Northwest Fishing Reports

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to selling my inflatable Achilles raft and getting a canoe instead. The raft has been great for 4 years now. It can pack down pretty small if it needs to and 1 person can manage it ok. Better yet it stores really well. However I've thought about getting a canoe (with a motor mount ) instead because it seems a little more versatile and I could add extra features to it like rod holders that I can't on my inflatable. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I fish mostly smaller local lakes (Pine, Martha, Beaver), but I would like to possibly do some light fishing in the straight (closer to shore) for rock fish. Please let me know what you think.

Straight as in the Straight of Juan de Fuca?
I wouldn't want to be out there in a canoe...If you don't wanna buy a boat meant for being out there, hire a guide occasionally. No fish is worth your life. I wouldn't want to be out there in a Canoe. Weather can get bad real fast and a canoe ain't a favorable boat for out there.....Canoes are tippy....The straights aren't the place to gamble....

Save your inflatable or upgrade to a pontoon or something else that stores real good. Use this for the local lakes.... Maybe even a 10-12 foot jon boat so you can have another buddy with ya....Save up until you can find something sea-worthy, something at least in the range of 15-16' feet with a good motor on it.

I'm with Sam on this. Get a pontoon boat. I've had both. The pontoon boat is just as versatile, has more stability, and is a lot more comfortable.

I've got a 10' wide body canoe with a trolling motor. I love it. Works great for me on small lakes and because it is a wide body, it is not tippy at all. I have even taken it out on Lake Washington (on VERY calm/quiet weekdays). But I would not even think to take it out on the straight.

Okay, canoes are great and all, but if you are going to fish out in bigger water, I think the more advantageous boat is a fishing kayak.



These boats are set up to fish with batteries, small trolling motors (occasionally), sonar, rod holders, specialized downriggers and pot pullers, etc etc. The reason Id err on this is they are much more stable than a canoe for the snotty weather and water on the Straits, but they also paddle MUCH faster than a typical pontoon can row. That seems to fit your program better.



Check this link out:

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/

Me personally, Id probably build a little 17 foot rowboat like a wherry or a thames skiff so I could fish in most any conditions in the salt and still have a good solid boat, but many are unwilling to build anything or pay to have something built.

E

Gisteppo wrote:Okay, canoes are great and all, but if you are going to fish out in bigger water, I think the more advantageous boat is a fishing kayak.



These boats are set up to fish with batteries, small trolling motors (occasionally), sonar, rod holders, specialized downriggers and pot pullers, etc etc. The reason Id err on this is they are much more stable than a canoe for the snotty weather and water on the Straits, but they also paddle MUCH faster than a typical pontoon can row. That seems to fit your program better.



Check this link out:

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/

Me personally, Id probably build a little 17 foot rowboat like a wherry or a thames skiff so I could fish in most any conditions in the salt and still have a good solid boat, but many are unwilling to build anything or pay to have something built.

E

Gisteppo,
I'd stand corrected but I'm sitting down so I'll sit corrected. I never even considered a kayak. Let alone a saltwater kayak. I've seen and heard where they are the "Cat's Meow" for most kinds of fishing including salt. I wonder though, how is the fellow in your pic going to release that marlin without getting seriously whipped? I guess my age is creeping up on me. Kayaks are cool indeed! Thanks for opening my eyes to other options.

I fish out of my sea kayak on occasion (its a long range touring boat, so pretty narrow for fishing) and love it. The best part is even a perch can pull the boat around, so getting in a good fight with a bass or trout can result in a 200 yard tow.

These yaks are perfect platforms, and can be as good or better than most pontoons or small dinghys that people can buy. Good old-fashioned rowboats (the ones made to be rowed, not those crappy powerboats that you get at resorts) are by far the best, but kayaks are a good compromise.

I think the guys that hook the big sails and marlin try to wear the fish out to the point they can pull them alongside and either shoot them or gaff the gills and let them swim the blood out. Then they tie the gill plate through the mouth and drag it home. Lots of work!

E

Thanks for the help guys, I will probably get a serious boat for the strait in about 2 years as my Dad is building a cabin up there. I have heard of quite a few people fishing the kelp beds for rock fish from a kayak which you can not do with a regular boat because the kelp would tear up the motor. I'll probably just stick with my inflatable. Pontoons are cool, but the biggest down side I see to them is they only fit one person. So I'm sticking with the inflatable which comfortably seats two. The Indians fished the strait for years in canoes, but hand carved canoes from a Doug Fir are probably a lot more sturdy than the fiberglass and stuff they put out these days. Thanks again for the advice.