Best Fishing Canoes You Need To Get in 2021 – Reviewed

No canoe or kayak for fishing on the market right now is as easy to get as the Intex Explorer K2. For me, it’s the ultimate dream package for a newbie who really wants to try out canoeing and fishing. I say it’s easy to get because the boat is stupidly cheap. For less than $80 dollars, you get a decent inflatable canoe that will last you multiple seasons. With 80 bucks you don’t just get the boat but a carry bag, a pump, and two paddles which is everything that you’d need for that trip to the river you always wanted.

You might’ve noticed that its a two-seater and apparently no real space for your supplies. But fortunately, the seats are removable. So if you ever fancy fishing on this boat, you can easily take off the front seat and use the space for placing your supplies and fishing rods. A little hack I came up with but its fairly practical. For $80 bucks, this is the best bet you might get.

Intex is known for making durable inflatable canoes and this one is no exception. They achieve this by having a rugged 30-gauge vinyl over a 1200 denier nylon-shell with internal tubes. This, in a nutshell, means the materials are well-engineered to prohibit any leakage whatsoever.

Verdict:

If you’re looking for the best budget-friendly fishing canoe for yourself, look no further than this. It is amazing the kind of quality you can get out of this for well under $100. It’s great but good enough for whitewater rafting though. This boat is made with mild water in mind.

Another problem I found is that the paddles are, simply put, bad. They do little assistance while you’re paddling which will frustrate you quick. My recommendation is to spend $20 or so for a decent pair of paddles with this boat. Even with that included, your total cost will still be less than many other boats.

So for roughly $100, I think this is the best canoes for fishing especially if you’re on a tight budget.

Even though these boats are dubbed as “kayaks”, the nature of the boat more likely to reflect a canoe. A pretty good canoe.

The Sea Ghost 130 is generous when it comes to features and options that one could think or wish in their canoe for fishing. This is by far one of the most promising one person canoes we have seen for a while. It drifts away from the traditional standards of making a canoe or a kayak and makes a boat that brings the best of today’s technology and innovation.

The boat weighs just 75 pounds which makes it one the lightest hardshell canoes out there. But despite this, it can carry a decent 550 pounds of weight. For a single paddler, the 550 pounds limit is perfectly balanced considering a single person can only bring a certain amount of supplies with them.

To keep those supplies, the canoe features a large center console, a 20-inch front oval hatch, a rear hatch and numerous other storage option meant for different supplies and canoe fishing accessories. The generous amount of storage slots makes it easier for the paddler to keep his supplies organized and tidy.

For mounting and other canoe fishing setup options, it comes with a couple of canoe fishing rod holder, numerous gear tracks and two side bungee paddle parks.

Verdict:

I’m still not done talking about Vibe’s incredible Sea Ghost 130, but I’m afraid it will take away half of my article. But one thing’s for sure, if you’re looking for the best canoe for yourself, this one’s it. With little details and attention like having multiple footrests, a non-slipping floor which will keep you safe when standing on the canoe, one can fathom the work and attention given when making this fishing canoe.

The Elkton’s canoe is the perfect alternative to the Vibe Sea Ghost 130 since it shares similar features but with a seat for another paddler. This can be the best companion on your trips to the lakes and mild rivers.

The Elkton fishing Canoe uses rotomolded construction which is essentially a hollow plastic body injected with various materials within, which turns it into one rugged solid that stays durable for years. To protect the boat from the UV rays, a protective layer meant to reduce the damage from the sun is molded on top of the body.

Another great advantage of rotational molding the body of the fishing canoe gives is that it makes the boat incredibly lightweight. The boat weighs just over 70 pounds which makes an easy canoe to travel with. Hauling it on top of your car will be of no hassle. But that doesn’t make this a boat any delicate. In fact, the boat can endure a total weight of 650 pounds, which is enough for two people and the supplies that might bring along.

Verdict:

For a trawling canoe for two, I think that the Elkton’s canoe can be the most amazing deal you can get. It checks all the main boxes of how a canoe should have: lightweight, decent weight limit, comfortable and storage options.

One thing that might throw some people off is the length of the canoe which is more compact than many other hardshell canoes; 12.2 feet. This length can be short for some but if you’re not bothered by that, you’re in for an experience with this one.

The Tamarack turns away from being flashy and in the face with an extensive list of features. Instead, this canoe for fishing keeps only the basics and takes them to the highest level of quality possible.

For the body, Lifetime uses high-density polyethylene which prevents punctures occurring from various bumps. With puncture prevention, UV protection is also taken into consideration as sun damage can deteriorate polyethylene, gradually but surely. Long-lasting durability and strength are achieved by mastering these two factors.

The weight of the canoe is 52 pounds, which is lighter than hardshell boats we have reviewed lately. It’s even more impressive that the canoe can withstand 275 pounds of weight. The 275 pounds limit will surely make someone have their doubts but considering one paddler can only have a certain amount of gear like paddles and hooks, the weight limit seems justifiable.

