Just got our permit for early June and I am leading a group of 3. My question has to do with watercraft. What is the best way to make it work for 3? I have always done 4 in the past and it is easy.

We always rent our canoes. Going through an outfitter at the entry point again. So I guess our options are-
1) 2 person canoe and solo canoe
2) 2 person canoe and kayak
3) 3 person canoe
4) Something else I didn't think of

What's the best way to go? We will be base camping. Focus is on fishing. Have a fair amount of gear. For this trip, we will have one long portage to get to our campsite and we also want to do day trips.

Thanks all

If no one in your group has any experience in a solo canoe, I would not go that route. Any amount of portaging would suck with the kayak. As long as you're not on little creeks, I would take the 3-man canoe. Middle person doesn't even have to paddle. I think they just get in the way. Can switch when someone gets tired. Only one canoe to carry as well. Fishing is also a lot easier than in a solo canoe.

How is fishing in a 3-person canoe, though? Isn't it cramped with three in there? Also, is it possible for one person to take out a 3-person canoe and sit in the middle seat? I am imagining a scenario where just one of us wants to go fishing by himself.

If you don't mind the extra expense of a solo plus tandem, go for it. It is not hard to learn to paddle a solo canoe. Take an anchor bag to fill with rocks if you want to remain stationary while fishing.

On the other hand, I have fished with 3 guys in a MN III many times. The only problem for me, being the stern paddler in those situations, was that I did more steering and paddling than fishing.

I would not recommend paddling a MN III solo.

You could also rent a 4 person canoe for added room.

If you were describing a distance trip and/or one with a lot of portages, I'd say definitely a single 3-person canoe. That's the reason I got a Northwind 18. It's amazing how much faster and more efficient a 3-person canoe with three paddlers is, both on the water and especially on portages. Absolutely the way to go in that situation.

In your situation, I think you'll be fine with any combination of canoes - a single 3-person, a tandem and a solo, or three solos. That said, I bet you'll enjoy yourselves more if you have more than one boat since it gives you more flexibility around fishing during the day.

Keep in mind that being a solo paddler along with a tandem canoe usually kind of sucks, so if you have one significantly stronger or more experienced paddler that person should definitely get the solo. Basically, because the tandem paddlers can trade off, they're always going relatively strongly even if they aren't trying, whereas a solo paddler has to go nonstop to have the same result, unless the solo paddler is a good bit faster.

If you have three relatively similar-strength paddlers and you don't mind fishing from a solo boat, three solos is a nice option. Some people really like being social and if that's the case, that pushes you more toward the tandem plus solo.

Group dynamics also matter. If you go tandem plus solo, it will naturally work out that the two in the tandem will be more social with each other, and that can lead to a bit of accidental exclusion of the person in the solo. For some people that dynamic is fine, and for some it doesn't even come up. Everybody has more solitude if they're in solo boats, and the group is naturally closer in a single three-person boat. Consider your group.

Unless one of you is an experienced kayak tourer, I'd avoid the kayak option. Obviously a kayak has an easier time keeping up with a tandem canoe on the water, but portages are tough without really esoteric specialized yokes, and gear storage is both much more limited and much more difficult to handle at a portage. It probably could go without saying that any kayak in consideration would have to be a real, capable touring kayak, and not the little toys that are sold for tooling around local lakes.

tcoeguy: "How is the fishing in a 3 person canoe though? Isn't it cramped with 3 in there? Also, is it possible for one person to take out a 3 person canoe and sit in the middle seat? I am imagining a scenario where just one of us wants to go fishing by himself. "

I don't find that to be the case. Middle and stern need to be on opposite sides. Unless the lake is like glass, and even then you would not enjoy taking an 18.5 canoe out solo.

MidwestFirecraft: "If no one in your group has any experience in a solo canoe I would not go that route. Any amount of portaging would suck with the kayak. As long as your not on little creeks I would take the 3 man canoe. Middle person I don't even have paddle, I think they just get in the way. Can switch when someone gets tired. Only one canoe to carry as well. Fishing is also a lot easier than in a solo canoe. "

I agree with this advice - have done 1 trip in a 3 person, and I was on the verge of murdering my father in law, in the middle seat, the entire time. Finally had him stop paddling all together.

