Canoe Fishing Tips

Canoe Fishing Tips

Me fishing in my canoe.

With the latest craze being kayak fishing why bother with a canoe? I am not going to get into comparing the two or list pros and cons of each. Every person and situation are different. If you are fishing alone a fishing kayak is the way to go. I often bring my wife or a kid fishing with me and we also use the canoe for duck hunting to haul lots of gear. We investigated buying a two-person fishing kayak that would offer us a little more room and ability to stand up and fish, but for the price you can buy a small boat with an outboard. So, we did get a boat. Our canoe is still used for fishing, hunting, scouting and site seeing.

Here are a few tips for Fishing out of your canoe.

Fishing from a canoe allows you to have mobility. No need to charge batteries or mix fuel, just load up and head to the water. You can gain access to waters boats can’t get into. One river we often fish has a low railroad crossing. Most boats cannot pass under it during the times the water is high. This allows us to have access to some of the best fishing spots all to ourselves.

Two fish one hook.

Fishing in the canoe is quiet, you can sneak up to your favorite honey hole. You can pass through shallow and narrow spots boats can’t get to. It cost less than running an outboard. I have never been stranded or broke down in my canoe.

Master the techniques of paddling and balance. Having two people in the canoe is better than one. You must stay centered at all times. Wind can make it difficult to maneuver the canoe especially when paddling solo.

Secure items to your canoe. I have never flipped or fallen out the canoe while fishing. We still secure items to the canoe just in case. While duck hunting I fell out once and flipped once.  And yes, I have fallen out of the boat while fishing and so has my wife.

Solo Paddling

When paddling solo with all your weight in the back the front end will be raised up out of the water and wind will push you around. Paddling in a straight line can be challenging. Here are a few tips

The canoe always veers to one side. Use a forward stuck and cross forward struck to get going. Switch to the J-stroke to maintain a straight line. The J-stroke counteracts the canoes tendency to steer away from the side of the stern man’s paddle side.

Here is a link to a WIKI on Canoe paddle strokes

J Stoke

                                                                How to do a J-Stoke

More solo paddling tips.

 When I am paddling alone I sit in the bow seat facing the stern. This moves your weight and center of gravity closer to the center of the boat, keeping the bow down. Also place all my gear in the bow, the additionally weight helps keep me moving in a straight line.

Also using a kayak paddle when paddling solo helps to keep you going in a straight line.

Anchor or tie off

We use a small mushroom anchor 10-15 pounds, to hold us in position.  When approaching a location determine which way the current and or wind will push the canoe. From the rear drop the anchor so the current will keep you facing downstream. You can fish from you right or left side this way. Another option is to tie off to a tree, stump, bridge or whatever you can tie off to. We often tie a loop around a bridge to fish under the pilings. 

A canoe doesn’t provide all the conveniences of a boat, but with a few modifications you can make it better.

Adding cup holders to the rails. Here is how we did it thanks to this YouTube video.

Swamp Legends, Voodoo Queen of Manchac Swamp, Julia Brown

Tales from da Swamp

Swamp Legends
Voodoo Queen of Manchac Swamp, Julia Brown

Manchac Swamp

Some may consider Julia Brown a voodoo priestess, she lived in the Manchac Swamp just northwest of New Orleans in a once forgotten town called Frenier.  Known for her charms and curses for predicting devastating events, as well as for her guitar playing and singing. Julia Brown was a traiteuse, a woman who practiced faith healing. A traiteur is a Cajun and creole healer, combining Catholic prayer and medicinal remedies.

Frenier was a small town on the shores of Lake Ponchatrain just north of Laplace. While traveling on Interstate 55 you may notice the Ruddock exit. Only a boat landing remains now of the once thriving sawmill and town.

A cabin in Frenier.

Locals would seek out Julia Brown for her healing powers. Julia would use plants she gathered from the swamp to make herbal remedies. The locals thought of her as a powerful healer as well as a Voodoo Priestess. People would use her services but also feared her.

 As Julia grow older she began feeling lonely and used by the locals. They didn’t see her as a friend, just took for granted. They came to her for her healing powers but gave her strange looks as they passed her on the street. She was often seen sitting on her porch, rocking back and forth playing her guitar and singing. Locals would often pass by not even giving her a glance while others looked at her in fear.

People began hearing her, every morning singing the same song

"When I die...
I'll take the whole town with me...
when I die...
I'll take the whole town..."

She sang the song for months until one day she passed of natural causes.

Gate to mass grave site.

