One day last Oct. I decided to put my canoe to good use and take up bass fishing. I love fishing from me canoe on small water. I have caught a few good sized fish, but if the wind get much over 5 MPH I get so frustrated I have to call it quits for the day. I have an anchor, however it took much time and energy adjusting the anchor position to hold me where I wanted to fish.

My question is this: Would a modest bass boat (ie 16' Bass Tracker) give me considerable stability in a 10-15 MPH wind, if not, how much boat would I need?

Cousin Eddie,

I feel that in 10-15 MPH wind any boat will be blown around and the bigger (longer and/or taller) the more it will move.  The only things you can do to try in the same spot are either a trolling motor, anchor or drift sock. The latter is like a parachute in the water and is used if you are drift fishing to slow the boat down.  An anchor can only be used to hold your boat in one spot and you can fish all around your boat. A trolling motor is the best to hold your position along a shoreline so you do not move closer or farther from the bank while you are working it. You can never have too much power so I would get the most powerful motor you can afford.

I have fished in 10~15 MPH wind and it is not fun, especially, if the wind is blowing perpendicular to the shore. It is much easier to fish the shore if the wind is blowing parallel to the shore.

Paul

Okay, I was afraid that would be the case. But I'm still going to tell my wife that a larger boat will solve all my problems.

We fish 12 ft jon boats in 20 mph wind all the time.  Lake is only 292 acres and we very rarely fish the shoreline cover anymore.  Most of our time is spent anchored, or drifting certain structure out in deep,open water.

I have a 16ft. aluminum Ranger, not a Traker and although we do fish in 15mph winds with 25mph. + gusts,  I really would prefer not to, and that's about where I draw the line as far as comfort and handling and start to search for a quiter cove.   You will bop around alot more compared to friends with larger fiberglass boats.   You can hold it with an anchor or trolling motor alright for the most part, getting around in stumps or positioning to fish a boathouse is a pain sometimes and I do use a sea anchor alot when drifting, it has never been a saftey issue in that range.  I would think it will depend on size and shape of the lake and how bad the water swells.   Most of the lakes I fish are between 5,000 and 27,000 ac.

Spent many years alone in a 17' canoe so let me give you a few hints on how to make it more fishable. First, if you're by yourself, don't sit in the back seat, sit in the front seat and sit facing the rear of the boat, this places your weight closer to the center. Next add some weight to the rear, I used to throw my spare tire in mine but with them hid in these new vehicles thats not real pratical, since I reload my shotgun shells, I find three 25 pound bags of shot works great.

The wind is still going to push you but it won't spin you around in circles like it does if your sitting in the rear.

Need to add something, when I said add weight to the rear, that was when you were in the front sitting and facing the rear.  You don't want to be adding weight to the rear is sitting in the rear.   Canoes do much better when they are sitting level in the water.

Thanks for the tips. I am acually in the process of adding a trolling motor. I plan to mount the battery in the bow for trim. I might also try the drift sock idea.