I’m older than most people around me. I’ve reached that age when childhood stories and memories take over my lunch break, making me daydream of days of yesteryear. With that in mind, I can’t help remember going fishing – the silence, the inner peace, listening to nature’s sounds while attaining a serene kind of vibe.
That may sound boring to some of you; today’s dynamic world has no room left for patience and waiting times – it’s now or never. Patience, however, has been said to be a virtue, one that once mastered may prove to be an invaluable asset to anyone’s life plans and goals. Some may say that stillness can and should be attained while fishing.
Forget all about loud noises, smog, cars and tall buildings – at least for a day. Pack some food and drinks, grab your fishing rod and canoe, and just go for it! It sounds nice, but how do you actually choose the canoe? That’s exactly the focus of this article.
First off, the canoe’s curvy design was meant to deliver stability and stealth, to keep yourself dry and upright, while trying to catch some fish. That’s one reason to get a canoe for your next fishing trip; others include the generous storage space and the cool vibe. Need help?
We’re here to offer you a short list of potential choices, but first, here are a few ideas and notions that might guide you to choose a fishing canoe wisely.
Types of Canoes
The aim here is not to purchase any boat that would collect dust in the garage. You will, however, have to decide on what type of fishing you prefer before going for a multi-purpose, recreational, or river canoe. A few words about each one? Certainly.
- Recreational: this one is simply perfect for flat-water paddling; if you’re thinking about a relaxing fishing trip this is the right boat for you. Easy to handle and quite difficult to be sunk, beginners should definitely turn their heads in this direction.
- Multi-Purpose: able to handle anything, this boat will equally handle its own in calm waters or on rapid rivers. The storage capacity is also impressive, even if you’re going for a long backcountry trip.
- River: if you’re into river fishing, this canoe should be on your shopping list. River canoes were meant to handle running rapids and they’re constructed to be impact-resistant while providing enough maneuverability to get you home in one piece.
Canoe Size
Size matters, no matter what anyone else says. As such, you should carefully consider the size of your boat: length, beam, and even depth will eventually decide how your boat performs in different conditions.
Length – the longer, the batter; at about 17 feet long, they are quite maneuverable while offering plenty of storage space.
Beam – in theory, the wider the canoe, the more thankful you will feel, as it becomes more stable. Please note that narrowboats should require less effort to paddle, but they’re also quite easy to tip over.
Depth – a deep canoe keeps the water out and will be quite roomy. Also, the taller the sides, the more influence the wind will have on your trajectory, so you should keep that in mind as well.
Now that you have some essential information for buying a canoe, it’s time to count down our list of best fishing canoes for your next trip.
Lifetime Kodiak 130
Designed to last a lifetime, hence the name, this canoe will take you fishing for years to come. Good enough even for the open sea and constructed using UV-protected high-density polyethylene, this boat will not tip over. Better yet, it can be also paired with an electric motor powerful enough to get you where you want to go, should you feel on the lazy side.
With features such as molded-in seats, a patented skeg wheel design, as well as useful handles, you should at least consider this excellent canoe.
Mad River Journey 156
Known for his quality craftsmanship, Jim Henry was in charge of the design of this sleek and versatile vessel. This fishing canoe, apart from being quite stable, features a fishing rod holder; this means you’re one cold beer away from Heaven.
Also noteworthy are the ‘Triple Tough TT” shallow arch hull, moderate rocker, and roto-molded stern, as is this boat’s ability to handle any location or water.
Old Town Discovery 169
If you’re in the mood for a workout and thought: ‘why not paddle out for longer periods of time?’, this is the best canoe for you. Designed to get you anywhere, while loaded with about 1,400 lbs of gear, this boat was constructed using three layers of polyethylene.
You will feel safe at all times, while the nylon web seats will ensure you remain comfortable throughout your journey.
Old Town Penobscot 174
Another wonderful choice from Old Town, this touring canoe also features a three-layer polyethylene construction; this means reliability, which is why the manufacturer offers customers a lifetime warranty.
The Penobscot 174 Canoe also comes with grippy carrying handles, aluminum gunwales, as well as nylon web seats.
MyCanoe Canoe 3.0
With a double-layer hull weighing 36 pounds, while featuring two seats that can be placed in eight various configurations, this canoe will transport two anglers and gear, for a total carrying capacity of 440 lbs.
The Canoe 3.0 shows off a single-seam construction and is compatible with a rowing system. Some might also consider the 16-pound accessory bag; anyone?
Aire Traveler Inflatable
This solution is for those of you who don’t really plan ahead and require a canoe from time to time, without sacrificing storage space.
The Air Traveler will easily fit inside your car; weighing in at 70 lbs and eventually standing 15-foot long, this fishing canoe is basically a three-chamber urethane hull. Ready? Set? Go.
Onak Canoe 2.0
An improvement to Onak’s original canoe design, easy to set up, and able to fold down to a more than decent size in a short amount of time, the Onak Canoe 2.0 also brags about a revolutionary pulley system.
The lightweight 33-pound fishing boat will hold as many as 551 lbs and is also recyclable for those of you counting daily CO2 emissions.
Mad River Explorer 16 Ultralite
Showing off a classic design and able to stow away about 1,100 pounds of gear and supplies, this fishing canoe features something called an “Aramid Ultralite” hull. In translation, you will paddle slower and achieve faster speeds.
Also available are web seats with aluminum gunwales, but we all know what’s on offer – a canoe that can handle any river.
Grumman 1550CSP
Please note the all square stern with a transom gusset, as well as a flat hull shape, ideal for satisfactory levels of balance out on the water.
We can’t ignore the aluminum construction or the 450-pound capacity either. No rust issues here; just carefree fishing trips.
Sanborn Prospector
American-made, the Prospector was designed with extended fishing trips in mind. Trimmed in ash and cherry hardwood, with a gel-coated finish making sure no harm will be done to this boat – by man or nature – this boat offers caned seats for a comfortable experience.
The mixed construction materials – Kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass – make this 16-foot long canoe responsive while delivering a feeling of absolute safety. I mean, we did just mention Kevlar. What else is there to be said?
There you have it. These are 10 excellent canoes for your next fishing adventure. Do you have any other suggestions?
