I know we have some people here who like catching those big toothy critters, so when I saw this on MI Out Of Doors, I though some would be interested?
Not a canoe trip per say, but the techniques/lures and strategies should be the same. Show # 1452

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I knew that head tap reference sound familar.
Make sense to me and from the video you can see that it works great in a canoe.
I noticed they didn't net any of their fish either.
So having a way to tell that the fish is worn out
saves both you and it from getting entangled in those monster lures they were using.
I don't target those kind of fish, so for me I got a big kick out of them lowering and dragging that fully loaded canoe thru that wooded bank.
You wouldn't want to do that with a Kevlar/Wood Stripper.

I have caught numerous muskies from a canoe, in both lakes and rivers. It is harder to land them, no doubt. The key is giving yourself as many advantages as you can. These guys were all using large floating lures with multiple trebles. That spells trouble for both the fish and the angler. These are aggressive fish, esp. the river muskies. They will bite on smaller lures, such as a 5 inch fluke with just one hook in it. Having fewer hooks makes them easier and safer to land.  Johnson spoons and other one hook top water types will get bites. You could also use a boga grip for release rather than a net.  That all said, these guys have a system down that seems to work for them and who can argue with the results.  Sarge