Looking for some advice on canoes. Recently had back surgery and doubt I'll be rowing the driftboat this year. Was thinking about small lake fishing. Anyone got any suggestions on lightweight, easily rowable canoes suitable for lakes?

Do you have to row, or can you paddle? I remember seeing some 3/4 size Coleman plastic canoes at K-Mart some time back...I think they ran about $300--cheap compared to some of the "specialty" shops around. Coleman also makes a mesh seat with a back rest for canoes...something I keep hoping to run into. I lug a 17' Grumman around, and it feels like overkill most of the time...with a smaller boat, you could use a kayak paddle. My one gripe after a day on the lake is that my vision makes everything look "liquidy", and the chair in my living room feels like it's rocking back and forth to the waves in my head~~~~kept a 16" cutt for dinner tonight--don't often keep 'em but this one was so bright and chunky I couldn't resist!

Since you say your having problems rowing with your back an electric motor on a canoe is a nice set-up. The square back coleman is ideal for a little electric. Otherwise you can buy a special mount that lets the motor hang off to one side. Be careful lifting those batteries though they can be a real back breaker!

Fishkisser: Since you are on this board, we can probably assume your 16" cutt was legal, but if anyone hasn't heard, all sea-run cutts are C&R only in all marine areas, as of last year. They are all wild fish, now, since they are no longer raised in hatcheries.

p.s. canoes are great on lots of waters.

[This message has been edited by Scaly (edited 05-30-2000).]

I fish legal...and since I live on Orcas I generally fish the local lakes. The fish I mentioned was from Mountain Lake, which is open year 'round. I was catching fish in March on a dry fly...

No offense meant, 99. Thought you were legal and ethical, but there are plenty who don't know of the change and I try to pass the word. The regs do a poor job of advertising the new sea-run restrictions, I'm afraid, the only obvious mention being on the "definitions" page, which sounds more like a dictionary than real rules.
Nice you have that lake. Tight lines!