Using Canoe vs Drift Boat on Upper Delaware.

[Titanium]

Hello Fellow Anglers,
I have never fished using a drift boat, but have done some duck hunting in my Grumman 14' canoe. I have been just wading to do my fly fishing for all my years.

I'm thinking of teaming up with another buddy to drift the Upper Delaware in my canoe, then beaching it to fish the usual way using waders. I don't have the bucks to get a nice drift boat and have a regular 12 ft aluminum with 10hp outboard. So I don't want to get a special boat for drift fishing.

Do any of you other fly fishermen use a canoe to fish the Upper Delaware? I know there are a lot of canoe users up there and the campgrounds schedule drop offs for their members. I just want to know more about it before I go ahead and launch it for fly fishing the Upper Delaware. If you do it this way with a canoe from time to time I could use some pointers.

Thanks!

Titanium

 

[tompg]

There are times when the water is high and all fishing is best from a boat with an anchor. When the water is lower, your method should pay off nicely. You'll be able to get to some nice water and fish. Canoeing in waders will,however, suck. The upper EB is good canoe water.

 

[sstasiak]

It's doable, just be careful anchoring up in deeper water...especially if you're in the canoe alone with the weight concentrated at the back.

 

[JeffK]

Was a canoe drift fisherman for many, many years. People have been fishing from canoes for centuries before the drift boat was even invented. Definitely not as comfortable as a drift boat to fish from, but can get to hard to reach spots and wade. I'm comfortable standing in a canoe, but I have canoed for close to 50 years and am a pretty good poler - most people are squeemish about standing in a canoe and fishing. I don't like anchoring in a canoe in current - they are too tippy. Also, far more comfortable in wet wading season as waders aren't the greatest things to kneel in. However, it can be done.

 

[Stimulator]

When the water is low, the canoe will work as you stated - to travel down river for wade fishing.

When the river is high, the 12' aluminum boat will work, just leave the outboard at home.

While a drift boat is more maneuverable and will handle the skinny water better, many people used row boats before the drift boat became popular.

 

[Titanium]

Hello Guys,
Thanks for the tips.

I did forget to mention that I plan on wearing wading pants to easily slip my waders on and off as needed. I will also use some slip on wading shoes specifically for this rather than my laced ones. A long time ago I went in while wading and it was not fun. The air went to the bottom legs of my waders and made it real hard to get up. This kept my topside almost underwater while I did the backstroke to keep my head above water.

This January I was on the Susquehanna with my Lab and in some ice flows. I felt comfortable in the canoe and will do it again this upcoming duck season. As long as I travel light it is great to use the canoe.

The first time I try it I will just beach the canoe near a good place to wade, then get out to fish. I will get better at it after a few trips. After I get a good look at the stream a few times, I will try to anchor. I can fish and paddle good from kneeling as long as I have an armaflex pad to kneel on. It is nice to know I will see other fly fishermen doing it too. I guess it is the only way to get a good long look at this fine river system.

Any more tips will be appreciated. Thanks!

Titanium

 

[CTobias]

People have been fishing from canoes for centuries before the drift boat was even invented.

Boy was it a good thing they brought them into play in the 1930's. A canoe wouldn't be much fun on big water.

 

[CR]

I have an Old Town canoe that has a flat back on it for mounting a motor, and it's a little wider so you can actually stand up and fish without worrying about tipping it. I use it every opportunity on the upper Delaware. If you have a regular canoe, I would definitely recommend going from spot to spot and getting out to fish.

What's nice is that you can take out at the Lordville bridge, where drift boaters cannot do that.