I would do 3 again understanding this up front, and packing accordingly. Unless you’ve got 3 competent paddlers, in which case solo plus tandem is a good option if the fishing struggle doesn’t bother the solo paddler.

tcoeguy: "How is the fishing in a 3 person canoe though? Isn't it cramped with 3 in there? Also, is it possible for one person to take out a 3 person canoe and sit in the middle seat? I am imagining a scenario where just one of us wants to go fishing by himself. "

It’s not fishing that’s the problem with a 3 person, it’s the portaging. They’re looooong and awkward to carry if it’s not your own that you’ve setup nicely. I prefer to single portage, and it’s not easily accomplished this way, though you’d have a similar struggle if your companions aren’t light packers in a single plus tandem scenario.

I'm with Tom, if you were doing a lot of portaging everyone in a 3 person is best as your portages are easier. (One less boat to carry) Since you really only have one portage you're probably not worried about single portaging so I'd take the boat setup you'd all like, whatever that is. If you only have one solid stern paddler, go together.

I guess i disagree with molshove, portaging a 3 person isnt any longer than some tandems depending on model. Weight isn't much more. Single portaging is easier due to 2 of the 3 people not needing a canoe on them and able to carry more gear.

I have no experience with a 3 person canoe. I have done a trip with 2 tandems, and a trip with 2 solos. The 2 solos was awesome, because of the flexibility while fishing. My son wanted to cast to shore, and I like to troll. (I caught dinner, he caught smaller bass patrolling the shoreline :) )
That said, I like to troll in my solo, because with any wind, casting from a solo canoe is frustrating. You just have a hard time keeping the boat in the right spot. So, I would vote solo and tandem, if you have someone who will be comfortable fishing from it. You would, of course, be able to mix it up and swap canoes as frequently as you would like.

cyclones30: "I'm with Tom, if you were doing a lot of portaging everyone in a 3 person is best as your portages are easier. (One less boat to carry) Since you really only have one portage you're probably not worried about single portaging so I'd take the boat setup you'd all like, whatever that is. If you only have one solid stern paddler, go together.


I guess i disagree with molshove, portaging a 3 person isnt any longer than some tandems depending on model. Weight isn't much more. Single portaging is easier due to 2 of the 3 people not needing a canoe on them and able to carry more gear. "

Wish I could tell you what model the 3 person was we were setup with a few years back. It was absolute hell. And I suppose a sh*t yoke didn’t help.

It will be an early June trip to Caribou, from the Clearwater EP. So there is the initial paddle to the portage, then a fairly long portage, then the paddle to the east side of Caribou. In my experience staying at that eastern site, fishing isn't great by the site and you have to paddle to the north shoreline to get into good fishing. That is why maybe the flexibility of a tandem and solo might be preferred. I will probably want to fish more than the 2 guys I am going with.

We are all 3 strong paddlers but I have never tried using a solo canoe before. How much easier is it to paddle a solo canoe vs one person trying to paddle a tandem? I have definitely tried taking out a tandem on my own and it sucks. But sometimes unavoidable if I am the only one that wants to fish. Are solo canoes a lot easier?

"How much easier is it to paddle a solo canoe vs one person trying to paddle a tandem?"

Much, much easier. I think people are afraid of 3-person canoes and solo canoes for the same reason: they've tried to make a tandem do either of those jobs and it sucked. But that's because it's a tandem. A purpose built solo is a joy to paddle solo, and a purpose built 3-person canoe easily and comfortably handles three paddlers.

We have fished with 3 people in a canoe and for the most part, it was bad. If you are anchored and throwing slip bobbers towards shore it wouldn't be bad. In our case we either trolled or cruised the shoreline, either way you will get crossed lines. I fish a lot out of a solo canoe and love it. You don't have to worry about offending the other person(s), if you want to move or change fishing methods. "You can do whatever you want, whenever you want". I love fishing with 2 people, but if I had a choice on your trip and you had 2 canoes, I would volunteer to take the solo most of the time.
As others have said, if there were many portages, I would kinda lean to a 3 person canoe, but they are somewhat cumbersome to portage.

