Paddling Education

Pack Canoe Paddle Guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Selecting your First Pack Canoe Paddle
Pack canoeing is one of the hottest and fastest growing sports in paddling today. People are investing in these boats because of their light weight, comfortable seating, storage capacity, and unique maneuverability. 
Paddles for the Solo Canoeist

Many canoeists enjoy the benefits and challenge of solo canoeing over tandem canoeing. Or they solo canoe in addition to tandem canoeing, especially when a canoeing partner isn’t available all the time.

Bent vs. Straight Shaft Paddle
Are you confused abut whether to buy a bent-shaft or straight-shaft canoe paddle?
Wilderness Canoe Tripping: Minnesota vs. Maine
While canoeing in Minnesota and Maine are very similar in many ways—both have plenty of forests, lakes and rivers—the wilderness canoe cultures in these two US states are quite distinct from one another.
How to Transport a Canoe on Your Vehicle
It’s important you learn how to transport a canoe properly to avoid damaging either your canoe or your vehicle…or risk damaging other vehicles while you’re on the road.
Learn these 3 Kayak Rescues
Dan Arbuckle, our friend from Headwaters Kayak, takes us through three kayak rescues in case you or someone else ends up in the water unintentionally. Joining him is his mom, who’s a Level 3 kayak instructor herself.
Canoe Camping with Kids: Top Tips from Parents
Starting a family doesn’t mean you have to stop canoe camping. And it doesn’t mean you can’t start canoe camping if you haven’t done it yet. But there are some different ways of thinking that will make canoe camping more successful with kids—especially very young kids.
Gear Review: Old Town Discovery Solo Canoe
Bending Branches Regional Ambassador, Bill Sikora—aka The Florida Bass Paddler—reviews his Old Town Discovery 119 Solo Sportsman hybrid canoe for anglers.
How to Paddle Your Fishing Kayak
It’s not uncommon for kayak anglers to dismiss the need to learn proper paddling technique. But kayak fishing veteran and Bending Branches ProStaffer, Chad Hoover, learned that learning paddling skills makes you a better angler.
Kayaking an Adirondack Guideboat
From tough beginnings with the technical canoeing J-Stroke, Mike found rowing to be his shining glory. In this article Mike talks about his journey to find the perfect pairing of boat and propulsion aids.
Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Retired Paddle
Do you have a beloved canoe or kayak paddle that’s served its years faithfully, but you just can’t see it go? Repurpose it!
Stay Healthy on Long Canoe Trips
Whether your definition of a “long canoe trip” is a weekend, a week, a month or six months, you want to stay healthy throughout your trip. The longer the trip, the more important it is that you’re aware of and practice those things that will keep you healthy.
Do these 4 Things to Maintain Your Wood Paddle

Your paddle won’t need any special care except to protect it from the elements between trips. If the finish of the paddle does become scratched or worn through, you can repair it. Here's how:

It’s Easy to Fly Cast from a Kayak with these 4 Tips
Do you ever wonder if there are special secrets or tricks to fly casting from a kayak? As an avid kayak fly angler who learned to fly fish after learning to kayak, I can tell you there are a few tips, but no real secrets or tricks.
Angler Pro: Cosmetic Second Review
Bending Branches’ ProStaff team member, Chris Funk, already loved our Angler Pro Fiberglass kayak fishing paddles. Earlier this year he decided to take a chance and buy one of these paddles with a cosmetic blemish.
Sight Fishing Success from Your Kayak
Sight fishing in shallow water is a challenge, but is something every kayak angler can learn to do with success. Bending Branches ProStaffer, Gene Jensen, gives us his best tips and tricks for sight fishing from your kayak in this video
Canoeing Gear Ideas for Older Adults
One of the best things about paddle sports like canoeing and kayaking is that they’re low-impact, healthy activities we can continue to do well into our older years. Here are a few gear ideas that will make canoeing and kayaking easier as you get older.
Is Canoeing Harder than Kayaking?
If you’re a new paddler, the short answer is: yes, canoeing is harder than kayaking. In no way does that mean you shouldn’t give canoeing a try, though…and learn to kayak, too! But if you must choose between the two, most beginners find kayaking easier to learn.
What’s the Best Fishing Kayak for the Money?
In this video, Bending Branches ProStaff team member Chad Hoover gives us his opinion on the 10 best fishing kayaks for the money. These are boats that were on the market in 2021, covered in his early 2022 video.
Adaptive Kayaking and Canoeing Get More People on the Water
Here at Bending Branches, one of our main goals is to get more people out on the water in canoes and kayaks. That’s why we believe in adaptive kayak and canoe programs and equipment.
The Golden Rules of Portage Etiquette
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.