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Fly Fishing Canoes and Drift Boats.When other options are too small or large and expensive (a motor boat), fishing canoes or drift boats may be the happy medium you are looking for.Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each. Fishing CanoesMy first experience with canoeing was when I was a teenager. A group of us would rent a few canoes for a couple of hours, load them up with coolers of beer, and turn the 2 hour trip into eight hours. We liked to call it “Ca-Brewing.”Although this has little to do with fishing it does give you an idea of the disadvantages of fishing from a canoe. You see we would start out sober and able to maneuver the boat using the oars. The problem happened a few hours into the trip when we would toss the oars to the bottom of the boat and just drift while we drank. Someone would always end up tipping the boat. This was either done by someone standing up and doing it intentionally or not paying attention and running into something. Either way once you were in the water, if you were the keeper of the cooler, you had to make a quick decision – the remains of the beer or cling to your boat. Care to take a guess which one most chose? My point to this is when used properly fishing canoes are easily maneuvered down streams and rivers. One person fishes while the other controls the oars. The problem comes when the person fishing tries to stand up. Canoes are not very stable and you have to keep centered in the boat. This is problem when trying to make long casts or fighting a big fish. If you move to far to the side you’ll be left with a decision – all your fishing equipment or cling to your boat. Your fishing equipment isn’t likely to float as long as a can of beer either. So why would I even mention fishing canoes as an option if they are so unstable? Canoes are so quick and easy to maneuver. They are cheaper than a motor boat or drift boat. They are also quiet so you will be less likely to spook fish. With the right equipment you can improve the stability. If you’re going to use a canoe for fishing then I would highly suggest getting some outriggers. Outriggers are floats that are mounted to the canoe so they hang off to the sides. When you need speed and to steer precisely they can be held out of the water. When you’re ready to fish drop them back down and your boat will remain more stable. Outriggers may seem like an unnecessary expense at first but when you’re watching all your equipment sink to the bottom you’ll wish you had ponied up for them. A better option, in my opinion, than fishing canoes is a drift boat. Drift BoatsDrift boats were made for fishing. Like fishing canoes they can quickly and easily be maneuvered using oars. They are quiet so you’re less likely to spook the fish. And two of the biggest advantages they have over fishing canoes are stability and plenty of extra room for whatever you need to take along.If you get a guide service most likely you will be going out on a drift boat. The disadvantages of these are that they are more expensive and require a trailer to haul them. You will also need a boat ramp to launch them. Another drawback is the fact that you will have to avoid low water as the boat will run aground. If a pontoon boat can’t handle the rougher waters you find necessary and you can accept the drawbacks then a drift boat is a great choice. They are specially designed for anglers and many manufacturers offer added accessories for fishing. If you would like to explore other options than fishing canoes and drift boats return to the fly fishing watercraft page here. To find other information on fly fishing for bass and panfish click here to return to the home page. Sign up for our free ezine.To get updates to the site, fly fishing stories, tips and gear information feel free to sign up for our free monthly ezine – Fly Fishing Journal.
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