Why Learn to Pole Your Canoe Going Where Paddles Can't

Poling is another skill for the wilderness canoeist. It exists and has always existed, to help you out when the paddle isn't the best tool for the job. Look where you can safely go with relatively little effort. (of course, if you do like to wade in the river, drag your boat with a rope or carry all of your stuff along a trail… feel free!)

[@Lenair1]

It was a great trip and the elderly native (Fred Neegan) you refer to was quite the legend on the Missinaibi! It was quite the honor to have an opportunity to chat with him along the river. Nice video once again, thank you for enlightening us paddle focused whitewater enthousiasts!

[@canoepoler]

He has since passed away, so indeed we were blessed!

[@tiamaria1618]

Love the calm, slow voice over. Great timing in places too.

[@ericl2969]

Nice demonstration! I've sort of wanted to get into poling, and I first tried it (before I owned a tandem canoe) with a shorter pole from a kneeling position in a nimble solo canoe. What a new and error-filled experience that turned out to be! I'm used to making a canoe do all sorts of things in moving water with a paddle, and with a paddle the strokes (forces) are planned in regard to the ways in which the water moves in relation to the boat itself (a lot of people can't picture it that way, but from physics perspective, that's what it boils down to). Such planned movements of the paddle had become so instinctual for me that naturally I'd tend to reach out expecting to create the same forces with a pole, and therein arose many errors because the bottom of the river is moving relative to the boat in entirely different ways than the water, so "planned" forces didn't turn out as expected. Sometimes that difference is straightforward and easy for a beginner to adapt to, and sometimes it led to 'oops' moments for me. I kept working at it until my jury-rigged pole (thrown together with handy materials) broke at the joint! I've got a tandem canoe now, and I'm thinking I should start learning to pole in earnest.

[@canoepoler]

Don't beat yourself up too much. You just have to walk before you can run. A good river runner should take to poling very easily. Here is the thing, though. A paddle or a pole is just the tool to provide the force vector, if you will. What matters is the canoe shape in the water. With a paddle you are pushing or pulling the hull to interact with the river currents, so you just learn to apply your force vector with a pole. You are trying to get the canoe to interact with the river the same way... just a different motor. Get a book for the basics or take some training. A good one day course would set you on your way!

[@Mike_the_Machine]

Great video, June 2022 I’m paddling the lower section, can wait.

[@canoepoler]

I believe a sail is better than a pole for that... good luck!

[@hoz49]

@@canoepoler I used a sail from Mattice all the way to Moose Factory. The people at Tidewater were interested in my rig.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Great demonstration and control Stephen. Enlightening the paddle-centric canoeists! 😉😀

[@canoepoler]

Thanks a lot! I am waiting for your call.

[@tiamaria1618]

Great video. I actually liked the view from the bow looking back. Having poled a few times now with you, I found it really useful to be able to watch HOW to pole. The front looking view just shows the neat places you can go. Any chance you could get a second camera so we could watch forward and backward at the same time?

[@canoepoler]

Ok... I tried to figure out who you were when you commented on another video. Gimme at least a first name. On the other technical note... I hope to get another camera in the future. These have never been planned as instructional videos, rather to show what one can do and where one can go. Kinda pro poling boosterism. I plan to do some basic instruction in a video with the help of a shore camera and front and back views.

[@tomharman4442]

Well done Stephen! You make this look so easy. Another valuable tool for the tool box.

[@mylenecoulombe-gratton5232]

Wow! Okay so I researched how to pole because I grew up with Fred Neegan being a close family friend and a few years ago we went down the Missinaibi to Alice Island where his trapping cabin is and he poled all the way back up! He was pretty old. And I was admiring him. I was too young to ask him to teach me... I didn't realize how important it could eventually be. But anyways, it's funny that the first video I clicked on and you are talking about him and on the miss!!! Beautiful video!

