Paddling Education

Alabama's diverse paddling trails range from dark, alligator-infested bayous to raging whitewater rivers.

The world-class canoeing and backcountry camping of the Boundary Waters is a must for every canoeist’s list. Check out what makes this area so famous…

Bending Branches’ customer and Angler Pro user, Robert Kramer, fishes off the coast of his home island of Oahu…

Shards of afternoon sunlight stream between the clouds scattered above Philpott Lake, making the water glisten. As I paddle away from the Twin Ridge Recreation Area, my tiny kayak is the only disturbance to the lake’s still surface...

If you don’t mind dressing for cool weather, spring canoe camping in the Sierra Nevadas means all the beauty without all the crowds…

Sparkleberry Swamp is a submerged cypress-tupelo forest that’s one of South Carolina’s most popular destinations for paddlers…

Shards of afternoon sunlight stream between the clouds scattered above Philpott Lake, making the water glisten. As I paddle away from the Twin Ridge Recreation Area, my tiny kayak is the only disturbance to the lake’s still surface...

There’s nothing quite like summer in Kentucky—with the gorge, the sunsets, and the warm weather we’ve longed for all winter long, it’s the best season. And with outdoor activities ranging from boating and fishing to hiking and camping, it can be hard to decide what to do...

When fellow Bending Branches pro team members Jameson Redding and Brooks Beatty invite you to go fishing, you had better go.  You are always in for a good time at an epic location with good fishing and good company.  That proved to be true as we headed an hour south of New Orleans to Pointe Aux Chenes, Louisiana to stalk redfish in the marsh.  

Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in America, is one of the most stunning paddling destinations in the world…

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.

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...

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.

Naming the 6 top canoe destinations is sort of like naming the 6 best ice cream flavors. It depends who you ask!

Here’s our list of 6 top canoe destinations in North America…

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.

Every time I have gone to the Devils River in Southwest Texas I am amazed. The scenery is really something that I enjoy, as the rugged hills and cliffs with hardly any trees at all make an extreme contrast to...