Why Learn to Pole Your Canoe - Bronte Creek

Canoe Poling
I invite you along on the charming, but challenging Bronte Creek. With the silty water, log jams and the endless sweepers and stainers, this is the perfect river for poling. The poler's ability to see farther and the ability to stop, ferry, side slip and even back up quickly... more quickly than with a paddle, makes this the safest way to travel in a canoe in shallow water.
A Note of Caution: This and many small rivers like it, can only be travelled when in flood. They should not be attempted by those without considerable moving water experience.
The speed of the current and the many logs and trees to be avoided demand proven skills and constant attention.

[@dieselmonkey3796]

Canoe Poling has peaked my interest, I would love to see you do a video on what the poles are made of, pole “anatomy”, where to get them and other basic information on the equipment. You could also do a video on what other equipment you bring with you when you use a pole. Keep up the good work. I enjoy your videos.

[@canoepoler]

You should check out the Facebook canoe poling group. There is lots of info and experts there. I don't know what I will create i the future, so I appreciate the ideas. I have to finish editing a number of years of footage before I start purpose driven videos. The reason for this channel is to get canoeists to think and say what you just did, "Canoe poling has peaked my interest." Bit cold at present for starting out, but give it a go this year! Thanks for commenting.

[@mattvaandering]

That looks very intimidating! Great skills

[@canoepoler]

Matt Vaandering This is what everyone thinks, but poling has always been a part of canoe travel. Folks who take an intro one day course worry about the standing for an hour, work on skills for an hour (having forgotten that they are standing in the canoe) and then after a couple of hours are wondering what the fuss was about and then just wonder why they can't do some specific thing. It is very intuitive and will change the way you look at waterways and where your canoe can take you. Thank you for subscribing and get out there with a pole ( and tell your canoeing friends!!!)

[@lilworts]

@@canoepoler ya ok

[@JasonIrwinTumblehome]

Woah! Great skills man. This is highly educational. If it's in the budget, get one of the newer Go Pros.. 7 or 8. They have the stabilization and seem to perform very well when mounted on the rear of a canoe with an obvious horizon in frame. With the image stabilized it will be you and the canoe who moves in frame, giving the viewer a great sense of what you are doing, how the boat reacts etc. Those new Go Pros are a steal for what they can do.

[@canoepoler]

I had Jordan trying it before you guys went to the Spanish. Too much water for poling on that trip, though. Yes, the little solo carbon swift is not a poling boat (at least not to learn on). It is a very valuable skill, so you should get a pole and get out on the local stream and practice a bit. There are books, videos and Paddle Canada courses. I Told Jordan I'd train him anytime he wanted to take a day. Talk to him. It is too much fun too!

[@canoepoler]

Oh and no budget... but I have been designing a gimbal to hold my GoPro (which crapped out last Aug. but it may still live again) and that would be great to keep a level horizon and show edging which can be pretty extreme when poling.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Hey Stephen, great stuff. Recognize many of the spots from paddling there in the spring flood. I'll have to take you up on the offer one day and try it. I'll check out the other videos.

[@canoepoler]

I must apologize, David. I don't understand youtubering yet. Your comment came up, but I couldn't find it to reply. I am sorry to tell you that you are apparently, ahem... spam. I fixed it. Thanks for the kind remarks. Oh it is memorable, isn't it. Please feel free to contact me about setting something up. Bring your friends. You will love it. You might even become "The Passionate Poler!"

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

@@canoepoler 😆😆😆

[@TheOutdoorSeeker]

I did paddle this river when it wasn't flooding. A lot of walking with the canoe but at least the water was clear. I wish I could do it again but I sold my Royalite canoe. Nice seeing it all again.

[@canoepoler]

With the water flow the day I did it here, one wouldn't need a royalex/lite boat. I only rubbed a few times. The trick is to go slowly so as not to run up onto or into things. You can pole almost any canoe. Give it a go and do less of that walking. All you need is enough to float your boat. (don't start your poling career on Bronte Creek in flood, though...)

[@PineMartyn]

Impressive!

[@toddheil42]

Great video idea! "Why Learn to Pole Your Canoe?" Ecclesiates 3:1-8 "For everything there is a season, A time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest." And yes, there may be a time and a place when a paddler trekking overnight or over long distances may find themselves in changing conditions.

[@canoepoler]

Thanks for the comment and subscription. It is more than that. You can head up a river or creek that you couldn't paddle and return without a shuttle, or just explore new routes that were never possible with a paddle. It is just a fun way to travel. Please give it a try!

[@prayfornathannatureshow]

WOW, this is incredible. Just saw your channel. That looks super fun, and a bit scary. Looks like it takes alot of agility and athleticness to pull that off. I don't think I'd ever be able to do the Bronte Creek, but it was great watching you. I wouldn't mind getting into poling myself. Also ready how Adam Shoalts did it going upstream of many rivers. That I have to see.