[@canoepoler]

Wow!!! I spoke with him for about half an hour and I was so taken with the man. I looked him up when I got home and realized that we had been so lucky to have met him. He is greatly missed, I am sure. I hadn't said anything about poling and he volunteered that little tidbit about having to travel both ways. I got him to repeat that to the other guys that I was with. I don't think that I told him I taught poling for Paddle Canada. It is a moment I think about often. You are blessed to have known him, I believe. Now get out and start poling... and take your friends!!!!!!!! :)

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Fantastic, I love poling my canoe!

[@canoepoler]

Oh, I know you do! Happy New Year!

[@pcthiker5320]

Thanks for the ride, instruction and great narration! Super video!

[@canoepoler]

You are very welcome! Now try it!

[@jordanmarie2827]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have been interested in poling since you brought it up in the fb group, you make it look so beautiful!

[@canoepoler]

Another first! You must try this. It is a great way to travel in a canoe. It isn't about strength. I have taught lots of women to pole. If you will excuse the seemingly sexist term, a well known American poler is a great booster for "Chicks with Sticks!"

[@peterlanglois2212]

Very nice to see this technique, I hadn’t seen it before. Something to try for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[@canoepoler]

This is the whole point of my videos... to get a response like that. There are a lot of resources out there, so please do try it! Thank you for commenting. There are eleven more poling videos on this channel outlining other attributes and just fun. Have a look!

[@Paddlerunner]

SOLD! Great footage Stephen!!

[@canoepoler]

Soon to be you! ;)

[@SCOTT-vm5nj]

Thanks for the nice video!

[@ianleach1869]

Great content! Thank you for the Channel.

[@canoepoler]

No, thank you for dropping by! (I love the addition of colour and grouping, by the way.)

[@Mainepolingguide]

Nice job. Solid.

[@canoepoler]

Thank you so much!

[@jasonhammond4640]

Thanks for posting this video. A few years ago I made my own pole from 10' or 12' wood closet rod with brass caps like you show. The double lag screws is a great idea And I'll be modifying mine ASAP. We have a lot of lakes with shallow muddy backwaters that can only be poled, I've heard of a mud shoe that can be made but have yet found a good illustration of it. Would you know how to make one?

[@canoepoler]

If you are on facebook, there is a canoe poling group with some of the top folks around. I know that the American Red Cross canoeing manual (1978) has illustrations of shoe options. I can't add a picture to this reply. Sorry. Having said that, I have never made one.

[@jasonhammond4640]

@@canoepoler Thanks again Sir. Really enjoyed your videos.😊👍👍

[@scalplock1]

Great video! Where could a person find a pole? What length? Would you recommend wood or aluminum.

[@canoepoler]

Thanks! So they are straight forward to make or if you are in the United States, you can get an aluminum one from www.haydencanoepole.com/. You can order one to ship to Canada, but the cost is prohibitive. I like a twelve foot pole. Many folks like eleven foot poles. I figure that there isn't much difference in weight and why not have the length to get the best leverage and extra depth. I like the feel of a wooden pole, but a 1-1/8" diameter aluminum pole is lighter and unless you are a clever woodworker, it is more trouble to make a two part or three part pole out of wood. As with any skill, one must get out there and practice and if their pole comes apart into pieces, it is more likely to be taken along than a twelve foot section (not that it isn't worth it). Having said that, just get/make a pole out of anything and get started! Then you can thank me! For instructions on making your own pole, check out these sites: w.brockeng.com/AmusingRaven/pole.htm ravensjester.smugmug.com/Boats/How-To/Building-a-Two-piece-Aluminum/

[@Evan_Le5]

So happy to have found your channel. I’m in the Ottawa region and I can’t find a pole anywhere without an arm and a leg. Do you have any suggestions?

[@canoepoler]

You make one. Here are two links. w.brockeng.com/AmusingRaven/pole.htm ravensjester.smugmug.com/Boats/How-To/Building-a-Two-piece-Aluminum/ I have my doubts about finding a wooden pole with straight enough grain at a lumber yard, but many options are available. Spruce is best for wood, but find a 2by6 or wider that you can rip a 12 foot length from with no knots isn't easy either. Aluminum is comically expensive, but a simple way to go. If you live near place where you can saw down a black spruce sapling, so that you can shave it down to around an inch an a quarter diameter and then fit a piece of tube or electrical conduit to either end and screw in a 3/8" hanger bolt so it sticks out an 1" or so (5-minute epoxy tube and bolts), you have an easy solution. Pole must be straight and smoooooooth! Paddle Canada teaches poling, though there are only a couple of instructors in the province (me in Guelph) and a good guy in Kingston. Facebook has a canoe poling group with some of the best in the world as members. Don't over think it. Make something and just go out in shallows somewhere and get on it. If you look in my playlist tab you will find a bunch of my favourites on youtube (not mine).

