The Medway is a big river with plenty of deep holes and lots of fast water (Class III and IV rapids, for you whitewater junkies). It's not a river you can wade safely in many places. It's also relatively undeveloped - as in forest growth right up to the shoreline. For gaining access to the best fishing pools, a canoe can be the answer.
Before you go out and buy one, think about your needs for a minute. You want a stable craft - that means one that is wide in the beam (from side to side) without too much rocker (curve from bow to stern). A wide canoe is less likely to tip - especially if the seats are mounted low. Seats mounted well below the gunwhales will lower your canoe's center of gravity and keep you upright. As for rocker - if whitewater is your thing, then by all means have some. A canoe with a pronounced upward sweep towards each end will turn on a dime. I like a 16 foot (5m) canoe - at least 36" (90cm) abeam, with enough rocker to be agile, but not so much that I can't paddle a steady course in a breeze.
A beginner will enjoy a canoe like that. A 16 foot fibreglass model will weigh in at 60-65 lbs, although even lighter crafts, made from Kevlar or plastic, are available. With a bit of practice, one person can hoist a canoe onto his shoulders and carry it without assistance. It's also easy to load onto a cartop carrier or into the bed of a pick-up truck. As a bonus, it will take you and your buddy, and all your gear, just about anywhere you want to fish, and bring you home safely - with a bit of preparation.
Safety is a state of mind, but a few modifications can stack the odds in your favor. You need an anchor, and you want to be able to raise and lower it quickly, with one hand, if possible. Here's how to make an "anchor drop". Click the pictures above for closer views.
- Get a piece of hardwood (birch, oak, ash, or maple) about 18" (45 cm) long and at least an inch (2.5 cm) thick by 2" (5 cm) wide.
- Buy a small pulley about 1" to 2" (2.5 - 5 cm) in diameter.
- Use a plunge router to carve out a slot for it at one end of the board. If you don't have a router, simply drill a number of holes, then trim up the slot with a chisel. Make the slot big enough to provide clearance for the pulley, plus the rope you will use.
- Drill a hole perpendicular to the slot and mount the pulley using an appropriately-sized galvanized nail as an axle.
- Next, mount a stainless steel screw-eye, or eyebolt toward the opposite end of the board and fasten the anchor drop to the bow with stainless steel bolts. The eyebolt is necessary to ensure that your anchor line enters the pulley smoothly. The line should pass freely through the eyebolt, as well as the pulley, and the anchor should raise and lower without smacking into the bow.
- Attach another eyebolt or two along the inside of the gunwhale (either side, depending on whether you are right or left-handed) as guides for the rope. Their purpose is twofold - they keep the anchor line running smoothly and they keep the wet rope out of your buddy's lap.
- Finally, to secure the anchor line, install a marine cleat within reach of your seat.
This will make your fishing on the river a whole lot safer. Remember to use at least a 15 lb (7 kg) anchor, and at least 50 feet (15 m) of 3/8" (1 cm) rope. One other thing - you may never need to use it, but you should carry a knife to cut the anchor rope with, in an emergency. I got into a bit of a tight spot once by using an anchor that was too light in weight. I was fishing at the head of MacLeod Falls during high, fast water conditions. First the anchor slipped, allowing me to drift too close to the fast water, then it jammed in the rocks, and I couldn't free it.
A boat anchored in fast water will veer violently from side to side. Couple that with an upstream gale and you will soon be taking in water over the gunwhales, when the wind pushes you almost perpendicular to the current. To make matters worse, as you pull on the rope, if the anchor doesn't budge, you will drive the bow of the canoe dangerously deep into the water. Take my advice, untie or cut the rope, and paddle safely to calmer water, rather than risk an upset - especially in cold water.
As always, follow routine safety precautions - wear a life vest , carry a container to use for a bailer, a whistle for signaling help, a flashlight, and a 50 foot (15 m) throw rope with a float on one end. An extra paddle can be handy if you are alone, and don't forget to tell someone where you are heading.
Good Luck and Good Fishin'
RP
Photo by Tony Haffner: Stillwater on Salter's Brook
Photos of canoe by RP
