I sure would like to know more about canoes. I want to find one that I could fish out of, on a lake like Mineral Wells.
Been doing internet seaches, but there is nothing like getting first hand information from experienced people.
So any input would be appreciated !!

Marylou

Marylou,

I float the rivers and duck hunt from a 17' Old Town Canoe. It has a 36" beam, and is very stable. Two of us can actually stand up and fish out of it, but only when it is 2 people that are experienced with canoes.

They are great vessels for fishing, and float in less than 3" of water.

Oldtown and I fish from canoes all the time. I have an Oldtown 146k and it seems to work well for one person with a little gear but would be okay for two people. Oldtown has an Oldtown 158 that is great and stable for two person fishing.

I can stand up and fish in the 146 and not really have to worry about it becoming unstable unless I get a little too western in it.

Hey Guys...
Thanks for the input...where would be a good place to buy a canoe, from a reputable dealer ??

Thanks again...
MaryLou

Whatever you decide just stay away from pelican canoes. My friend bought a 15 ft. pelican it rode okay with 1 person but when we both got in it we dumped it twice. I have never dumped a canoe until I got in that one.

Lester....
Thanks for that info....

MaryLou

I bought mine from a guy's yard sale.

Duck- I was admiring those oldtown canoes when I was at sportsmans warehouse. The thing I noticed about them compared to the pelican canoe is the oldtowns were a little wider and a little deeper that the pelican. I`m pretty sure that the canoe we dumped wasnt deep enough to sit in the water correctly.

I am really happy with my Old Town. It is rated for 1,100 pounds. I have duck hunted 3 guys out of it with all our gear, and we still float in about 3" of water.
It is a great all-around canoe...and only paid $250 for it out of a guy's yard

I've got an old coleman 14ft'er and it has worked well for the last 20+ years. It is rated for 635lbs which is a lot of weight.. we had a canoe stuffing contest years ago and had 8 people in it before it tipped. I'll have to admit that the coleman canoe I have isn't very swift in the water and takes way more effort to paddle then others I have been in but it is very wide and stable. The pronounced keel is good only for going straight and makes it harder to manuver in moving water. If I had it to do over again I would have bought a smaller, lighter oldtown canoe with a keel-less bottom. I have an oldtown kayak (loon 111) and it is so much faster and a real joy to fish out of! Check the new rules/laws out before you buy! I think that any watercraft over 14 feet or has a motor has to be registered/licensed That is why I bought my kayak.. you don't have to keep paying and paying and paying like sales and property taxes!

Duck,
Good buy on the Old Town. You must have a Discovery 169. The are fine boats but a little on the heavy side. I have a 169 too and it is nearly indestructable.

Lady,
Old Town makes a fine boat for what you are looking for. Remember wider means more stable and slow. Try to compromise and fit your needs accoordingly. Longer boats are faster and have more glide but are generally harder to turn. High Trails Company in Garland can help you decide on which boat to buy and they sell the excellent Wenonah line as well as Old Town . Poly boats such as the Pelican and Old Town discovery series are very tough but extremely heavy. I prefer Royalex boats because of light weight and durability. Poly boats are more abrasion resistant than Royalex but they are equal in terms of impact resistance. Royalex is more expensive that polyethelene but it truly is a superior material for the reasons stated above.

Yeah, it is actually a 1960 model...according to the registration, but looks like a 2000 model. The previous owner hardly ever used it.

Course I started guiding out of it on the rivers this year, so it has a few scratches on it, but still paddles great and love fishing from it when I do.

Hey Guys....
Many,Many Thanks for all that information. I met a man here in Weatherford, that has been canoeing since he was five years old, we are going canoeing at Cartwright Park, this Monday,for Canoeing 101....
Thanks again Guys !!
MaryLou

I have been fishing out of canoes for about fifteen years up untill two years ago. I tried a friends kayak and really loved it. I think the main difference is the stability is alot better in a kayak. I also find that the wind does not affect me as much. Of course my kayak is small and i cant carry as much gear or other people but i believe it is easier to fish out of than a canoe.

Duck,
How's it going? 1960 model now I am intrigued. Is this boat fiberglass? Cane seats?

P.S. where are you going to dove hunt this year? If you are going to be around Owens the weekend following the 1st stop by the "Turkey Barn" (second gate) stop on by for a cool adult beverage.