[@canoepoler]

Oh and your "100km Loop in Algonquin Park" at 10 minutes in where you look disheartened is totally poleable in either direction except where you can't actually float the boat. :)

[@Evan_Le5]

@@canoepoler thank you so much for the information. I have been on the search for a year now and have concluded I’ll be trying to make my own. So many great spots around here in Ottawa for poling it’s a shame it’s not more common place!

[@canoepoler]

@@Evan_Le5 Well... you can help with bringing it back to its place as a valuable tool in canoe trippers' tool boxes. Get out there and show those sit down snobs! ;) Cheers!

[@jacklowe3788]

What Canoe model / make are you poling here? Is this a shallow arch or flat bottom bottom canoe? Looks pretty agile-

[@canoepoler]

I am in Ontario Canada. I am in a Nova Craft Prospector. It isn't agile. It is very shallow arch bottom, but a good boat to learn to pole on. Yours will be more agile.

[@jacklowe3788]

What canoe make type do you have here? Could you recommend Good make Model type for poling? I do have an Old Tripper 172 many years old needs little tlc - I was thinking might be bit large / heavy but it's very stable- Thanks fir video-

[@canoepoler]

Your Tripper 172 is a good boat for poling. The longer (usually) the better. It will allow you to move around and adjust your trim better than a shorter boat and will allow you to travel shallower waterways.

[@jacklowe3788]

@@canoepoler Thanks for info. I'm gonna give it a try- Now off to find pole of some sorts-

[@canoepoler]

@@jacklowe3788 Where abouts are you?

[@jacklowe3788]

@@canoepoler Central Virginia- James River. Never seen anyone pole Canoe around here actually most young people in Kayaks - I have Kaysk but not much for them - Could you recommend type pole Where to locate or maybe I could fashion one from wood?

[@canoepoler]

@@jacklowe3788 try these: www.haydencanoepole.com is a manufacturer in the U.S.A. You can check out these options for making your own. w.brockeng.com/AmusingRaven/pole.htm ravensjester.smugmug.com/Boats/How-To/Building-a-Two-piece-Aluminum/

[@SCOTT-vm5nj]

My canoe is wood/canvas so a bit of trepidation there. But…what the heck…i do have a nice pole i made with a bronze shoe. The pole is spruce so pretty lightweight.

[@canoepoler]

I am glad that you liked this (them?). Your canoe will be no different than another canoe of the same shape. Just keep it eight inches deep or more and you won't have to worry. Just work on your boat control and you won't have to worry about the rocks. Poling it the best canoe technique for manoeuvring, so you should be safer with a pole than a paddle! ;)

[@christophereaton4694]

Poleing is just fun. No need to create a special purpose.

[@canoepoler]

A guy I had in a course on our second day said to me, "It's just a great way to see a river!" I have been saying that ever since. You are right, but I'm not here to convince YOU... but I'm happy you are here! Cheers!

[@christophereaton4694]

@@canoepoler Yep. Mostly good people in canoes. Only the special ones get to use a pole. Thom McKenzie thanked me for polling a 12' boat at Paul Smith's. It seems there was some kind of controversy going on Who cares. Stay safe. Have fun.

[@christophereaton4694]

@@canoepoler I am struggling with the technology. Two moving parts is why I love canoes. Anyway, one of the best parts of poling is the perspective. Up high see so much more.

[@NotSoEpicAdventurer]

Just subscribed, looking to watch/learn more here 🛶💪🏽

[@canoepoler]

I have a lot of edits in the works, so I better get on it! Thanks for the sub!