You can fish with almost any canoe, but some are more suitable than others. Construction materials range from commonplace to exotic, and so do the prices. With so many variations, the selection process might seem daunting. For our purposes, however, it isn't complicated, but some important considerations must be met. The foremost is stability-how much depends upon your intended use.
Stability is primarily a function of beam and bottom shape, but it is also affected by length.
Canoes that work best for most anglers range from 13 to 18 feet in length and 34 to 40 inches wide at the point 4 inches above the bottom of the canoe. The wider the canoe the more stable, but too wide can slow the canoe. This is also an excellent compromise for good stability. These canoes have great stability, but they're a little harder to paddle than models with a waterline width of 35 or 36 inches. They pole quite well, but with the same speed considerations as paddling.