Paddling Education

Canoe Camping: Bear Safety

If you canoe camp in bear country—which includes much of North America and parts of Scandinavia—you need to understand and follow bear safety to protect you, your group and the local bear population.

What If Your Inflatable Fishing Kayak Pops a Leak?
What would you do if your inflatable fishing kayak popped a leak while you were out on the water? Bending Branches Pro Team member Chris Funk answers that question for us in a couple of recent videos.
Build a Paddling First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit is something you hope you won’t need on a paddle trip. But you’ll sure be glad to have one along if you do.
Kayak Fishing Safety on the Ocean: Swell and Wind
Pro Team member Moo “MooMoo” Lee has kayak fished on the ocean off the coast of California for over a decade. Here he shares valuable tips about swell and wind waves while fishing.
Is Your Canoe Camping Environmentally Friendly?
Canoe camping is a marvelous way to enjoy wilderness areas, rivers and parks. How can we help protect these areas from negative human impact for future generations of canoeists?
How to Kayak Fish with Your Pooch
Bending Branches Ambassador Casey Ryan loves to kayak fish and loves to be with his dogs. It’s only natural that he brings his dogs along on his fishing kayak when he can. He has tips for you too, if you’d like to try to bring your 4-legged friend fishing.
Proper Kayak Fishing Paddle Care & Storage
Your investment in a good kayak fishing paddle (or three) will last many years when you follow these easy and common-sense care tips.
Kayak Fishing & Photography Mixing: Interview with JD Desrosiers
Bending Branches ProStaff team member JD Desrosiers offered some of his time and expertise to tell us about his photography life and work. Our conversation with him will inspire anyone interested in combining kayak fishing (or any kind of paddling for that matter) and photography.
Gear List for Kayak Camping
Ever wonder what to bring along for a kayak fishing and camping trip? Bending Branches Regional Ambassador Moo Lee shares his gear list with us from a recent trip of his.
Kayaking for Seniors: Why To and How To
Kayaking and kayak fishing are ideal activities for older adults. Bending Branches ProStaff team member Bill Schultz is himself a senior and an avid kayak angler. He offers his best tips and tricks below.
How to Turn Your Kayak Fishing Trip into an Overnighter
Bending Branches Regional Ambassador Terrell Hester is a huge advocate of turning kayak fishing trips into overnight camping trips. Here are his best tips.
Our Readers’ Favorite Paddling Content of 2023
Thousands of you read our blog! We thought it’d be fun to highlight your favorite canoeing and kayak fishing content of 2023.
Kayak Bass Fishing Tournaments for Beginners
Kayak bass fishing tournaments are a great way for beginning kayak anglers to learn more about the sport of kayak fishing while getting in some friendly competition.
Ways to Pass On Kayak Fishing to Your Kids
Tyler Thiede is a Bending Branches Regional Ambassador from our home state of Wisconsin. He’s been an avid kayak angler for many years and now enjoys bringing his son Jackson along to fish too.
How to Frog Fish Successfully from a Kayak
People seem to have a love-hate relationship with frog fishing. The ones who hate it just haven't figured it out or been properly taught. Or maybe it’s the smell of the swampy weed mats, the black mud of the lake or river, or the swarm of bugs.
Kevlar or Aluminum Canoe? How to Choose Yours
Modern canoes are made of many different materials, with Kevlar and aluminum being two of the most popular. How do you know which to look for when shopping for a canoe?
River vs Flatwater Canoe: What’s the Difference?
Our friends at Minnesota-based Midwest Mountaineering offer a helpful walk-through of the differences between river and flatwater canoes. Before buying a canoe, watch this video first so you buy the correct type for your paddling excursions.
Tips for Tandem Kayak Anglers
It’s not always easy for two anglers to successfully paddle a tandem kayak together. Bending Branches ProStaffer Chris Funk and his wife Angie share some down-to-earth tips to make your experience fun rather than frustrating.
Introducing the Kayak Fishing Life to New Folks
One thing most of our ProStaff and Ambassador team members have in common is their desire to introduce new folks to kayak fishing. We asked a few of them how they do that.
Wetsuit or Drysuit for Cold Water Kayaking and Canoeing?
When you decide to canoe or kayak on very cold water you need to be protected with either a wetsuit or a drysuit. What’s the difference?
Canoeing Etiquette: At the Launch and On the Water
The canoeing world is full of wonderful people who love nature, love the water and enjoy being around others. If you remember to be considerate and respectful, you’ll have conquered 90% of canoeing etiquette.