They would soon learn how much Julia felt disrespected. Even from beyond the grave, the voodoo priestess power struck fear and quilt in the villagers.
The entire town attended Julia’s funeral, perhaps to gain favor with the voodoo priestess’ spirit, or to show respect for someone who helped so many. Only two locals that were out of town did not attend.

As the hammers banged, driving the nails in the coffin a fearce wind began to blow.
Dark clouds blew in as a chill ran down the spines of the villagers. A violent
storm was approaching from the east. I can just imagine the thoughts rushing through the towns peoples minds as they recalled Julia's song.

"When I die...
I'll take the whole town with me...
when I die...
I'll take the whole town..."

 Water quickly began to rise, trees fell all around them, trapping those that attempted to leave. Houses were washed away, fields turned into lakes, logs and debris tore through the town killing all in its path.

September 29th 1915 the folks of Frenier tried to lay Julia Browns body in the ground, a Category 4 hurricane ripped the area apart, destroying three villages and killing 275 people.

Julia Browns grave.

The deceased residents were buried in a mass grave. The swamp around Manchac is still believed to be cursed. The village, now over grown, reclaimed by the swamp, is known to be a paranormal hot spot. Maybe you too can hear the cries of the women and children who perished, or the voice of Julia singing quietly in the distance.

Mass Grave

To watch the documentary made by The Weather Channel click here

Tips on Taking your Wife or Girlfriend Fishing.

Tips on Taking your Wife or Girlfriend Fishing.

Take Your Wife Fishing

Originally, I was going to write an article on the Pros and Cons of taking your wife fishing. Then I became fully aware of how much I enjoy and depend on eating dinner every night. So here are some tips on taking your wife fishing.

Wife and daughter fishing.

Have you ever taken your wife or girlfriend fishing? Been thinking about it? If your trying to spend some time with your special lady doing something you love and want to include her, bring her fishing.

When I first started bringing my wife fishing it seemed like she would go just to spend time with me. Over time she became better at casting, started catching more fish, was able to tie a loop knot, learned how to clean and fillet our catch but still to this day will not even touch a cricket.

Many women like to fish, my mom loves catching sac-a-lait, my mother in law loves to fish, my wife is starting to enjoy it more, and my daughter well she likes getting some sun and being outdoors with her dad.

The first thing I noticed

Other boaters take notice.  Seems like when my wife is with me other boaters go extra slow while passing. They even turn off their motors to talk to us. Sometimes when I am alone I must sit down so their wake doesn’t knock me out the boat.  Once, a gentleman even told us his sac-a-lait fishing spot. It must be her pink Zebco fishing pole.

You will have someone to help you launch the boat, pick up the anchor and take a photo of you with your catch. Yes, you will have to unsnag her line once, twice maybe a dozen times.

 Give her some tips on casting and make sure her equipment works, don’t give her the old hand me down rod and reel that gets tangled up all the time and doesn’t cast right.

  After we filled up a few ice chests with fish, she is now willing to fish more, makes a few more cast, stays a little longer without just giving up and tanning.

Make it fun for them. Spending a day fishing with your wife or girlfriend is great quality time together.

Take Your Wife Fishing!

Pack a lunch and call it a date. Eating a meal while watching the sun set on the water on one of Louisiana scenic cypress bayous can be a romantic evening.

Don’t make fun of them. Encouragement goes a long way. She will make mistakes.

Take photos of the fish they catch, post them on social media like Facebook so their friends can be jealous.

Photo by Laura Hollier AKA my wife.

Keep it simple.

 Don’t overwhelm her with too much information the first few times out.  She doesn’t need to know a dozen knots. You don’t have to show her every frog in your tackle box and explain to her when to use each one.

My wife hates the cold.

 You may want to pick a nice sunny spring day to bring them out fishing.  Avoid raining days.

Keep it short the first time.

They may get bored if you take them on an all-day fishing trip.

Supplies.

 Yes, they do bring more stuff with them. Most of the time that’s a good thing. I sometimes need a clean wipe or sunscreen which is not part of my tackle box, but she brings it.

Bird watching and site seeing.

We often take for granted fishing alongside mother nature’s creations. This can make for some great photo opportunities.

Plan for bathroom breaks.

So, when you need to pee, and that morning coffee needs to come out you just whip it out and hang it over the side of the boat. What about your wife or girlfriend? How are they going to use the bathroom?

