Looking for a little first hand experience. I have never owned a solo canoe. So much good equipment to choose from. Also have taken up fly fishing and of course will fish from it, fishing more important than speed. Have been researching and think wenonah wilderness or Northstar Northwind Solo. Am 6' 1" and 210 lb. carry weight in upper body. Saving hoping to buy in spring.

If you want a true solo canoe both those choices are good. If you have never paddled a solo I would recommend doing so before purchasing. A small tandem might be more up your alley.

I own a wenonah fisherman and solo it all the time, fishing. It is a great fishing canoe at 39" wide, but for trips it may not be the best. I have not totally rejected the idea of using it as my tripper. Any ideas of small tandems. I will also paddle anything before I buy if possible.

I use a SRQ16 tandem to do my soloing. Very happy with the stability while fishing. Had a Magic for years before the SRQ16.

AmarilloJim: "
I use a SRQ16 tandem to do my soloing. Very happy with the stability while fishing. Had a Magic for years before the SRQ16. "

Thanks for the reply. Are you using it for solo tripping also?

Jim has a very nice set-up. Just look at some of his posts to see the results. :)
I have an SR Q16 that you could take out for a paddle if you're ever in the area of the boat. Email me if you're interested. I'm not selling it but it'd be nice for you to try before you buy. Its a terrific, durable, solid canoe. I use it for fishing locally or for tripping if tandem. My solo is a Northstar Trillium, fast and light - not good stability for hours of fishing and trolling. - Beth

jillpine: "Jim has a very nice set-up. Just look at some of his posts to see the results. :)
I have an SR Q16 that you could take out for a paddle if you're ever in the area of the boat. Email me if you're interested. I'm not selling it but it'd be nice for you to try before you buy. Its a terrific, durable, solid canoe. I use it for fishing locally or for tripping if tandem. My solo is a Northstar Trillium, fast and light - not good stability for hours of fishing and trolling. - Beth"

Yes that setup looks very efficient. Thank you for the offer to paddle your boat I will email you if I take you up on the offer.

ashlandjack: "

AmarilloJim: "
I use a SRQ16 tandem to do my soloing. Very happy with the stability while fishing. Had a Magic for years before the SRQ16. "

Thanks for the reply. Are you using it for solo tripping also?"

I only use it for solo tripping. I have a SRQ 17 for tandem use.
I like the tandem model better for soloing. I can stick things under the stern seat while portaging. The bow seat is 6" farther forward so when you are sitting in it in reverse for soloing you can turn easier. The center thwart is mounted with a yoke so you don't have to remove a portage yoke all the time. I flipped the center thwart to keep more weight in the rear while portaging and this also allows you to use the other thwart for grabbing during portages.

AmarilloJim: "

ashlandjack: "

AmarilloJim: "
I use a SRQ16 tandem to do my soloing. Very happy with the stability while fishing. Had a Magic for years before the SRQ16. "

Thanks for the reply. Are you using it for solo tripping also?"

I only use it for solo tripping. I have a SRQ 17 for tandem use.
I like the tandem model better for soloing. I can stick things under the stern seat while portaging. The bow seat is 6" farther forward so when you are sitting in it in reverse for soloing you can turn easier. The center thwart is mounted with a yoke so you don't have to remove a portage yoke all the time. I flipped the center thwart to keep more weight in the rear while portaging and this also allows you to use the other thwart for grabbing during portages."

Thanks, if I go your route you have figured that boat out to copy. It sounds really good. I do like the size of it.

ashlandjack: "I own a wenonah fisherman and solo it all the time, fishing. It is a great fishing canoe at 39" wide, but for trips it may not be the best. I have not totally rejected the idea of using it as my tripper. Any ideas of small tandems. I will also paddle anything before I buy if possible.
"

I use a Wenonah Fisherman as my poling canoe, but it is a dog. Would not want to trip with it. AmarilloJim's set up is similar to mine. I use a bell morningstar at 32 inches at the gunwales it a sweet ride and the fixed yoke and thwart to hold while portaging are game changers. Had to wait every time for my tripping partner to attach his solo yoke, real hassle and you have to keep it floating around the boat while not in use.

I currently fish out of a Prism and have zero issues, but I don’t use a ton of gear nor set anything up “for fishing”. I would prefer a Northwind Solo for that role in my “fleet”. I’ve never paddle a Wilderness, but a friend has one and likes it for his wildlife photography.

My preference for solos is that I feel they paddle better solo in more conditions with a greater variety of loads than a tandem. I solo my Northwind 16 RX a fair amount for day paddling when I want to “bang around” a bit more, but I’d never trip solo in it outside of downriver. It’s an excellent boat to solo though. Our current group is 5 in two tandems and my Prism, I’m always faster, more flexible, and quicker dealing with portages. I’ve not experienced a challenge with installing portage yokes in either style (pedestal or gunwale).

If you do look at tandems, a lot of the 15-16.5 length boats are very usable. The Northstar Polaris (or Bell Northstar if you find a used one) is my current favorite for solo use, the Northwind 16 is great, the Wenonah Escapade could be good as well. I’ve been messing around in a demo Langford Prospector 16.6 (disclaimer: I work in a paddling shop, not a Langford dealer but it’s fun to test in case we want to add something), I’m very pleased with how it handles, though as expected it is affected by wind more than my Northwind 16 RX. With a load it should settle down better.