The canoe fishing accessories include a comfortable seat, 3 fishing rod holders and 2 storage hatches for all your light supplies.

Verdict:

Simple and effective. The Tamarack Angler 100 is a fantastic solo fishing canoe for people who aren’t all about the over-the-top features and latest techy designs. This boat appeals to the fishing enthusiasts and

The reason to add it to the list of the best fishing boats is that it is an Amazons’ choice and has the highest reviews.

Not just that, its features are primarily what all fall for; for instance, its shape makes it stable. In addition to that, it uses a sturdy material to make it last longer. 

The material uses RAM-X, which is one reason it is a little costly than other canoes. It is also one of the reasons this is called a durable purchase. 

Verdict:

It is an excellent kayak, especially for those who like to take water adventures because its body and hull provide good stability.

Sun Dolphin has had a record of making various promising canoes and kayaks since they came to the market. In particular, making traditional canoes took most of their interest in the factories. The Scout SS canoe is another landmark of Sun Dolphin which comes with a durable rugged shell, low weight measures, and great maneuverability.

It’s one of the few canoes that features three dedicated seats on the boat. All three of them permanently mounted on the hardshell body of the canoe. The shell of the canoe is made with rugged Fortiflex® polyethylene plastic that promises to bring stability as well as durability in the canoe.

The canoe has a square back which lets you mount a motor. As it sounds, fitting in an adequate motor will make you free of paddling. You’ll be able to cover long distances faster without moving a muscle.

The weight of the canoe is claimed to be 84 pounds, which is lighter than most hardshell canoes I have reviewed. And as mentioned earlier, this doesn’t compromise the durability of the canoe at all.

Verdict:

The Sun Dolphin SS Scout is an amazing choice if you want a traditional canoe form factor with rugged and durable construction. The seats, all three of them, have dedicated rod holders on the sides to hold your rods out of the way. The canoe is long with 14 feet long, which makes it safe to assume that the canoe won’t be that short of room for some supplies. And since the canoe made with careful engineering, this might be one the most stable canoe for fishing available right now.

Old Town has been making numerous great canoes for the past several years. The Discovery 169 comes in as a strong contender to be the best out all recreational canoes Old Town has made with the Discovery lineup. It takes the best of all other Discovery canoes and brings it to the consumers in a single package.

The one man fishing canoe takes special measures when it comes to durability. As the company claims, the construction of the canoe uses three layers of rugged PVC or polyethylene. By rationally molding these three layers, the end result creates a strong and durable shell that lasts for years. Not only it makes the canoe strong but these choices for materials and molding significantly reduces the weight of the hull.

The boat comes with a length of 16.9 feet and a weight limit of 1400 pounds, which is enough for carrying two people and their supplies.

These canoes make sure your paddling experience stays comfortable and for that, it comes with two nylon mesh seats. The absence of a firm seats makes it easy for the paddlers to adjust, making it a better sitting experience.

Verdict:

If you’re looking for the 2 man fishing canoe, this one is an easy recommendation. With the name of Old Town, it’s hard to come up with a major flaw that will ruin the experience. Discovery 169, in particular, is everything you’d need in a canoe for fishing. It’s lightweight, manageable, durable and comfortable to sit on with lots of space for fishing rods and supplies.

The Sevylor Coleman is Amazon’s favorite canoe and I have nothing against it. It is a compact 10 feet long best fishing canoe for two with lots of slots and handles to hold your fishing rods, paddles, and supplies. And since the size of it is so small it can be easily fit into a backpack when deflated, making it portable than many others.

Well, you won’t get the accessories like paddles with this canoe, but what you get instead is a rugged and durable canoe. Sevylor takes great pride in claiming that this particular model features a 1000D nylon tarpaulin bottom, which protects it from punctures. This not only stays on the underside but can be seen on the floor of the canoe too which gives a solid floor to stand on. For the rest of the body, a thick 840D layer of nylon cover around the boat to protect it from bumps and holes caused by rocks and fishhooks.

Old Town is known best for their build quality and this one is no different. It is made with rugged polyethylene that will last for years. The company has faith in their boats but if something happens to this boat, you get a lifetime warranty for any damage that the boat will take.

Verdict:

I think this equally as good as the other fishing canoes featured here. But this one takes the cake with its rugged floor design, which makes the boat highly durable. The seats are comfortable as is the paddling experience. But again the same thing is bothering me with this like many other canoes on this list: the length. For some people, 10 feet might not be that long. If you happen to be taller than most out there, then I’m afraid you won’t have much room for your legs.

Here’s another promising folding canoe that will keep you covered in all aspects that make a great canoe. If you’re not a big fan of huge canoes, well, this might be the boat you’ll love the most. The boat is compact with enough room for two paddler and their supplies.