FISHONFISHOFF

1 question. Why not just find a 4th person to join you? There is plenty of time before the trip and little to no reason why you couldn't find a 4th. 2 tandem canoes is probably going to be the cheapest unless you are renting everything and go with a 3 person canoe. Even then I would have to look it up and do the math to figure the amount per person.

I just find that 3 people is an awkward number. It's harder to split chores up evenly, like washing dishes. I also like the idea of having 2 boats for flexibility and backup options. With 3 that puts one person in a solo and that can be a real pain for portaging.

Depending on the size of the people I go with I actually think 3 people is the ideal number if you are going to be covering large distances. We don't even get a 3 seater canoe which I find to be too unsteady with three. We generally just have the 3rd guy sit in the bottom of the canoe and relax/fish/read the map. Two years ago I bought a light weight turkey hunting chair that sits a couple inches off the ground and works perfectly in a canoe. Nothing better than paddling across a long lake or doing a long portage and being up for the middle spot.


Caveat to this is if you or someone in your group is tall or big. I went with 2 guys last year and they were not comfortable. Lucky for me I am 5.9

tcoeguy: "It will be an early June trip to Caribou, from the Clearwater EP. So there is the initial paddle to the portage, then a fairly long portage, then the paddle to the east side of Caribou. In my experience staying at that eastern site, fishing isn't great by the site and you have to paddle to the north shoreline to get into good fishing. That is why maybe the flexibility of a tandem and solo might be preferred. I will probably want to fish more than the 2 guys I am going with.


We are all 3 strong paddlers but I have never tried using a solo canoe before. How much easier is it to paddle a solo canoe vs one person trying to paddle a tandem? I have definitely tried taking out a tandem on my own and it sucks. But sometimes unavoidable if I am the only one that wants to fish. Are solo canoes a lot easier?"

Based on your trip plan I would say a tandem plus a solo would be your best bet. You don't have much portaging and you aren't traveling all that far. We had this setup a few years ago from Poplar to Meeds. I had never paddled a solo before and I ended up having a blast. Solos are awesome to paddle and very quick in the water. I used a double blade paddle and didn't have any trouble keeping up with the tandem. Fishing is a little tricky to get used to since you are so low in the boat, but I would rather fish from a solo than try fishing 3 people from 1 boat.

We used a Wenonah Seneca last year for three of us. I am 236 lbs, my dad is 210 lbs and my son is 170 lbs. We packed a Granite gear Superior pack that weighed about 50 lbs. A 60L food barrel that weighed 50 lbs, a backpack around 20lbs and 2 day packs at 10 lbs a piece, plus fishing gear for three, 3 paddles and 3 seats for the canoe. There was plenty of room and we were all comfortable. The thing rode like a dream and was very stable even without gear.
Using my GPS we tracked out top canoe speed at 7mph. We were trying to see how fast it would go.

I portaged the canoe the entire time. Weight I think is around 47 lbs but I kept the seats and lifejackets and fishing poles in the canoe while portaging so add a few more pounds.
I would take that canoe again in a heartbeat if there were only three of us going.

I have a video on youtube if you would like to see the canoe.
Bushman goes back to the BWCA

Bushman: "We used a Wenonah Seneca last year for three of us. I am 236 lbs, my dad is 210 lbs and my son is 170 lbs. We packed a Granite gear Superior pack that weighed about 50 lbs. A 60L food barrel that weighed 50 lbs, a backpack around 20lbs and 2 day packs at 10 lbs a piece, plus fishing gear for three, 3 paddles and 3 seats for the canoe. There was plenty of room and we were all comfortable. The thing rode like a dream and was very stable even without gear.
Using my GPS we tracked out top canoe speed at 7mph. We were trying to see how fast it would go.