Bottom line for me (emphasis on what I prefer, everyone’s different), I still take one of my solos 90% of the time because I think they work better alone without having to worry as much about conditions. If you’re ever around Northern WI, I’ve got a few similar boats to what you’re looking at, happy to take them out, but water time in the exact boats is still best.

I should add that I use a kneeling thwart in my Northwind so it is always ready for tandem tripping, I know a couple people with the Polaris with third seats and a removable yoke and they are very happy with them.

ChrisM: "I currently fish out of a Prism and have zero issues, but I don’t use a ton of gear nor set anything up “for fishing”. I would prefer a Northwind Solo for that role in my “fleet”. I’ve never paddle a Wilderness, but a friend has one and likes it for his wildlife photography.


My preference for solos is that I feel they paddle better solo in more conditions with a greater variety of loads than a tandem. I solo my Northwind 16 RX a fair amount for day paddling when I want to “bang around” a bit more, but I’d never trip solo in it outside of downriver. It’s an excellent boat to solo though. Our current group is 5 in two tandems and my Prism, I’m always faster, more flexible, and quicker dealing with portages. I’ve not experienced a challenge with installing portage yokes in either style (pedestal or gunwale).


If you do look at tandems, a lot of the 15-16.5 length boats are very usable. The Northstar Polaris (or Bell Northstar if you find a used one) is my current favorite for solo use, the Northwind 16 is great, the Wenonah Escapade could be good as well. I’ve been messing around in a demo Langford Prospector 16.6 (disclaimer: I work in a paddling shop, not a Langford dealer but it’s fun to test in case we want to add something), I’m very pleased with how it handles, though as expected it is affected by wind more than my Northwind 16 RX. With a load it should settle down better.


Bottom line for me (emphasis on what I prefer, everyone’s different), I still take one of my solos 90% of the time because I think they work better alone without having to worry as much about conditions. If you’re ever around Northern WI, I’ve got a few similar boats to what you’re looking at, happy to take them out, but water time in the exact boats is still best."

I live in Ashland, I guess that qualifies as northern Wisconsin.

ashlandjack: "

ChrisM: "I currently fish out of a Prism and have zero issues, but I don’t use a ton of gear nor set anything up “for fishing”. I would prefer a Northwind Solo for that role in my “fleet”. I’ve never paddle a Wilderness, but a friend has one and likes it for his wildlife photography.



My preference for solos is that I feel they paddle better solo in more conditions with a greater variety of loads than a tandem. I solo my Northwind 16 RX a fair amount for day paddling when I want to “bang around” a bit more, but I’d never trip solo in it outside of downriver. It’s an excellent boat to solo though. Our current group is 5 in two tandems and my Prism, I’m always faster, more flexible, and quicker dealing with portages. I’ve not experienced a challenge with installing portage yokes in either style (pedestal or gunwale).



If you do look at tandems, a lot of the 15-16.5 length boats are very usable. The Northstar Polaris (or Bell Northstar if you find a used one) is my current favorite for solo use, the Northwind 16 is great, the Wenonah Escapade could be good as well. I’ve been messing around in a demo Langford Prospector 16.6 (disclaimer: I work in a paddling shop, not a Langford dealer but it’s fun to test in case we want to add something), I’m very pleased with how it handles, though as expected it is affected by wind more than my Northwind 16 RX. With a load it should settle down better.



Bottom line for me (emphasis on what I prefer, everyone’s different), I still take one of my solos 90% of the time because I think they work better alone without having to worry as much about conditions. If you’re ever around Northern WI, I’ve got a few similar boats to what you’re looking at, happy to take them out, but water time in the exact boats is still best."

I live in Ashland, I guess that qualifies as northern Wisconsin."

Sorry I do not know why it did that. I live in Ashland.

ashlandjack: "Sorry I do not know why it did that. I live in Ashland."

So what kind of excuse is that?? :)

Another Wenonah fisherman user here. Easy to control solo, great for 2, especially if the second is a kid or a dog.

Unlike the others I do trip with it in the BWCA, have since 2013. Certainly not setting any speed records but gets us from A to B. It's the Jack of All Trades canoe if you only want 1 canoe.

jhb8426: "

ashlandjack: "Sorry I do not know why it did that. I live in Ashland."

So what kind of excuse is that?? :)"

Not much.

pamonster: "Another Wenonah fisherman user here. Easy to control solo, great for 2, especially if the second is a kid or a dog.


Unlike the others I do trip with it in the BWCA, have since 2013. Certainly not setting any speed records but gets us from A to B. It's the Jack of All Trades canoe if you only want 1 canoe. "

I do love fishing out of my fisherman as will as my poke. You all are great with your help.

ashlandjack: "Sorry I do not know why it did that. I live in Ashland."

If you are referring to all the dotted lines and bold italics that makes everyone look like they are yelling, its a little oddity usually caused by someone trying to "reply with quote" and accidentally backing up and erasing part of the bracket - backslash - quote - bracket thing that is part of the HTML. Blah blah. One of the moderators can come fix it easily. don't worry about it.

I also use a Souris River Q16 for my solo trips. My main reason was an 80 lbs dog, and plans for a second one, which I did not think would fit in a solo boat. Pre-dog, I loved paddling the Bell Magic and would likely have gone that way if paddling alone. The SRQ is a bit slower than the solos, but not horribly so IMO, and more stable. I do agree with the above about trying boats if you can. I rented the SRQ16 twice before buying. For you, I would honestly say see if you can paddle one of the Northstar solo boats and see if that can work for you first - keeping in mind the initial stability takes a little getting used to - will be faster and lighter. If they dont work, SRQ could be an option.