Are there any tips to landing a fish in a Solo that anyone could share ? I'm talking about a fish that would be to big to swing in the boat. I've never taken a net with on any of my trips with my kids but for my solo I could see where one may be worth bringing in. For those that do bring a net. Let me know what you use. I've been half searching for a shorter handled lite landing net and not having much luck with my search.

another option, and a good one at that.

I don't fish a lot on trips but this is what works for me:

Don't let the darn thing in the boat, try to avoid using treble hooks, and pinch down all your barbs. Sometimes all it takes is giving it slack line at the boat to allow the hook to drop out. Most of the time you simply reach down with a pair of needle nose pliers and slip the hook out. If you plan to keep the fish or it's swallowed the hook whack it over the head with the stick you picked up on the shoreline.

You can usually grab a walleye or pike under the gills and raise it's head enough to get a better shot a deep hook without having the pull it into the boat. Barbless makes this much easier. If it's a bass just stick your thumb in its mouth. I have no balance issues working over the side of the boat.

Alan

If you're worried about too much "lean" to land fish, I'd go with a net. I bought the Cabelas folding net and really like it. I put it in an old lawn chair bag and put it under my side compression straps on side of pack. Gives you more reach and keeps you on center in canoe. I also use the orange grippers and have been happy with those.

I have a folding net from Gander Mt that I keep bungeed to the thwart behind me. I can pop it off and deploy it with one hand. I also pinch the barbs on all of my trebles.

Try it with a 9 ft. fly rod! I'm sure I put on a show landing a medium sized northern, then again I'm the only witness to my contortions.

butthead

Thanks guys . I was looking it the cabelas and gander folding net too. My problem is I already have one way too expensive landing net that sits in the big boat so I didn't want to buy another one. I might have too anyway. I do like the idea of the grips Kanoes. Something I hadn't considered. Alan I think I am going to pinch off all my barbs for my Solo this year. I couldn't imagine getting stuck by yourself trying to cut a hook out of your hand in the middle of a 10 day trip.

Over the years I've learned some "best practices" that help me land more fish when solo:

1. A small to medium size net works great for those 20+ inch smallies and eater size walleye and trout....large pike, walleye and lakers are landed by hand using a leather glove under the gills.

2. My trip goal is to catch trophy size fish. I've lost more than I care to admit 20+ in smallies and 28+ in lakers next to the canoe trying to get that little orange thing into their lips....so I don't use a gripper anymore

3. Barbless trebles are much "friendlier" for the fish and easier to get out of a tangled net

FWIW...

Some good advice so far. I would add, play the big fish out, especially big northerns. Release them in the water if you can. Barbless makes that much easier. A big fish flopping in the bottom of a solo canoe is not real cool.

quote PineKnot: "Over the years I've learned some "best practices" that help me land more fish when solo:

1. A small to medium size net works great for those 20+ inch smallies and eater size walleye and trout....large pike, walleye and lakers are landed by hand using a leather glove under the gills.

2. My trip goal is to catch trophy size fish. I've lost more than I care to admit 20+ in smallies and 28+ in lakers next to the canoe trying to get that little orange thing into their lips....so I don't use a gripper anymore

3. Barbless trebles are much "friendlier" for the fish and easier to get out of a tangled net

FWIW...
"

Like what PineKnot said!!
Coat the leather glove with Snowseal HEAVILY then do it again over a heat source to get more to soak in. When picking a fish out of the water my hand does not get wet unless I dunk the cuff of the glove. Also ware the gloves when doing camp chores or tending the fire.

A fish to be released or to go on the stringer never comes in the boat.

quote kanoes: " another option, and a good one at that. "

+1. My system as well.

quote HighnDry: "

quote kanoes: " another option, and a good one at that. "

+1. My system as well."

Another vote for me as well.

quote HighnDry: "

quote kanoes: " another option, and a good one at that. "

+1. My system as well."

Mine too. Works well, but you'll need to play out really big ones.

I'm not much of a fisherman, but when I did I used the grip kanoes linked with good results. It's light and a lot more compact than a net. Either way. . .don't lean too far over the edge ;).