I portaged the canoe the entire time. Weight I think is around 47 lbs but I kept the seats and lifejackets and fishing poles in the canoe while portaging so add a few more pounds.
I would take that canoe again in a heartbeat if there were only three of us going.


I have a video on youtube if you would like to see the canoe.
Bushman goes back to the BWCA
"

That's also what we rented in the 2 trips we've needed a three person canoe. No issues at all

There is a little bit of a learning curve in paddling a solo canoe but it is not difficult. Just don't expect to be able to do it exactly the same as you paddle a tandem. In calm to moderate conditions it is a lot of fun, in windy conditions it is more work.

But having a solo along allows a lot more flexibility in exploring and fishing. In windier conditions you just have to adapt your fishing technique to the conditions.

We went with 3 several years ago and had a tandem and a solo. By the end of the trip we were arguing over who could paddle it. My two partners went on a long daytrip in the tandem and I spent much of the day fishing out of the solo. Had no problems...and caught fish:)

On another topic,, you say you are heading for the eastern site on Caribou but have to go to the north shore to catch fish...isn't that site on the north shore? Not sure exactly what you mean. To the west of that site is the one near the portage. A little further west is a small island and on shore behind it is a very nice campsite that is not shown on the maps here. We stayed there and enjoyed the site, had great fishing right from shore and had wonderful views of the island out front. A little ways down from there is point on the southern shore where the lake narrows a bit, we also had very good luck with slip bobbers and vertical jigging and caught a lot of nice smallies. Fishing reports I have read say it is a good walleye spot too.

My recommendation would be to get the tandem and the solo and have everyone spend some time in it in calmer conditions to get used to it. I think you will appreciate the options it provides and for a short trip like yours, keeping up really isn't a big issue. Good Luck!





From the unmarked site behind the island on Caribou

+1 on four person canoe, if your paddle skills are about equal, and you get along well.

Took group of five last year through Iron and Crooked then out Horse river. The odd man out was happy to fish, float the middle or stay in camp. Take turns in stern, and everyone keeps paddle handy for a draw stroke when needed. 4 person limits crossed lines better. Recommend Northstar 20'. (Mine is the old Northsore...we had a Tandem, too).

Only drawback is no solo option.

Lindy, you are right. We did well for walleyes on the south shoreline. The shore opposite that campsite. We did really well fishing on that trip on Caribou but didn't catch anything from camp. It is really shallow there. However we fished off the island itself, casting towards the south and caught several nice smallies.

I really appreciate all the feedback on this topic. I guess there is no "right" answer. I think I am leaning towards one tandom and one solo. I like the flexibility it offers. And the freedom of knowing that I can go out fishing whenever I want and not be at the mercy of the other 2. I can't imagine trying to take out a 3 person canoe myself.

I do trips with my two sons. One son could care less about fishing. The other is hard core. Me, I am somewhere in the middle. We usually do a three man. Fisherman son and I fish from the three man leaving my other son at camp.

This year we are switching it up and getting a tandem and a solo. That leaves a craft at camp with my other son. It will also give me experience in a solo and let me know if a solo trip is in my future. I am wanting to do a solo in September when the boys are back at college.

This thread has given me some new perspectives and I thank everyone for that. At the end of the day, I think I will stick with my original plan. In the past, I always felt like I was abandoning my non-fisher son at camp even though that is what he preferred

I’d take the tandem and solo canoes
I never paddled solo until July 15 2019 when I embarked on a month long solo
It’s no big deal and better fishing for 3 with 2 boats

I’d take the tandem and solo canoes
I never paddled solo until July 15 2019 when I embarked on a month long solo
It’s no big deal and better fishing for 3 with 2 boats

rent a souris 18.5 you'll be happy you did

Tandem and a solo - you guys will love it. If you've never paddled a solo before...so what. It's not hard. You'll figure it out before you're out the first bay.

First time we had an odd number, we did the three person. It wasn't for us. Being in the middle of the three came to be known in our group as riding bitch. Nobody liked it.

The next trip, we did the solo thing and loved it. Loved it so much in fact that many of us completely transitioned to solo's.