[@canoepoler]

So I'm not a natural athlete and 61 years old. There are a number of books and you can troll KZbin for info. Paddle Canada teaches canoe poling, so get a couple of like minded folks together and contact an "Instructor for Hire" thru their website. We will hook you up!

[@JoeOsChannel]

Nice poling video, great to see more of this type of content on KZbin. I'm in! You just got your 100th Subscriber!

[@canoepoler]

That is high praise coming from you. Two weeks for this channel so far and you made me happy! Cheers!!

[@JoeOsChannel]

@@canoepoler Well, I have something else in the works you may really like. Check your Facebook inbox :)

[@canoepoler]

@@JoeOsChannel Great... I didn't know there was a Facebook inbox. Social media has been daunting enough in the past and now i managed to make a KZbin channel. Thanks Joe!

[@JoeOsChannel]

@@canoepoler Facebook Messenger :)

[@CanoehoundAdventures]

Hi Steven... pretty awesome concept... I definitely need to try this. I am from Niagara and was referred to your channel by Martin Pine. I will certainly watch the rest of your videos... Dennis, Canoehound Adventures

[@canoepoler]

Canoehound Adventures Hello Dennis! Yes you really should. Get a stick, make a pole, old piece of conduit, get a book on it (like i did) or take a course with Paddle Canada through the hire an instructor section. Get some like minded friends and set it up, but mostly get out and try it. My rivers in Guelph are almost (not this week) 6" to 12" deep and very poleable (i think that is a new word). Cheers!

[@prayfornathannatureshow]

@@canoepoler @canoehoundadventures if you ever want to get a course going Dennis, I'll be there.

[@timbalduff1485]

Pretty slick course change by the bridge and then into that grassy channel. Very adept at ducking the branches. Where is Bronte Creek?

[@canoepoler]

It is west of Toronto about a half an hour. There are a lot of "creeks" that cut through the punkie sandstone (I think) to get from the glacial plane, down the incline of the ancient shoreline to Lake Ontario. They are all pretty dodgy but I love them.

[@timbalduff1485]

@@canoepoler Ah, in May I will be up Toronto way, St. Catherine, for a wedding. May have to tote the canoe and pole

[@NobleEndeavours123]

I've watched your videos multiple times this year and I've actually picked up some of the older canoeing books that talked about poling technique. I live in London, about 2 hours south of you. Do you know of anywhere that I could purchase a couple of poles? I just put together a pole composed of two 8 foot wooden closet rods although I haven't tried it yet, likely this weekend. I am also interesting in some lessons if you know where any are offered.

[@canoepoler]

So you can't buy a canoe pole in Canada (yet...). Contact me through instagram about courses and general ideas. I am a Paddle Canada poling instructor. There are only a couple of us in the province. Curious how you will make that pole. Regardless, take the info in your old manuals and just get out on a shallow bit of water and get after it!!!

[@NobleEndeavours123]

@@canoepoler What's your instagram link? I took the two closet rods, connected them with a PVC union, dremelled the wood to fit the union, applied gorilla glue to wedged in wood in union, bolted both ends into the union, taped over the whole union using glue, let it sit for three days to set the glue.

[@canoepoler]

@@NobleEndeavours123 Go to the home page for this channel as there is a link to instagram, but it is "Canoepoler."

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Poling is a fantastic skill to learn if you are in a canoe. Use caution when snubbing and the pole is in front of you and across your body, it can get jammed and take you out.

[@canoepoler]

I should make up a list of poling phrases. "Pole Plant With Caution" would make that list. Thanks for commenting.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

@@canoepoler ummm bumper sticker phrases.

[@travelbywater9378]

Interesting stuff. I subsrcibed. Should try the humber river in Rexdale April-may, similar flow, a bit more maybe.

[@canoepoler]

I have always wanted to do the Humber River Race with a pole. Someone warned me that there might be a mushie bottom. Still it isn't far away...

[@travelbywater9378]

@@canoepoler There is definitely some muck in the Humber River race, I ran it maybe 6 or 7 times when a lived in Toronto. I think you could manage though, if not, it would be fun trying.

[@canoepoler]

Saw you posted about a trip on the Pet. When were you there? I was there this past July with a group from my .(not mine) canoe club. It was gorgeous! (my paddling partner made a video for our trip - our Rollway run is at the beginning with the best camera setup I have ever managed) We had more water than you it looks like. I poled down to the last chance out on the above Crooked Chute. I looked past the narrows, do you call that the crook?... Class IV+. Yikes!) Poling is perfect to sneak down the edge, though. Get on it. You are a multi-discipline paddler so it should come easily.

[@canoepoler]

@@travelbywater9378 If so, I get to show the poling flag none the less.

[@travelbywater9378]

@@canoepoler + 1 on showing the flag, I ran the Jock River Race this year with a sea kayak and a western red cedar greenland paddle. Got some funny looks, but my time was fine :) ya, I will give poling a try. We have some good spots around Ottawa for it. That Pet trip was a few years back, just got around to posting it this year though.

