Open Canoe Fishing
It is easy to see the advantages of fishing from an open canoe. The ability to get to the perfect spot being one of the main ones. No longer tied to places you can access on the bank.
With the modern telescopic rods that are available there is
room in everyone’s dry bag for a small fishing kit for when the mood strikes. A
small kit and rod should do you fine. After all you do not have to cast far.
You can paddle as close as you need to be.
In tidal waters you can even use a handline. I have used and recommend Streamlines as you can cast quite a distance with them but you can only really use them when you are in the canoe solo. Spinning a lure with hooks on it round your head puts of the keenest companion ;)
When fishing from an open canoe there will be times when you want to stay in the same place in the water. In shallow water you could use a traditional anchor but this is usually not the norm. The other option is to use what is called a Sea Anchor or Drogue. It looks like a small parachute and works on a similar principal. It is attached to the open canoe with a rope and thrown overboard. Just as the air caught in the parachute slows your decent to ground the water in the drogue slows your drift. Just remember not to cast in the direction the drogue is as you will end up getting it tangled in your line.
There is a UK web site Anglers Afloat which is specifically about kayak fishing. There use of the word Kayak does not exclude Open Canadian Canoes. The content seems to be geared mostly towards sea fishing but there is still much of interest.
If you have any questions about fishing from your open canoe then ask them in our forum and you should soon have an answer.