Paddling Education

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Besides a kayak and a paddle, the other non-negotiable kayak fishing item you need to be on the water is a PFD—a Personal Flotation Device (commonly known as a life jacket).

If you want to kayak fish on moving water, you need to understand river flow and how it affects both paddling and fishing.

An all-carbon canoe paddle is your best option for many canoeing environments. But it’s not your top choice for others. How do you know if you should add an all-carbon paddle to your collection?

Many kayak anglers like to use a fish finder so they can see water depth, major structure and some of the fish that are in range. We asked a few of our Ambassadors and ProStaff to tell us about their favorite fish finder.

Portaging is part of canoe tripping in most wilderness destinations. Canada’s vast wilderness areas like the Quetico, America’s Boundary Waters and others like them offer many opportunities to carry your boat(s) and gear over land to the next body of water.

Three of Bending Branches’ Ambassadors join us to offer their perspective and advice on the pros and cons of using an electric motor with your fishing kayak.

Choosing canoe packs will be a one-time purchase for most people if done correctly. Quality packs that are well-cared-for will do their job and last many, many years—even decades.

Bent shaft canoe paddles have been around for a long time now, but many novice and recreational canoeists don’t know how their performance is different from a straight shaft paddle, or how to use one properly.

Bending Branches’ Ambassador Moo Lee takes us through several important safety tips for kayak fishing on the ocean, especially on cold water like in his native northern California.

Recreational paddlers might wonder whether they should invest in a kayak or canoe, at least as a first boat. Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to make the best choice for you…

Aging doesn’t have to slow you down or stop your days of enjoying a boat trip either solo or with your friends and family. The key is to find ways to continue doing what you love without compromising health, safety, or comfort.

Straight shaft and bent shaft canoe paddles are sized differently. Be sure you choose the size paddle that’s right for you, with help from our friends at Happy Paddlin.

So, you’re trying to decide between a kayak, canoe or paddleboard. How do you know which one is best for you? Recreational paddling on any of these watercraft is lots of fun, great exercise and an ideal way to enjoy the lakes, rivers or oceans around you. And they each have their own set of pros and cons.

Active kayak anglers know there’s a chance, however slight, they may end up in the water for one reason or another. The best way to prepare for that is to practice flipping your kayak back over from the water and getting back on.