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03/21/2025 01:30PM |
Simple no weight to portage. Second best fishing tool i have, first is depth finder.
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03/27/2025 12:21PM |
First, I don't want fish flopping around in the boat. Second, if a fish is flopping in the boat while netted, there is a good chance to get trebles in the net. Third, if you have trebles in the net and the fish, there is a good chance you will have trebles in the net, the fish, and you.
The worst thing that happens without a net? You lose the fish.
I do use fish grippers... I know that is somewhat controversial but for big fish that you will just release anyway, it keeps them in the water with slime intact. For the fish you keep, it is a safe way to remove hooks.
That said, if you know your fish, you don't need either. Walleye settle down if you clamp down on their gills. You have to be wary of the cheek plates and dorsal fin though. NP, inside top of the gill plates and they settle down. You still have to be wary of their teeth in the gills. SMB, just lip them. Not using a net means 2 things: you aren't afraid of the fish because you fought it until you can grab it. Never grab a green fish. The arm with the rod goes straight in the air and you use the rod to bring the fish to you. The epic fails you see on youtube are because the fisher took his hand of the handle.
Stringers...I use the hooks off metal stringers but tie them to 550 cord for a quiet tow. On the end, I have a piece of tube float. Putting a float on the stringer keeps them from getting tangled up in fallen trees. I bring 7 foot rods so that the front person can get the fish back to me. I bring the fish in the canoe for travelling. you will drown them if you tow them...weird but true. They survive better as long you give them occasional dunks.
Anchor. A good anchor is hard to beat. I have tried to use rocks and other drags but when you need the anchor, you are in the wind and without some claws on it, that basketball net and rock will just drag along bottom.
For 2 person, I am generally in the rear. I troll and reef runner about casting distance from shore while the bow person casts wherever they want with whatever they want. To troll, I put the rod over my left shoulder and hold it in place behind one foot. A rod holder will just get on your nerves. If you have a 3 man, you have to talk to your fishers and let them know its a dance. You can cast over each other as long as they stagger their casts and the front person needs to be reminded that he has 180 degrees to fish and the middle person only about 30 degrees on each side.
When drift fishing, fish the trailing side.
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03/27/2025 02:52PM |
In a tandem canoe (with two people), if a big fish is hooked, the other person should keep control of the canoe. I like to get near shore if there are no snags.
When trolling I like to tuck the rod under my leg, point towards the back.
Don’t drop a super active fish in the canoe. That’s a good way to get stuck with a hook or damage some gear.
If landing a big northern by hand (you probably won’t have a huge net) make SURE it’s ready. I sometimes tap it on the head a few times while it’s floating in the water next to the canoe.
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03/17/2025 07:17AM |
I think it’s a little more important to not rush bringing in the fish. I use a collapsible net or a gripper. Nothing hurts worse than an angry Northern taking a last second lunge and imbedding a hook into your hand.
Learn how to troll. The more you can get the pole straight out parallel to the water the greater the success. Troll when you travel if you have time.
Shouldn’t be too different than from the kayak.
T
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03/24/2025 05:53PM |
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03/10/2025 11:46AM |
Any info helps.
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03/24/2025 09:57PM |
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03/25/2025 06:51AM |
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03/11/2025 08:28AM |
Lake Trout - I prefer trolling. I troll just fast enough to give the lure it's intended action. I prefer spoons (Little Cleo, Kastmaster, Crocodile)
Brook Trout - 50/50 on trolling or floating/drifting and casting the shoreline. I prefer Vibrax inline spinners.
Walleye - Lakes, I'll troll a weighted lindy rig with a salted minnow or leach. Rivers or moving water, i'll cast a jig with a minnow or leach.
Bass - Float/drift, occasional paddle while casting the shoreline. I prefer plastics.
Crappie - Bobber with a hair jig and waxy, floating or casting small jigs or beetle spin while drifting a a shoreline or weedbed.
Northern - all of the above work for northern.
All of the above depend on the time of year.
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03/17/2025 07:00AM |
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03/15/2025 10:13AM |
If you are fishing tandem from the bow and not having to worry much about canoe control, you can pretty much cast at will. Troll less, If fishing solo in my canoe, a 16" prospector, I reverse seats and sit in the bow facing the stern. I also put weight in the stern to make steering from the bow less wind prone. Again, go with the wind, troll and cast as control permits.
I also use search type lures such as zoom lizards, Senkos, or Ned rigs. These have only one hook and it's much easier to remove the one hook from the fish as opposed to multiple hook lures such as a Rapala. However, at times top water lures are the way to go, especially in evenings.
Try to focus on a few highly productive lures that are easy to change as needed. Learn how to land a fish by hand rather than using a net. Develop a plan on where you want to fish that day and for what species rather than fishing at random. Fish best times of day, ie., mornings and evenings unless cloudy. Skip fishing mid-day.
Learn how to identify fishing holding structure. For instance, SM locky jumbled rocks and boulders. Flat rock faces from shore hold few fish. Look for humps, rocky boulders surrounded by deeper water. In evening, fish shallow.
I always fish with two rods so that if one rod gets fouled up, I have another rod ready to go. Fixing a fouled rod when fishing is hot is no fun. Ditto if windy.
Hope these idea provide some insight.
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03/15/2025 10:27AM |
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03/17/2025 09:27AM |