Introduction: Canoe Fishtank Prank
This goes a step further from dixie cups and goldfish.
In this instructable I will tell you from personal experience how to suprise your victim(s) with a live salmon in a canoe.
There are a few basic things you will need to accomplish this prank:
1. Canoe
2. Fish
3. Bucket
4. Opportunity
You may also need
5. A screwdriver to remove doors or windows to get the canoe inside
6. Small pieces of wood to prop up the canoe to keep it upright
7. Tape-measure to ensure your vessel will fit
8. Friends to make it much easier and faster
Step 1: Determining the Perfect Location
Once you have chosen your prey scouting the location may be obvious but should not be under-analyzed. You must approach this hastily so as to not get caught yet still taking the time to thoroughly assess the plausibility.
Making sure the canoe will fit in the room is key depending on the amount of furniture and exact length of the boat. You must also check to see if there are any tight corners or hallways that might not be maneuverable. In this case, you will have to resort to a window checking to see if there is one big enough and will open far enough.
Step 2: The Boat
Get a canoe, make sure it doesn't leak otherwise they'll have a giant fish tank and a wet floor.
For this we used one of the aluminum crafts shown in the picture that worked quite excellently.
Depending on your canoe you may need to use pieces of wood on each side to keep it from tilting one way or the other.
Step 3: The Fish
Catch a fish.
The amount of water will depend on the size of the boat, we put about a dozen 5gallon buckets of water in our boat. It should be about one third of the way full or just enough for your fish. Using water from the the place you caught it will be easiest especially if its salt water.
A garden hose would also work for fresh water and would be less work.
Step 4: The Reaction
Now you just have to wait for the discovery.
Yes, they will be puzzled and they will take pictures.
Now I may be a gentleman in most cases but I found it best to let them figure out how to remove this seeing as only the best of pranks are executed without assistance in the aftermath.
....these victims had a live salmon in 60 gallons of saltwater straight from the ocean in their room all night before removing it the next day.

Finalist in the
April Fools Day Project: Prank Contest
9 Comments
11 years ago on Step 4
AWESOME!! ROFLMAO
wish I could pull that on my wife!!! that was great!!!
12 years ago on Introduction
When I was in High School (in Arizona) someone pulled a prank on our Chemistry teacher. Somehow they managed to get into the school before class & set up one of those giant inflatable river rafts that they used for going through the Grand Canyon, then put all the desks in i! Hilarious!
12 years ago on Introduction
epic win. this will be my senior prank. (probably)
12 years ago on Introduction
This is so original, and totally random. 5 stars
13 years ago on Introduction
Great prank!
If you do this with a freshwater fish and water from the tap, make sure to buy dechlorinator from the fish section of walmart or petco. If you dont the chlorine in the tap water will burn the gills and eventually kill the fish you put in the canoe.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
yes, unless you have your own well
13 years ago on Step 4
I'd probably just add a filter to it, and leave it in my room. Makes a nice conversation piece!
Reply 13 years ago on Step 4
lol- that would be a great idea!!!
13 years ago on Introduction
Someone did basically this to my dorm bed-frame back in college (rather than using the canoe). Horrible clean up, but a wonderful prank.