Mad River Duck Hunter 17
I fish from a 17-foot Mad River Duck Hunter. It is wide and stable. Our German Shepherd, who likes to move around checking out what is below, has yet to tip us over. We do not stand to cast.
The only thing I dislike about it is it being difficult to handle for one person. I plan to install a seat in the middle and try the canoe solo. At worst, it will be a seat for my daughter when she is old enough to join.
Why I went with Old Town Guide
I would like to take this opportunity to sing the praises of my Old Town Guide 147.
When I was looking for the ideal fly fishing canoe some years ago, I tested out numerous brands and models and found myself struggling with an age-old dilemna. Most recreational canoes are too narrow, and don’t have good stability. Some are so light, their hulls cannot support stand-up fishing. But the “sporting” models are usually over 100 lbs, and too wide, and a real bear to paddle. Another consideration was length. A longer canoe has better secondary stability, but is also much more susceptible to crosswind.
The Guide 14 was new at the time, but all the dimensions lined up to exactly the ideal boat. Further, the Polylink hull was tough, solid and dependable.
It was love at first sight! The love affair continues to this day - in fact, I just came back from a fishing trip in the marsh with my older son. I stood up in the back, and push poled him in skinny water for redfish. When I wasn’t poling, I paddled him around. The Guide might be a bit slow for a rec canoe, but it’s much faster than a sporting variety.
When the wind came up to 15-20 knots, he helped me paddle. Usually if I know the wind will be up, and I’m solo, I’ll bring a trolling motor. The Guide 14 is wide and heavy enough to well support a trolling motor. Anything less you will need stabilizers. Anything wider and heavier or longer, and you’ll need a motor all the time.
The hull is nice and thick, it not only supports a person standing, but it keeps the hull quiet, so if you drop a rod it doesn’t spook every fish for miles.
Some say this boat is a bit heavy at 75 lbs. But I never lift it. I bought a Yakima system for my old Jeep, and one for my new Jeep. I lift one end of the canoe and put it on the back rail, then pick up the other end and push the canoe into place.
For launching or storing, I could probably have gotten a canoe cart. But I simply drag it around. The scratches it gets from this pale by comparison to the ones that oysters and other water hazards have put in it. But like I said, this hull is tough and thick. Even if my abuse means it’ll only last another 10 years, that’s okay, because it’s PLASTIC and it’s CHEAP. The Guide costs $500, which is about what I pay for insurance alone on my motorboat in one year!
I strongly suggest you test all these canoes, and put this boat in your test list.
…
What kind of canoe do you fish from?
Mad River Explorer 14TT
Why that model?
Pricepoint
What model would you really like to have?
Bell Wildfire red with wood gunnels
Do you stand up and pole or cast (without assistance from outriggers)? I can but don’t
If not, is this something you wish you could do?
No, I’d rather have speed and handling to play in class 2 water.
mohawk ranger
17’x 34" fg old keeper. we stand and cast for shrimp, mostly sit and fish or crab.
Canoe Fishing
-I fish out of an Old Towne Discover 16.
I originally selected it for the carry weight capacity and its ruggedness. This poor boat has endured the worst of it as I have paddled and drug it to the most obscure fishing holes.
As for choice of any model, this may not be my top choice for a mellow day trip, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other canoe when it comes to a long day of fishing or goofing around in.
I have stood in it, but with the rounded bottom it can feel a little uneasy when the craft is not weighted down. When fishing alone, I wouldn’t mind an outrigger at times. Especially when leaning over to net a trophy catch.
River fishing
I fish Rivers that are limited to mild Class II. I have been using a Mohawk Solo 13 this Summer and can’t complain.
When I fish tandem its generally with my son and he has a OT Guide. The Guide is very stable and tracks well, it is a low priced craft, but except for the weight, it seems to work well for two fishermen.
Same waters as Wayne, more or less…
My first canoe was a Grumman 15 footer…got it when I was in high school. Still have it. Used it for 15 years, until I wore the bottom so thin from dragging it over rocks and gravel on shallow Ozark streams that it was aluminum foil in places.
Bought a Sawyer fiberglass canoe (can’t remember the model) to replace it. Used it for several years, until I dropped it off the cartop carrier at 60 MPH and tore a nice hole in it. Fixed the hole, sold it. About that time, my wife and I decided it was better for our marriage if we paddled solo, so I got her an Old Town Pack and then bought a Penobscot 16 for a tandem that I could paddle solo. She didn’t like the Pack…too hard to keep it going straight. I got her a double-bladed paddle. She liked that a little better, but still didn’t like the canoe. I really liked it. So I got her an Oscoda Coda fiberglass solo, much better tracking, she loved it.
That was about 15 years ago. I am now on my second Penobscot, though the first one is still on the racks for friends and family. I finally got rid of the Pack, bought a Wenonah Sandpiper. Liked it about as much as the Pack. But then I paddled the Wenonah Vagabond. Liked it much better than the Sandpiper, so sold the Sandpiper and bought one. Still have the Coda for rivers with long, dead pools that I want to paddle through to fish the next good run. But the Vagabond gets most of my solo fishing use.
