How To Fish Different Lures On Rivers From A Canoe With Spin And Bait Caster

[Greasy B]

Buy a 50 length of 3/8 solid braid nylon chord. Cut it in half, tie one on the bow and the other on the stern of the canoe. Tie a couple of overhand knots toward the end of each to help grip. Use these ropes to line or walk the canoe through any tricky spots or blind corners. The ropes will last for years so take them with you for future trips.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Practice in a canoe? LOL...Park the boat and wade fish till you get comfy with the boat...after that...experiment. Thinking that plastics, flukes, spinners & cranks would be first line in that time frame.

Can't say much more than this. The only thing I might add is that in April it's hard to know what the water levels will be. It is also a flow so your experience with fly fishing will help because the smallies in the Niangua act much the same as the trout do.

Also remember to keep your weight centered getting in, sitting, and getting out so you can keep one side dry.

[Terrierman]

One more comment - have your oufitter provide you with a plastic boat not aluminum. You'll be a lot quieter and won't stick on the rocks.

[exiledguide]

Only thing I would add might be a little chartruse dye added to the fluke and I would prefer 3" power grubs. Gavin and Chief, I floated the Big Piney, Black and Castor for years before someone explained to me you weren't suppose to turn the canoe over

[Wayne SW/MO]

You might do well above Bennett, (Moon Valley down) at that time, but it will depend heavily on whether or not there is some input of warm water from the rain. Below Bennett water levels would be your only concern. When the levels are normal there's a lot places you can get out and wade, wet wade, waders can kill you.

It's easy to roll a canoe, you just get some weight out over the gunwales. On the other hand it's all but impossible to roll one from the middle of the canoe, so keep you weight there come hell or high water.

[joeD]

I'll give your chance of taking this trip 0%. If I'm incorrect, I will apologize to you. But you have to post and say you did or did not take your trip.

Otherwise, your lures are great. They'll catch something somewhere sometime. Good luck!

[stream stalker]

I wear a wetsuit to float this time of year. Dumping into cold water can be dangerous, especially with the cool weather we've had so far this spring. Makes wet wading alot more comfortable too. -SS

[silvermesa]

I'll give your chance of taking this trip 0%. If I'm incorrect, I will apologize to you. But you have to post and say you did or did not take your trip.

Otherwise, your lures are great. They'll catch something somewhere sometime. Good luck!

Thought I would reply back and let you know that on April 1, the weather was cool and water was up and my buddy and I decided to forego the canoe trip until a later time. However, I did take a wade fishing trip on the Little Niangua at Mule Shoe and got skunked. I did see one small guppy about an inch long but no other signs of fish. I really think a canoe is the way to go just in being able to cover more ground.

My first ten minutes I was hung up on roots and limbs but quickly learned to adjust my casting and to rig weedless.

I look forward to trying this again as the weather warms.