a solo canoe than you are in a kayak. I do troll in my solo canoe. In the lake by my house I just hold it with my legs, in Quetico or Sylvania, I attach a rod holder. I usually fly fish with the wind and then troll upwind with conventional gear to fly fish the other side of the lake.

If you want to vertically fish a mid lake hump in the wind a kayak paddle will outperform a straight paddle. You won't be able to scull in any heavy winds and trading between your rod and paddle is inefficient. That being said, you will only get 1-3 vertical jigs before you have to restroke with a yak paddle but if it's in your lap it's easy to get at.
When trolling into the wind, make sure to stroke hard a couple times before reaching for your rod on a strike. The slight slack in line produced by a slowing of momentum can cause some lost fish.

What are the advantages of fishing solo over fishing with someone else?
Less chance of getting hooked by a fellow angler. No competing for the best places to cast.

What things do you have to do differently when solo fishing?
Paddle more :( When you get snagged really bad you have to hold the rod in one hand and magically paddle single handed back over your snagged hook.

Do you use a kayak paddle or a regular paddle?
regular

Do you ever troll?
yes

Do you use a rod holder?
sometimes i use the homemade rod holders, sometimes i use my foot and the crossbar, and sometimes i hold it between my legs.

Do you use any different gear when solo fishing compared to tandem fishing?
nope

Do you fish when it is windy? If so, how do you keep control of the canoe?
yes. I hide from the wind, I troll, or i drift with the wind and then paddle back to a starting point for another drift.

Do you prefer to fish solo over tandem, or do you do it because you don't have someone to fish with?
I prefer to fish and paddle solo if i can