Dropping structure from a canoe-- ideas?

Well, its probably a crazy idea, but i really want to make some structure, and my little canoe is all ive got. The spot i have in mind is about 8' and shallower. I like the idea of adding it in a line shallow to deep.

I would like to use "natural" materials, and not pvc or plastic. I imagine plastic would be illegal around here.

Im thinking ill probably just tie some tree branches to rocks (or maybe cinder blocks). I know of at least a couple small cedar trees i could take. Cut some hardwood limbs too.

Do you have any ideas or advice for this kind of structure?

Try small stakebeds made in buckets, just put out lots of small ones. Might try pushing hardwood stakes in with a driver .

If no current, cut the tops off of gallon milk jugs, put in concrete and put about 4 1"diameter hardwood sticks. Let them set up and they can easily be handled and dropped in a canoe. If there is current they can move though.CF

Down size your structure or someone is gonna be wet. Unexpected things can happen when dropping structure so plan ahead, wear a life jacket and make sure someone knows where your at.

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!

The ONLY way would risk it in a canoe would be #1 WEAR A LIFE PRESERVER ! #2 With a WIDE (cargo) canoe ONLY, otherwise please DO NOT ATTEMPT this ! #3 on ONLY a DEAD CALM day and #4 while ashore using VHD weed eater line secure tie 2 SMALL "C" trees with blocks secured so that the blocks are on each side of the canoe with the weight of the attractors equally balanced and the trees pointing rearward with the weed eater line BEHIND you. The blocks should barely be submerged for stability. SLOWLY paddle out and cut the weed eater line in the exact DEAD CENTER so there is an equal recoil. DO NOT repeat DO NOT try to throw them out over the side of the canoe ! The canoe will lean to that side, causing the canoe to swamp. TRUST ME, saw it happen...luckily we INSISTED he wear a life preserver ! His narrow (common) canoe rolled almost completely over, and swamped. His watching wife was scared crapless then became ANGRY as (deleted)...

Thanks for the hazard warnings, fellas! :) I'll wear my pfd, and leave my gear behind, so if I do capsize I won't lose anything. The spot I have in mind is close to shore. I'm a strong swimmer, with good balance, good in the water, and good in the canoe.

I'm thinking that driving stakes might be the way to go. I hadn't considered it before, but in 8' of water I guess it would be feasible. Maybe I'd use 5 1/2' stakes?

Does the water level fluctuate? If so take that into account. There are stake driver how to build instructions on this site somewhere. Make sure you build long enough. 8 foot of water, driving 6 foot stakes would need a 10 ft driver. Make sure to drive them as vertical as possible. Typically 6 foot stakes are good. 2 foot in the ground and 4 foot above ground. Helps if you point 1 end, in hard ground. Make sure you load stakes in canoe all pointing the right direction if you point 1 end.

So one thing to think about, stuff weighs way less when in the water. Since stability will be an issue in a canoe, and definitely when trying to throw something overboard. You may consider tying structure on either side and paddling it out if you don't have too far to paddle. Then cut it loose when you are ready. Even 50 pounds being towed in the water isn't going to tip the canoe. Just something to think about.

Correct. BUT position the VHD weed eater line just to the rear of the wide cargo canoe`s center of gravity. Have the attractors evenly balanced and BEHIND you; IF the canoe does swamp that line will not end up pinning you to the canoe as it plunges to the bottom. Lastly cut the weed eater line in the EXACT center; this allows the weight of the attractors to be jettisoned simultainiously with an EQUAL recoil thus keeping the canoe upright hopefully.

I sure hope you dont attempt doing this, but if you do please use a gopro camera and share it with us.
This has "Not A Good Idea" wrote all over it.

With a standard canoe, NO it is NOT a `good idea"; it is just TOO DANGEROUS. With a wider "cargo" canoe, on a DEAD CALM day WEARING a PFD with the attractors balanced BEHIND him and cutting the VHD weed eater line exactly in the middle, it could be done safely. But from a `standard` (narrow) canoe, you are right; it is a BAD idea as clearly stated before by several persons including me...