Help! My canoe is to fast.

[Fishfighter]

My new nova craft canoe is to fast. When floating a river, it is almost impossible to fish from. I bought a large draft chute to slow it down. It works, but still the boat is to fast. I'm thinking, if I put more weight in it, it will sit lower but still. Any ideas?

[moguy1973]

Ferry it into the eddies and slack water.  Or pull it over and fish from the bank in fast moving water.

Draft chutes are more for flat water so the wind doesn't blow you around as much.  I wouldn't want to be dragging a chute behind me in moving water to get caught on a log.  That could become a real bad day quick.

[timinmo]

might try a drag chain.

[tjm]

Suppose the water is too fast? If the current is the problem, I guess any thing being pushed by the current is going the same speed; your boat, the chute and if you increase the load more of your boat? Deeper draft catches more current. Dragging chain is used by some and others say if the chain hangs on a rock in fast currents that you canoe can capsize, so if you do that make sure you have a way to instantly disconnect and drop the chain. Dragging any anchor poses the same problem of possible hang up, I've used a sash balance on a rope for anchor for many years and have tried dragging that a few times, it did not not help me a lot. Even if the anchor is dragging on the bottom, the current is still pushing it.

I learned to put the boat up on a bank and wade to fish or to park in the eddies and slack water.

[Fishfighter]

Well I float this river in a kayak and it is a lot slower. Its weird because the kayak is narrow and generally fast so I assumed the canoe would be similar. 

I have not had it in a lower flow river and it may be perfect there. 

[Al Agnew]

Huh??  As moguy said, the draft chute shoudn't do ANYTHING in current, as the current would be pushing it at the same speed as the canoe...those things are for slowing a boat in the wind in slack water.  

You gotta be doing something wrong, or else we're misunderstanding you.  Current will push anything that's in it the same speed it is moving, unless you actively do something to slow it down.  Are you trying to slow the canoe down and it's still being pushed by the current faster than the kayak was when you were trying to slow it down?  That's possible IF the canoe is significantly wider than the kayak and/or significantly longer and you get it sideways.  If there is a big difference in the size of the hull below the waterline (either wider, longer, or both), then you'll have to learn to modify the kinds of strokes you did with the kayak to slow it.  But adding weight will just put more of the hull below the waterline where the current can affect it.

And be very careful if you try a drag chain.  As has been said, if you hang it in fast water it can flip the canoe VERY fast.

[Gavin]

Think it's just a learning curve. Fishing jigs, plastics, or bait on the bottom from a moving canoe can be frustrating unless you eddy out, cast up and let it tick. Jerkbaits, topwater lures and cranks are easier to fish in current. Where were you? Had allot of rain last weekend.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Spot lock. You need spot lock. 

[Fishfighter]

Its so fast, I cant fish a spinnerbait, crankbait, swimbait, etc. I am serious here folks.

[ness]

Is it faster than the current you’re in? Have you checked to see it there’s a motor back there?😄