[@jasonhammond4640]

How do you trim the canoe? Is it trimmed deeper (heavier) on the down stream end and lighter on the up stream end?

[@canoepoler]

I trim level on a run like this, because I am empty and going fast and then slow. Otherwise, you trim the same as you would for paddling. Slower than current, upstream light, faster level. Travelling upstream the opposite.

[@jasonhammond4640]

@@canoepoler Thanks.😊👍

[@canoepoler]

@@jasonhammond4640 So I know a guy that has one of these ( www.cabelas.ca/product/140582/cabelas-northern-flight-push-pole-duck-marsh-foot-attachment?productVariantId=365107&Google+Shopping+Free+Listings&gclid=CjwKCAjwvsqZBhAlEiwAqAHElSY41zS8vPhFlqWge1WTxVasqZzZlAIC5E8QBlGxgaRwTMk5ihyT0hoCEXQQAvD_BwE ) wow! that link looks nasty when you paste it. Anywho... I googled "canoe pole duck bill" and that open and close thing came up. They have been around for ever. I just tried that link and it works.

[@TheCampingCanuck]

Did you make the pole? or is this something you can buy?

[@canoepoler]

Well I have more than a dozen or so poles (actually haven't counted them recently) I made two aluminum ones and five spruce ones the bulk were turned by a friend (a poler) who works where he can use a long lathe. There are quite a few youtubes and other places on line to find out how to make a pole, but don't worry too much at first. I broke the ends off a half dozen times over my first few years (or in the case of aluminum, bent the last nine inches) until I learned the most important lessen or maybe developed the most important habit a poler can have... know when to let go of your pole. You will wedge it in a crack and everyone is surprised and then yanks on it until it snaps or pulls them over. Now if my pole gets trapped, I am still taken by surprise but I naturally give two pulls, let go and then retrieve it (hence you will always see multiple poles in a poler's boat.) You can buy them in the U.S.A. from Hayden Pole or you can get them to turn the ends after you by your own tube and send them the info. Either way, make any crappy pole to start and start poling. (That should be my motto, "Make any crappy pole to start and start poling!" ;)

[@donnievance1942]

Find a spruce pole grown slowly in the dark understory. This will have close rings and be very stiff for its weight. I cut off the top end where it will be a little more than 1" thick after peeling and drying and cut the bottom end so that the pole will be about 11' long. Then, leaving the middle of the pole at its original thickness, I taper the butt end down to the same diameter as the top with a drawknife. Having the pole thicker in the center and tapering towards the ends will make it stiff relative to its weight. I noticed that the pole in the video flexes a lot when it comes under heavy strain. This is not a good feature. It is energy consuming, because applied force goes into flexing the pole before it has its effect against the resisting stream bottom. The pole in the video is cylindrical. If it were thick enough not to flex it would be fat from end to end and excessively heavy. A properly double tapered spruce pole is a light and graceful tool to handle. After allowing the pole to thoroughly dry so that it won't shrink further, rasp the end of pole down so that you can drive on a 1 and 1/2 inch length of 1" copper pipe. Don't rasp it down to the point that the copper slides on easily. You want to have to drive it on with something like a heavy stick of firewood, so that it is a tight fit. This will protect your pole end. Now make a spike on the end of the pole. Get a 1/4" lag bolt, drill a hole for the bolt about an inch deep into the end of the pole, and screw the lag bolt into the hole. Don't screw it in beyond its proper seating depth. Now cut off the bolt head with a hacksaw, leaving maybe an inch and half of the shank protruding. This spike will protect your pole from getting worn down and broom ended, and gives a better purchase on the river bed than wood. The spike itself will get worn down in time, but before it gets too short you can just turn it back out with a vise-grip and install a new one. I only put a spike on one end of my pole, as it causes a sharp clacking noise on the river rocks that resonates through the pole, and occasionally I like to run silent so as not to disturb wildlife that I see. This video doesn't talk about the fact that the equally, if not more important use of a boat pole is for upstream travel. The use of a boat pole is probably 5 times more powerful than the use of a paddle. The boat pole should be considered the tool of preference in any travel on a flowing stream, although you should always carry a paddle so as not to be totally without a means of control if your pole should get stuck and snatched away from you, an occurrence which will definitely happen sometime if you do much poling. Usually after the snatch, the pole will fall free and you can recover it, but you'll need your paddle for that. There's lot to be said about the techniques of upstream travel, but you can find a lot of that in YT videos. Just look up canoe poling. There's also a great book, "Beyond the Paddle" by Garrett Conover, which covers not only poling, but lining and tracking (the art of getting boats up and downstream in heavy water with tow lines from the shore) and winter travel where one has to get the canoe up and over ice margins. There's more involved in all this than one might initially think. Just remember-- rivers can be deceptively dangerous, even where they might not look to be. Always wear your life jacket, learn as much as you can, and never do stuff that is beyond your skill level.

[@ianleach1869]

More content!

[@canoepoler]

Yup, working on it!