Paddling Education

With another season of increased interest in canoe camping, Mikaela Ferguson shares the Golden Rules of Portage Etiquette to get through any portage without incident.

A few years ago my dad vocalized that he’d always wanted to paddle the Nahanni River. He’d done a little canoe tripping in his youth, but he always reminisced about 5-day canoe trip on the Moose River when he was a Boy Scout. At this point, it had been almost 40 years since he’d held a paddle. This is how my dad and I worked our way up to paddling the Nahanni River, plus advice on how to start canoeing!

No matter how clear and clean backcountry water looks, there’s no guarantee it’s safe for people to drink. Microorganisms in wilderness waters can cause an array of nasty consequences, from mild to severe.

Bending Branches’ ProStaffer, Drew Gregory, takes us through his kayak fishing set-up when he wants to strip down for simplicity and ease of movement for a tournament.

Let’s look at some of the weather hazards canoeists and kayakers may encounter, especially if you’re in remote or wilderness areas with no chance of getting to shelter.

In this second part of filmmaker Jason Eke’s 2-part series “Master the Canoe” for beginning paddlers, he discusses the topics of loading your gear, canoe safety, how to choose a paddle and the most important paddle strokes.

Here at Bending Branches we’re passionate about getting people out on the water. All people—no matter their age, ethnicity, size or shape.

Touring kayaks are designed to fit the body of a kayaker in specific ways for the best kayaking experience. In this video our friend Dan Arbuckle, from California’s Headwaters Kayak, takes us through how to adjust the fit of your touring kayak.

Canoeists, kayakers and kayak anglers like you are why we’re in business. We put out a lot of content each year to help you learn, get inspired and enjoy your time on the water in whatever boat you love.

Bending Branches ProStaffer, Tyler Thiede, talks frog fishing for bass on this episode of Paddle N’ Fin Network, a podcast for kayak anglers of all levels.

Want to go on a wilderness canoe trip but don’t want to sacrifice your good coffee each morning? You can learn how to make perfect canoe trip coffee for all your expeditions—the old-fashioned way.

Paddling safety includes what you wear. The paddling rule of thumb is: dress for immersion, or: dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Why? Because there’s always a chance of capsize when you’re on the water.

So you’re shopping for a canoe and you know most of your paddling will be solo. Should you buy a solo or tandem canoe? That’s a good question!

In this fun and easy-going video from Dan Arbuckle and Headwaters Kayak, you’ll see how to re-enter a sit-inside kayak from the water.

Those that learn the skill of flippin’ a jig from a kayak have an advantage over those that choose not to devote their time to mastering the art of fishing.

Every canoe and kayak paddle we build is made to last. But durability isn’t our only concern. Bending Branches paddles are also beautiful, comfortable and efficient.

Are you getting into kayak fishing? Here are some starter rules for you…and a good reminder for those who’ve been in the game for awhile, too!

Next to your canoe, your paddles are the most important gear for any canoe trip. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which one to use?

Bending Branches’ ProStaffer and kayak angler, Chad Hoover, takes us along river fishing for a trophy brown trout, and offers a few kayak safety tips along the way…

Many anglers buy their kayak before thinking about how they’ll get it to and from the water. In this video, Bending Branches’ Pro-Staffer and kayak angler, Chad Hoover, tells us how to transport your fishing kayak.

Should you use a straight or a bent shaft canoe paddle? Paddle Tale’s Ken Whiting takes on this question in this video...