Paddling Education

In September 2020, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced its newest International Dark Sky Sanctuary: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).

Many canoeists enjoy the solitude and challenge of solo canoeing. If that’s you, and you want to know how to size a solo canoe paddle, you’re in the right place.

“My first experience kayaking was this weekend and it was with one of your products. I had a blast!!!” When we received this comment from Nadine Evans, we knew we wanted to hear more of her story.

“With one more push of paddle against the river bank, the kayak slides off the ground and suddenly I’m suspended by water. It’s my favorite feeling, that first moment afloat. It’s freedom—from the ground, from the human world.”

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

Flukemaster and Bending Branches ProStaffer, Gene Jensen, teaches how to rig your kayak for fishing, especially if you want to fish tournaments.

The benefit of a high-visibility kayak paddle is just what the name implies—it helps make you, the kayaker, highly visible to others. Accidents on the water aren’t common, but they do happen. The best way to avoid being hit by a bigger, faster boat is to be easily seen.

Paul Villecourt and Christian Barbier took a month for their le voyage en canoë + vélo—their canoe and bike trip—in May, 2021 in their native France. They dubbed their trip their Canovélo Tour.

Ken Whiting of Paddle Tales takes us along with him and his buddy on a 5-day canoe trip deep into Canada’s gorgeous Killarney Provincial Park.

How do you know which fishing kayak to choose when there are so many on the market? Kayak Bass Fishing’s Chad Hoover goes over five things to consider before you go out to shop for your first (or next) kayak.

If you’re new to canoe tripping in the Boundary Waters, here’s an overview of some important keys you need to know as you plan your trip.

I paired my Bending Branches Angler Navigator with the CK1 Venture and enjoyed how the kayak responded to my paddle strokes. The CK1 performed exceptionally well in moving water and it did equally as well on flat water.

Many of the Story Contest submissions we received from our readers were sharing their paddling adventures. Here are a couple of them…

There are some pretty alarming statistics about the rise of mental and emotional health problems among teens and young people today, especially young women…One of the ways we can help these young women is to offer more positive influences in their lives—like outdoor adventure.

I initially thought that a pedal drive might eradicate the need for a paddle. Being a bit of a control freak, that thought gave me considerable pause. I wasn't sure I could totally control a kayak with just my two, middle-aged feet.

Here at Bending Branches we believe in crafting canoe paddles that will last for decades. Adding a fiberglass wrap to most of our wood paddles is one process we use to ensure you’ll get those years of great performance.

Hey kayak fishing anglers—don’t throw your old fishing line into our creeks, rivers, lakes or oceans! Instead take it with you and recycle it to help keep our waterways clean and the local wildlife safe.

In July of this year (2021) Jeff Kalil will embark on his Catawba Chain of Lakes endurance fundraiser “Paddle for Progress” to raise an ambitious goal of $10,000 for brain tumor research.

Bending Branches’ Angler Scout kayak fishing paddle gives you plenty of extras at a great price. Branches’ Ambassador, Bill Sikora, recently produced a video with a review of the Scout. Here’s what he had to say…

Our friends at paddling.com recently published their list of Best Canoe Paddles of 2021. They sifted through thousands of their readers’ comments and reviews to narrow down their choices. 45% of the canoe paddles on the list are hand-crafted by Bending Branches! Let’s take a look…

To paddle a canoe successfully in high wind and waves is tricky business. Some skilled paddlers love the challenge and even look for waves and river rapids to run. But wind and waves can quickly turn a recreational canoe trip into anything but fun. Here are some tips to handle these conditions…