RS.com comes to paddlin.net
– Last Updated: Nov-01-04 7:54 PM EST –
I knew I'd find you guys somewhere. Just can't keep away from it can we??? For those who do not know. The board on www.riversmallies.com is down for a few weeks and all the smallie junkies are having a problem finding a computer fix.Here is a link to the canoe I use. It is cheap, rugged, hold 3 people, is 42inches wide and 2 can stand at once. It paddles like a barge when loaded down. It tracks poorly when solo. But if you are going to have 2 people in a canoe that are inexperienced or really feel the need to satnd up alot, this is the boat for you. It is heavy at 90lb, but I'd rather have a heavy small boat than a light long boat. Glad to see familiar faces here, but we may be temporary. Man I wish they would get it back up...
http://www.jowatercraft.com/Canoe14.html
Yep…
Although I’ve been an off and on visitor to paddling.net for quite a while. Have you found the RS crowd anywhere else in particular, TK?
Texaskelly is a smallmouth fishing guide par excellance (or however those frenchies spell it) down in Texas, for those of you who don’t know. TK, I’m still thinking about getting down there to fish with you sometime, but we’re in the middle of remodeling our house and looks like it will last until at least Christmas…I think my fishing is going to be a bit curtailed.
Thanks AL
– Last Updated: Nov-02-04 4:43 PM EST –
For those who also don't know Al is a painter deluxe. He i sone of only a handfull of outdoors painters that actually can make a good living at it. He is licenced all of the US and you may see his work on coffee mugs and t shirts as well as the real deal in high dollar frames. Check him out at
http://www.alagnew.com
Check mine out at
http://www.texasriverbass.com
Hope to see you down in march/ april.
canoe fishing
I have had a few different canoes in my 30 years of canoeing. I have also fished from all of them. I had a Grunnium alum (to noisey),Great Canadian 13 foot glass ( flat bottomed,could stand up in it,quite slow),Stowe canoe the rivers edge(all around bad boat for fishing,tippy,oilcanne bad),Old Town 16 9 (great for stabilty,tuff as nails,Heavy).Now I have a Nova craft Prospector 16 in royarexlite,59 lbs. It will hold everything I want to bring,real tuff,Handles great,and is the canoe I always wanted.The rawhide laced seats are the most comfortable I have been in, and that is very important for a full day on the water.
Paddling first, Fishing second w/ me.
What kind of canoe do you fish from?
Kruger Sea Wind, Bell WildFire, Souris River Quetico 16, and what ever else I happen to be in.
Why that model?
Fishing is an opportunity and convienance thing for me, not a prime objective. These are the boats I have, love, comfortable in, etc
What model would you really like to have?
Kruger Cruiser, Bell Merlin II, and about a dozen others.
Do you stand up and pole or cast (without assistance from outriggers)?
Yes, yes, and yes in all of them. I also retrieve lures fron trees standing up in fairly swift river current (ie Manistee River in MI). My outriggers have never been on one of my boats. Before I had the outriggers I did borrow a set fron a friend to sail with. Worked great.
I’ll add another
I picked up an Old Town Pack a couple of months ago. Like the canoe alot as it is so light and easy to portage. During the winter months I solo alot so the Pack gets wet more than any of my other boats. Big enough to hold all my fishing and paddling gear and very comfy with the added backrest. It’s no rocket, nor does it track like it’s on rails, but it sure is fun.
Sportspal
I also use a Sportspal but mine is a Squareback 13 ft with a trolling motor. I am selling it on ebay 9http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7114132173&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT) now though because I always reach for my kayak first, when I am solo, and my wife won’t go where there are alligators–so I don’t need the canoe here.
Carey
fishing canoe
I fish from a Coleman canoe. Mainly because that is what I happen to own. Despite being as fast, as manueverable, and as light as a concrete barge; it has proven to be nearly indestructible and adequate for anything I have thrown at it. I have had it in the Tennessee River and numerous creeks…including some whitewater.
I do stand in this canoe. I do it without any help from external devices. Yes, I pole and fish standing in this boat.
What do I want in my next canoe? I want speed and I am willing to sacrifice stability to get it. I may be a horrible fisherman, but I am quite skilled with a canoe. I’m looking for something with more straight line performance.
I fish from an…
Indian River 14’ squareback canoe. It’s my first canoe. It seems very stable to me. When I fish alone I must add two 6 gallon jugs of water to the bow section to trim it out. I also have the batt for the trolling motor up front. I have stood in it, but only to pole. I use a #55 trolling motor, and fish in south florida canals.
Old Town Guide147
I’ve used my Guide for a couple of years now and it is a very satisfactory fishing platform. Use it in creeks, rivers and lakes here in Texas both with a partner and solo.
Hey Kurt
Have had my Merlin for almost a year now. you are right on as to her stability and speed. I get some pretty confusing boat wakes here in NC and the merlin has no problem with them. Thanks.
Jeep Carrier
Was your Jeep a Wrangler hardtop,I’m looking for a canoe carrier for one.I would like one that I could take on and off.