The Boykin Spaniel was bred here in SC for exactly your needs. It is a great family dog and excellent retriever. The Boykin was bred to use in the small "sneak" boats so popular for duck hunting here in our swamps.
Here is a link to their history.
Welcome to The Boykin Spaniel Society - Camden, South Carolina
And they are now recognized by the AKC as a purebred species.
Here is an excerpt from the link:
Today this little brown retriever can be found on hunts and in homes across America. Stamina in hot weather and eagerness to please make this dog a favorite in the dove fields, but Boykins have retained their spaniel flushing abilities and readily adapt to a variety of upland game hunting including pheasant, quail and grouse. An aptitude for water retrieving combined with their compact size assures these dogs a place in the duck boats and blinds as well. Boykins have often been described as "the dog that doesn't rock the boat." They are even effective in deer driving or in tracking wounded deer. Like many of the sporting breeds, Boykin spaniels make the transition from hunting companion to family pet easily. Boykin spaniels are true dual-purpose hunting dogs.
Mark 1:17 ...I will make you fishers of men