While standard paddle strokes are essential for deep water, there is another time-honored skill that separates average paddlers from true wilderness navigators: canoe poling.

A staple skill among Registered Maine Guides, canoe poling allows you to navigate shallow, rocky rivers, maintain pinpoint control in moving currents, and even travel upstream through rapids. At Smoking Rivers, our expert guides rely on the pole to access remote backcountry waters that are simply unreachable with a paddle alone. Now, we want to pass that knowledge on to you.

What is Canoe Poling?

Instead of sitting or kneeling with a paddle, canoe poling involves standing up in your boat and using a 10-to-12-foot wooden or aluminum pole to push off the river bottom. Standing provides a superior vantage point for reading the water ahead, while the pole gives you solid, physical contact with the riverbed to brake, steer, and power your canoe.

What You Will Learn

Every year, the Smoking Rivers staff steps away from our guided expeditions to host a few days of dedicated teaching and adventure. During our Canoe Poling Clinic, you will receive hands-on, on-the-water instruction from our seasoned Registered Maine Guides.

Whether you are a complete novice or looking to refine your technique, we will focus on:

• Stance and Balance: Learn the proper foot placement and body mechanics required to comfortably and safely stand in a moving canoe.

• The Basic Push: Master the smooth, hand-over-hand technique used to propel the canoe forward and upstream.

• Snubbing: Discover how to use the pole as a powerful brake to slow your descent and expertly control your canoe while moving downstream through rapids.

• Reading the River: Experience the advantage of reading currents, identifying obstacles, and plotting your course from a standing perspective.

Clinic Details & Logistics

We intentionally keep our clinic group sizes small so that every participant receives intimate, personalized instruction and instant feedback in real river conditions.

• Pricing: $185 per person, per day.

• Maximum Flexibility: You can choose to immerse yourself and attend all the scheduled clinic days, or simply join us for a single day to test the waters.

• What to Expect: A fun, challenging, and highly rewarding environment with great camaraderie and top-tier wilderness instruction.

Reserve Your Spot

Because we limit our group sizes to ensure the highest quality of instruction, space for these annual clinics fills up quickly. If you are ready to expand your paddling repertoire and learn the traditional art of canoe poling, please contact us or call us at 207-852-7825. Drop us a line as soon as possible, and we will provide you with this year’s exact dates, locations, and everything you need to know to get on the river with us!