Page 100 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing magazine

KAYAKING
& canoeing

The Wee Lassie by Wenonah Canoe is being imported by Paddle & Portage Canoes and is a very light, high offering at less than 12kg.
OWhat is a pack canoe and why do I need one in my life?
RIGINALLY developed for larly among fishers who frequent the Adirondack region of remote freshwater rivers and creeks. North America, the pack ca- In Australia, though our options are
Canoeing
by DAN OWBRIDGE
noe or pack boat is traditionally a a little more limited, a growing mar-
small, light-weight open-top paddle craft designed to be manoeuvrable and easy to carry. The original concept was for a boat you could literally drop your gear into and go – it was open-topped for easy gear access and usually quite short, wide and stable with a seating position lower to the floor to facilitate pad- dling with a double-bladed kayak paddle.
ers have successfully used them for over 150 years.
ket is here that should drive a larger range of boats.
These boats were backcountry champions – able to be dropped into a narrow twisty creek and then dragged through thick bush to the next access point. Hunters and fish-
First absolutely has to be carry- ing capacity. Canoes in general are great for carrying gear and pack canoes are no different. Canoes be- ing an open-top higher-sided boat by design have a lot of room to put your stuff in.
Like all things in life, we tend to go through cycles and the trusty pack canoe had been forgotten for many years especially with the in- troduction of the plastic sit-on-top kayaks. However in recent years they have enjoyed resurgence, with designers remembering why these trusty little boats were so popular among outdoors people for many decades.
So why should you consider a pack canoe for your next fishing boat? Here are the top five reasons to put one on your wish list.
Certainly in the North American market manufacturers are finding a demand for these craft, particu-
The abundance of room means you’re not having to second guess yourself on what to leave at home, which also means you’re not having to stow stuff away in 27 different hatches. Even in a short canoe you can easily carry enough gear to go fishing and camping for multi-day trips.
Pack canoes are usually very stable boats able to be stood up in.
Page 100 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2020
* continued P101 www.bnb shing.com.au
From a fishing perspective there is a tonne of room to put your fish- ing gear, tackle boxes, Esky, milk crate, camera gear and kitchen sink – in fact almost anything you want. Long story short, you can put a lot of stuff in a canoe.