Solo Canoe Or Kayak

[eric1978]

I can't disagree more about the pontoons. I had one for a while, and aside from stability, they don't offer any advantage over a canoe, at least here in the Ozarks. Slow, little storage, tough to get through sweepers and bouldery riffles, tough to portage or drag, the toons wear quickly in shallow rivers, and they're a total PITA to set up and break down. For lake use they might not be too bad, but if you intend to float any streams, I'd suggest steering clear of the pontoons. I've never regretted getting rid of mine.

I had to move the seat forward in my 119. I also raised it a few inches. It felt a little squirrely at first, but you get used to it pretty quick. It feels plenty stable to me now and it's quite comfortable. My biggest (and really only) complaint about the 119 is that it's not quite big enough to carry all the gear for an overnight and still keep my rods accessible and how I like them for fishing while floating. Otherwise it's a good little canoe, especially with cost factored in.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Pontoons are nice on small lakes and wouldn't, be bad on large ones if the wind never blew. They cut through the wind like kite.

[Ham]

I don't have an opinion.

[Al Agnew]

When I was doing research on buying a canoe, I found a lot of forums/websites where paddlers complained that Wenonah, specifically the Vagabond and Wilderness models, placed the seat too far forward, making the canoe bow heavy and causing the canoe to plow through the water. But these were paddlers that kneeled while canoeing. Wenonah explained that they designed their canoes more for sitting in the seat, but that they did push the seat back enough to allow for kneeeling, but for most of these guys it wasn't placed back far enough.

So I guess its just different strokes for different folks.

Good point. For the kneeling paddler, the seat is probably about right--you don't use it anyway except as a back rest. But for the sitting paddler, the seat on the Vagabond and the Pack/119 is definitely too far back. I guess they wanted to strike a happy medium between kneelers and sitters. But the difference in tracking ability as well as initial stability is considerable if you move the seat forward. When I first bought the Pack, my first solo canoe, I couldn't believe how difficult it was to keep straight. Every stroke had to be a serious j stroke or rudder pry, or else you had to switch sides with every power stroke. Once I moved the seat forward, I could get about three straight power strokes to one side before having to switch. At the same time, it opened up several other strokes. I could do one that I don't even know the name of...reach forward past the center of the canoe, lean outwards on the paddle side, stick the paddle just a little outwards from straight up and down, draw it toward the side of the canoe while turning the power face of the paddle toward the rear, and finish up with the power side facing rearwards and the paddle straight up and down, even with your body. It's a short stroke, no more than a foot or so of blade movement, and it makes the canoe turn to the paddle side, almost like it's pivoting around the paddle. You can also just reach farther forward and do a draw, keeping the paddle ahead of the center of the canoe, to turn it to the paddle side. And pure draws move the canoe sideways without turning it at all. and back paddling for ferries works a lot easier, too.

[Al Agnew]

I can't disagree more about the pontoons. I had one for a while, and aside from stability, they don't offer any advantage over a canoe, at least here in the Ozarks. Slow, little storage, tough to get through sweepers and bouldery riffles, tough to portage or drag, the toons wear quickly in shallow rivers, and they're a total PITA to set up and break down. For lake use they might not be too bad, but if you intend to float any streams, I'd suggest steering clear of the pontoons. I've never regretted getting rid of mine.

I had to move the seat forward in my 119. I also raised it a few inches. It felt a little squirrely at first, but you get used to it pretty quick. It feels plenty stable to me now and it's quite comfortable. My biggest (and really only) complaint about the 119 is that it's not quite big enough to carry all the gear for an overnight and still keep my rods accessible and how I like them for fishing while floating. Otherwise it's a good little canoe, especially with cost factored in.

I'm glad Eric said it...I agree on the pontoon craft. If everything is right they are a joy to fish from because you can control the craft with your feet, but they are a pain to set up and break down, and you need a good pump. I hate having to build my watercraft and unbuild it every time I get on the water. You're limited on the kind of vehicle you can use if you want to keep it set up, and it's a real pain to carry to and from the river at difficult accesses (most of them weigh 70 pounds or so). I think it would be great on the White or other large streams as long as the wind isn't blowing, but on smaller streams it just doesn't work for me.

I once did a six day wilderness float on a river about the size of the middle Meramec in a toon. In this one I used a kayak paddle, rather than oars. The river had lots of very rocky riffles and class 2 rapids, and the toon was great in them...you could just let it bump off the big rounded rocks while you kept fishing. But the wind blew upstream about 30 MPH every day, and by the last couple days I'd given up trying to paddle it against the wind and would just get out at every pool I could and walk it down the pool. My shoulders didn't recover for more than two years.

Wouldn't want to try to row a toon upstream very far, either.

In my opinion, a better choice than the toon would be the Water Master solo raft. I got one for using out in Montana on the Yellowstone and other rivers. Like a toon, you control it while fishing with your feet, using swim fins. Much lighter in weight, only about 30 pounds, and you can carry it in the back of a pickup fully inflated and set up...I just leave it in the garage between fishing trips, all set up. Handles up to class 3 or 4, and you sit much lower and the profile is lower, so it's somewhat less affected by wind. Still wouldn't want it very much on rivers with lots of long, dead pools like the Gasconade, and the swim fins are a pain if you are on a small stream where you have to get out and walk now and then. Danged things are expensive, too.

[BassMaster#1]

OK I decided to go ahead and get the kayak with the intention to go for the canoe later. I wanted something I can take on the lake and not get blown around on as well as paddle up stream on the upper meramec if your from MO. Thanks again for all the comments I'll let you know how it works out.

[islandspeed]

I have fished from a SOT kayak for over 10 years. While our fishing down here is much different (salt marshes/tidal creeks/BTB) I have found that the SOT kayaks are real fishing machines. We equip them with anchor trolly's, FF, livewells. There are several new concepts in fishing kayaks. Many of the new ones (Native) that allow you to stand. Most of the guys who fly fish love the Natives.

You might wish to consider the Hobie Revolution or Outback if your fishing big water (lakes). The Mirage drive allows you to peddle rather than paddle. This allows you to be fishing as you move along from one spot to another. It's not uncommon for us to trek 5-8 miles on an outting.

If you would like to see how we rig the SOT's you can go to our website at jaxkayakfishing.com. There is a photo gallery that may give you some ideas on how to rig your new kayak.

[RogerH]

Don't mess around when you get the canoe. 15-16' Royalex (something styled on the Buffalo model knock-off of the Bluehole OCA model) with its flat bottom. You can solo fish standing up, you can move the boat upstream against most currents and even make attainments, you can camp out of it, you can fish tandem out of it and a whole lot more.

Find used models at most Ozark outfitters or buy a new one from the Gordon's in Jasper, AR. I managed to get it down from Kelly's to Yellville at really low water on an overniter. And I took it from George's down to Kelly's the next day unloaded with minimal dragging or getting out.

Yeah, it will blow around in the wind, but that's just part of life!!!