This inflatable canoe weighs lower than your average canoe. Weighing almost 27 pounds, this delivers amazing portability for the price. More than that, the 27 pounds fishing canoe can endure a total of 450 pounds of weight. So you can have a buddy along with yourself for a casual cruise or have a superb fishing experience on your own without having to trouble about the weight.

For the materials, the canoe uses heavy-duty PVC with a tarpaulin floor for rigidity and stability. You can have the boat round and about for hours not worrying the sun or the bumps will damage your boat or have it deflated.

Another thing boat doesn’t compromise on are the accessories. The fishing canoe accessories that Elkton includes are 2 paddles, 2 seats, a single carry Pack, 8 rod holders, one generous Mesh Storage Pack, a single pump and oneSkegg for directional control.

Verdict:

The Elkton’s 2-person tandem fishing canoe is an excellent option for people wanting a compact boat with lots of accessories to take advantage of. This boat is less sketchy to deal with since it quickly inflates and deflates and fits into a backpack that can be easily moved around.

The Packfish is a well-made fishing canoe that isn’t just lightweight but durable. Durable is an adjective you’ll hear for every boat but this one, in particular, uses multiple materials to and shets of PVC and nylon to create the body of the canoe for fishing.

Weighing only 21 pounds, this boat is easy to deal with when traveling and equally easy to paddle on. The boat features a dual-chamber design along with the main chamber which greatly aids in safety and prohibiting any leakage of air.

Some of the features stand out to me though. For your hooks, crankbaits and other little but awfully important supplies, there are two well-thought-out orange pockets on either side. This will make frequent changes of hooks and accessing such tools a lot quicker. They even include cup holders on top od these pouches, which to me, is a nice touch.

Another subtle detail that stood out to me was a scale on each side of the canoe. This is meant to measure your fish that you’ll be fishing with this canoe

Verdict:

The Packfish is a really compact fishing canoe that can be small for some paddler out there. But for the people who aren’t bothered by this will have no worries carrying this boat around. The boat is well-made and is highly durable. For keeping you smaller supples, the canoe offers tow orange pouches that I really love.

With a rather affordable price tag, Packfish is an awesome boat to have.

It isn’t the first time I’m having the Ogden as one of my top favorites. It’s due to the simple fact that its the best inflatable canoe that gets all the basics right and gives an unmatchable fishing experience. You can be fishing with it or have a whitewater rush, versatility is where the Ogden shines.

It comes with an above-average pump, pressure bag, two well-made paddles and a carry bag for your deflated boat, which is everything you’d want. For the longevity of the canoe, Sevylor takes special measures to make sure your boat doesn’t puncture while you’re in the middle of a lake or a river. It ensures this by using radio frequency (RF) welded seam heavy-duty PVC  and a thick polyester cover on the top, which further compromises the possibility of leakage.

One more thing I find worth mentioning is how low weight this boat really is. The canoe for fishing weighs around 27 pounds with stable weight distribution. You can have the boat packed into a carry bag when deflated which will make it carrying around a breeze. Furthermore, the boat can endure 355 pounds of weight, which suggests that it can easily hold two people and their light supplies.

Verdict:

I would totally recommend this two person fishing canoe to anyone who wants portable and easy to manage canoe for themselves. It’s amazing how Sevylor paid such attention to details and durability while still keeping the prices low. The canoe has comfortable seats to sit on and humble space to store your supplies.

But since 355 pounds isn’t the most assuring set of numbers, I would recommend going easy and minimal with your gear and supplies when taking this boat for a cruise. Our biggest complaint with the Odgen though is the length of the canoe which is 10 feet. Needless to say, this could be a little troublesome for a lot of people.

I couldn’t resist but feature another Old Town boat and this time it’s their more modern approach with the best fishing canoes. In this one, you’ll see heavy influences from Vibe and Elkton as it shares pretty much the same method of achieving lightweight canoes with superb durability which can be taken to the water for hours. Old Town brings everything good about those boats and brings it to a single great package that I’m sure you’ll love.

Old Town is known best for their build quality and this one is no different. It is made with rugged polyethylene that will last for years. The company has faith in their boats but if something happens to this boat, you get a lifetime warranty for any damage that the boat will take.

One thing I dearly love about the Topwater is how stable it is. Moving in and out if the boat feels less of an issue.  The incredible balance that this boat has creates a floor-like experience when standing up on the canoe. There is an assist strap attached right in front of the canoe. By holding on to this strap, the paddler can stand or sit without tripping all over the canoe.

Verdict:

A solid 10/10 in almost every aspect. Particularly, the stability of this boat really impresses me and many other paddlers around. Old Town is known best for their build quality and this one is no different. It is made with rugged polyethylene that will last for years. The company has faith in their boats but if something happens to this boat, you get a lifetime warranty for any damage that the boat will take.