One time at Two o’clock bayou on a cold spring morning the wife and I were fishing, and she needed to pee.  She said, “before we leave this cove can you let me go on land?”  Sure. I slowly moved the boat towards the bank until I hit land and she stepped of the bow or tried to. I think as she stepped forward she pushed the boat back and started to do the splits until splash! I watched her in slow motion trying to grab a nearby vine as she went in I was thinking to myself she is going all the way under. I watched as her head and ball cap went under. She popped up quick and made her way up the bank. The water about 3 feet from shore must have been 5 feet deep. All I could say was “don’t panic” the look on her face as she turned around. Not only was she wet and cold but all her multiple layers, shirts and hoodie all wet.

Like a good husband I told her we would head back. But, like the great wife she is she refused and said, “no I will figure something out.”

She did have a blanket she brings to cover up during the boat ride, between that and my jacket I let her wear she made it work. Lesson learned.

Just another day on da Bayou,

Swamp Legends - The Rougarou

Tales from da Swamp

Swamp Legends – The Rougarou

New Orleans Zoo exhibit.

The Rougarou, I just love saying it. I may name my next dog Rougarou, so I can run around the woods yelling for him. The beast known as the Rougarou a Cajun legend that dates to medieval France where it was known as Loup-Garou. French Catholics claimed you would turn into a loup-garou if you did not follow the rules of Lent for seven consecutive years. I am on year six. 

Cajun language, a mix of French and English and well-known for changing words to roll off the tongue easier, the name of the beast merged from loup-garou to Rougarou.

Legend tells us that if you survive an attack of the loup-garou, then you too will become one. Should you go out in search of the creature and your eyes meet his red glowing eyes, then you too, will become the loup-garou. Like the legendary vampire, the loup-garou can bite and drink the blood of its victim as well as devour his flesh. Once the curse is passed on, the previous victim is freed from the spell. If the creature becomes injured or killed, they will instantly become human again.

One legend from the late 1890’s tells of a wealthy gentleman from New Orleans who moved to the bayou and took a young woman named Madeline to be his bride. He had often heard stories of the rougarou from her family. One evening while he was visiting a local pub, he heard a young hunter and trapper bragging about his kills. In a drunken state, he challenged the young man to go out into the swamp and kill the rougarou, offering him a large sum of money for his catch.

The next day the young hunter left on his journey. When he returned late that evening, he told a story of being attacked by a large wolf-like creature. He fired his gun at the beast scaring it away, but not before taking his knife and cutting the off the creature’s left paw. He held out the bloody bag for the gentleman to see. He quickly opened up the bag and pulled out not a wolf’s paw but a slender hand of a young woman. The hunter stared in disbelief. The gentleman recognized the ring and hurried home to find his beloved Madeline with a shawl wrapped around her left arm. He demanded that she remove the shawl. When she did, he saw that there was nothing more than a mutilated stump at the end of her arm! Because she was injured, the spell had been broken.

Two years later, Madeline gave birth to a baby boy. The child was born with a small crescent shaped birthmark on his back. The midwife saw the mark and said, “He is bewitched!” The child had been born with the mark of the devil. “He’ll be fine, as long as you keep your eyes on him when there is a full moon.” Shortly after the boy was born, the couple hired a young woman named Michelle to help care for him. She was a rather strange girl, with funny shaped eyes, who always wore a cloak hiding her face. But she had shown up just as they need a nanny for the child and she seemed very mild natured. When Michelle saw the birthmark on the child’s back she told her mistress, “It is the mark of the rougarou. He will be one by his 16th birthday.” The young mother became frantic. She had thought that the evil curse that once gripped her had been lifted and now it seems as though she had passed it on to her little baby. She asked if there was anything she and her husband could do to save the child. Michelle told her to kill a white pigeon and smear its blood on the birthmark. Then they were to place the child on a soft blanket under full moon. She said that the moon would draw up the mark and the curse would be lifted. The next full moon they carried the child into the woods, armed with a shotgun, to wait for the full moon. As the moon rose a large wolf-like creature with red glowing eyes appeared. It stood snarling over the child. The parents ran toward the wolf screaming and firing the gun grazing the beast on the left side of its neck in an effort to scare it off, but it was too late. As it howled off into the woods, its jaws dripped with the blood of the infant child. Later, they found Michelle lying in the woods. Her neck had been blown open by a shotgun and she had bled to death. The spell had been broken. But the legend says he who breaks the spell and tells the tale before a year and a day has passed will become the rougarou. No doubt Madeline and her husband told no one, but what became of the young hunter that freed Madeline?

The New Orleans Zoo has a Rougarou exhibit and there’s an annual Rougarou Festival in Houma.

Rougarou Festival





Kalila Smith, "Werewolves" http://www.neworleansghosts.com/werewolves.html (accessed July 13, 2018).