I've been keeping an 85 lb. Old Town two-person canoe at my pond and paddling it backwards from the bow seat. It's a goofy design as it mimics the vintage birch bark canoes with their raised bows and sterns. Being high up front and in the back means it catches more wind and paddling it from the bow seat and backwards means I'm not centered in the canoe, although the bow seat does move me a little closer to the middle.

 

So, tomorrow I'm buying an Old Town NEXT canoe. It's 29 pounds lighter than the current canoe at my pond and a solo boat, which means it'll be more efficient and faster. Of course, it's shorter, which means it'll be more crowded. It has a kayak-style seat, which is padded and will be more comfortable. I'm buying it used for $550. I'll leave it at my pond and I expect to catch a few bass from it. I'll keep the tandem boat at my boat for when I have a guest and for friends to use.

 

Here's the new canoe:

 

Outstanding!!

Good luck with the new stealth weapon… 

1 hour ago, GaryH said:

Good luck with the new stealth weapon… 

 

Ha! I'm sure its bow will bump a few bass as I sneaky creep over the weeds and surprise them. 

Excellent, a proper fishing vessel.

22 minutes ago, padlin said:

Excellent, a proper fishing vessel.

 

I think its short length will make for easier maneuvering in the swampy areas of my pond.

 

That will be a nice fishing canoe. Having tracks to mount a few things will be helpful. Not sure how you manage tools, used lures, or ‘daybox’ type lure bags but there are lots of cool accessories for that stuff that use the tracks. 

50 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

That will be a nice fishing canoe. Having tracks to mount a few things will be helpful. Not sure how you manage tools, used lures, or ‘daybox’ type lure bags but there are lots of cool accessories for that stuff that use the tracks. 

 

I love your idea, but know nothing about my options. Can you suggest some and maybe provide a link to a site that sells them?

Well, I may have gotten your hopes up unnecessarily. The picture above is the discovery solo. You said you got a next. The discovery has tracks built into the thwarts (front at least and you could add them to the back), the next doesn’t I don’t think. 
 

if you have tracks, then start here:

 

https://www.yakattack.us

https://www.mariner-sails.com/kayaking/kayak-fishing-accessories/
 

most track mount accessories are for kayaks so look in those categories. 

if it’s actually a next, then I’m afraid this might not help as much. 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

Well, I may have gotten your hopes up unnecessarily. The picture above is the discovery solo. You said you got a next. The discovery has tracks built into the thwarts (front at least and you could add them to the back), the next doesn’t I don’t think. 
 

if you have tracks, then start here:

 

https://www.yakattack.us

https://www.mariner-sails.com/kayaking/kayak-fishing-accessories/
 

most track mount accessories are for kayaks so look in those categories. 

if it’s actually a next, then I’m afraid this might not help as much. 

 

I think I can mount tracks on the thwarts and maybe the gunnels too. It would be great to have rod holders!

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I think I can mount tracks on the thwarts and maybe the gunnels too. It would be great to have rod holders!

if you can mount them securely, then there are a couple options. I love my horizontal rod holders from mariner sails. I don’t think they will work great for you in that setup, but have a look. I also have a pair of the yak attack omega which are highly adjustable.  I used to have two as my rear rod holders. I kept one and the same spot as a net holder. The other I add once every couple trips when I want a sixth rod. 

Can't have too many boats.  It's still over 50 lbs but shorter and more manuverable.  When I use my kayak I have a 15' rope with either 1 or 2 lengths of 3/8" chain for an anchor.  I run the rope through the front handle with a clam cleat on a gunnel where I can reach to use it.  You might have to paint the bottom so the fish won't get spooked by a bright orange boat.  Good luck with it. 

Very nice, it’s a kayak style canoe, love it. 
I used to sit on throw cushions to paddle from the center, it seemed too track better when it was breezy.

 

7 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

Can't have too many boats.  It's still over 50 lbs but shorter and more manuverable.  When I use my kayak I have a 15' rope with either 1 or 2 lengths of 3/8" chain for an anchor.  I run the rope through the front handle with a clam cleat on a gunnel where I can reach to use it.  You might have to paint the bottom so the fish won't get spooked by a bright orange boat.  Good luck with it. 

 

What color do you think I should paint the bottom?

8 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

It's still over 50 lbs but shorter and more manuverable.

 

I considered buying another Kevlar canoe, but then I'd have to store two Kevlar boats in my garage over the winter. This boat is 3-layer polyethylene and I'll just keep it year-round in the wetlands where I launch it. I'll keep it on the platform and my two-person canoe will be where you can see the green kayak below. The kayak isn't mine and is no longer there. FWIW, the platform now continues all the way to open water, but I prefer docking in the inlet because there's no wind and waves.

 

After doing some research, I think I'll paint the bottom green or white. Green would mimic weeds and white, the sky.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

After doing some research, I think I'll paint the bottom green or white. Green would mimic weeds and white, the sky.

if you got a Next, they come in dark grey and dark blue. Save your paint money and buy another plopper. 

If you load the canoe on a roof rack like I do I’d think twice about anything on the gunwales. The pic makes it look like it has a track on the thwart.

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

if you got a Next, they come in dark grey and dark blue. Save your paint money and buy another plopper. 

 

I bought a used one, so it's bright orange. 

 

3 hours ago, padlin said:

If you load the canoe on a roof rack like I do I’d think twice about anything on the gunwales. The pic makes it look like it has a track on the thwart.

 

The newest model has the track, not mine. However, I'm going to put some tracks on the crossbars.

 

3 hours ago, padlin said:

If you load the canoe on a roof rack like I do I’d think twice about anything on the gunwales. The pic makes it look like it has a track on the thwart.

 

This canoe will stay put at my pond. I'll use my Kevlar Bell Rockstar canoe for car topping, 

Before painting the bottom, remember, the fish are in the water looking up at the sky, so darker colors are much more visible to them than lighter colors.  Fishing shallow waters, darker colors tend to spook them much more easily than light gray, light blue or white would.

26 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

Fishing shallow waters, darker colors tend to spook them much more easily than light gray, light blue or white would.

 

That settles it. Thanks!

Unless your fishing close or directly under your boat, does it matter. Next time I wade fish, I’ll be worried about my white boney knees. 

11 minutes ago, GRiver said:

does it matter.

 

Maybe not, but I do catch bass quite close to my canoe and the water I fish is quite clear, plus a can of spray paint only costs ten bucks, so I'm going to do it.

Nice boat, hope you enjoy it.

 

Regarding color, not sure it matters.

My last fishing kayak was bright orange and the waters I fish are gin clear.

I did get asked often why I chose that color.

Well, I caught plenty of fish shallow and wanted to be seen for safety reasons.

@Bird: I also like the color orange. In case I tip, I'll be easier to spot.