I was wondering if anyone (Keith, maybe?) has any insight on just how the traditional Pirogue in the deep South was generally propelled?
I've heard that they were more often moved along by push pole than by other means. I'm guessing that the kayak paddle was not an option until very recently. Perhaps a canoe-type paddle?
It isn't just idle curiosity that leads me to ask about this, well, not entirely anyway. I'd also like to know for a very practical reason.
I was out today in the Ozello Keys area, kind of a "scouting" mission of sorts. Very interesting place! Mostly hard bottom, quite a few oyster beds, turtle grass most everywhere, some spartina grass on the banks, but lots of mangroves, as well.
Most of where I went was deep enough to paddle with the kayak paddle, but from time to time, I did drift across some real skinny water, about 3 to 6 inches deep. I found that sitting in the seat, sight fishing really suffers from the lack of height. Standing and casting in my Pirogue is not a problem, it's an Uncle John design, stretched out to 30 inches across the bottom, and 15' 10" long. (36 1/2" across the gunnels.)
With very limited experience on my part, I have to say that poling the Pirogue must be something of an art! I thought using a push pole in my 12' aluminium boat with a transom stern was a little "squirrely" at first, but in just the space of day, it became quite easy. I'm not so sure the Pirogue will turn out to be quite that easy.
The squared off stern made it easy to place the pole on the bottom, in line with the center line of the boat. But the pointy end of the Pirogue makes that a little difficult. Still, it must be do-able, if what I've been told about traditional Pirogues is true. . .
I talked with a local fly fishing guide about this, he was of the opinion that maybe a longer pole than I had, mine being only 10 feet, would help plant the pole more in-line with the boat's center line, and he also felt that it should have something of a paddle on one end, kind of a short blade, with a concave tip, rather than the usual convex one, for when using the paddle end as a push pole "foot."
From what he said, it sounds like that paddle-tipped pole could also be used to steer the boat in a drift, and to paddle the boat while standing. A point on the other end would be useful for poling across oyster beds and for use while "staking out."
Don't know how such a pole would fit into the historical view, but it does sound worth trying, don't you think?
Any ideas on this subject, any thoughts or experiences :?:
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
I've heard that they were more often moved along by push pole than by other means. I'm guessing that the kayak paddle was not an option until very recently. Perhaps a canoe-type paddle?
It isn't just idle curiosity that leads me to ask about this, well, not entirely anyway. I'd also like to know for a very practical reason.
I was out today in the Ozello Keys area, kind of a "scouting" mission of sorts. Very interesting place! Mostly hard bottom, quite a few oyster beds, turtle grass most everywhere, some spartina grass on the banks, but lots of mangroves, as well.
Most of where I went was deep enough to paddle with the kayak paddle, but from time to time, I did drift across some real skinny water, about 3 to 6 inches deep. I found that sitting in the seat, sight fishing really suffers from the lack of height. Standing and casting in my Pirogue is not a problem, it's an Uncle John design, stretched out to 30 inches across the bottom, and 15' 10" long. (36 1/2" across the gunnels.)
With very limited experience on my part, I have to say that poling the Pirogue must be something of an art! I thought using a push pole in my 12' aluminium boat with a transom stern was a little "squirrely" at first, but in just the space of day, it became quite easy. I'm not so sure the Pirogue will turn out to be quite that easy.
The squared off stern made it easy to place the pole on the bottom, in line with the center line of the boat. But the pointy end of the Pirogue makes that a little difficult. Still, it must be do-able, if what I've been told about traditional Pirogues is true. . .
I talked with a local fly fishing guide about this, he was of the opinion that maybe a longer pole than I had, mine being only 10 feet, would help plant the pole more in-line with the boat's center line, and he also felt that it should have something of a paddle on one end, kind of a short blade, with a concave tip, rather than the usual convex one, for when using the paddle end as a push pole "foot."
From what he said, it sounds like that paddle-tipped pole could also be used to steer the boat in a drift, and to paddle the boat while standing. A point on the other end would be useful for poling across oyster beds and for use while "staking out."
Don't know how such a pole would fit into the historical view, but it does sound worth trying, don't you think?
Any ideas on this subject, any thoughts or experiences :?:
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
