Paddling Education

While I like paddle any kind of water I must admit I’m a river rat. On my email it says, “There’s magic in moving water”. I dedicate my time to going full tilt in every aspect of my life including...

Canoeing isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Black Hills—at least not for Minnesotans like me! But with lakes, rivers and reservoirs scattered throughout this beautiful area, it’s sure worth looking into.

Are you just starting out in kayak fishing? Here are my top 5 tips for you…

Our Customer Service Team is here to answer your questions and help you in any way we can. Here are a couple questions we get occasionally…

Knowing bear safety is an important part of canoe camping when you’re in bear territory. Here are some tips to keep in mind...As our friends at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources say: “The best way to avoid bear problems is to not attract them in the first place.”

Bending Branches’ ProStaffers Chad Hoover and Gene Jensen team up in this video to explain how great paddling technique makes you a better kayak angler.

Once you decide kayak angling is for you, your fishing kayak is the largest investment you’ll make. To help you with your research, here are some of our favorite fishing kayak manufacturers…

For us at Bending Branches, service isn’t a poster in the break room or terms our leaders use in monthly meetings. It’s in our DNA. We have one mission—to have the best service in the entire outdoor industry.

If you’re a parent you know life with a toddler is often unpredictable. Bringing said toddler into the Boundary Waters for a canoe trip adds a whole new level of unpredictability!

On May 1, 2015, two lucky members of the RootsRated team set off on a 5-month, 20,000-mile cross-country road tour across the United States. The main goal of the tour was to connect with over 30 of our specialty retail...

While modern canoe paddles are made from many quality materials, wood remains a favorite due to its strength and lightness. And one aspect of wood can’t be matched by man-made materials: its beauty.

It’s the perfect time of year for the topic of kayak fishing tournaments (and I’m not the first one to bring it up). Kayak fishing clubs are either already underway or close to holding their first event. In a month...

A life jacket is the most important safety device for canoeists and kayakers no matter the water environment and activity.

Talk to the vast majority of paddlers, and they’ll likely tell you: While they enjoy the act of paddling, it’s the sights, sounds, smells and connection with nature that the real passion for paddling comes from.

We hit the road in search of big smallmouth.  Disappointment was quickly erased as we each caught nice smallmouth on big lures.  Watch the video from our trip and read the story below.

With a daily goal to go from point A to point B, a hot meal becomes a luxury and the greatest motivator. Meals are a cooperative effort, eaten together and is a time to reflect on a hard day. Some of the best moments of my trips were at mealtime, thus I strongly believe great food can make the difference on any canoe trip.

When you head into remote wilderness areas for a canoe trip like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters or Canada’s Quetico, you need paddles you can depend on.

Fishing just for fun out of a kayak and fishing a competitive tournament both offer rewarding experiences to an angler.

Kayak fishing is still a relatively small segment of the total number of fishing outings each year, but that segment has been growing fast.

There are many different rivers in Texas to kayak and fish, and fortunately I have been able to get on a few of these rivers. Of course, I have not covered every single river in Texas, and most of the rivers I have been on have only been for a small section of that river.

Are you in the market for a canoe paddle and you don't know what size you should get? Watch our short video on how to properly size a canoe paddle and you'll be paddling your perfect paddle in no time!