BENDING BRANCHES Angler Rise 2-Piece Snap-Button Fishing Kayak Paddle

I bought this paddle to use while fishing off the kayak. It does the job for the price I don’t think you can beat it if your looking for a first paddle this is a great option also if your looking for a paddle that you won’t be worried about beating up this is a great option for fishing seems durable and well made I’ve used it about six times so far it’s done great every time out

I've only been paddling for a week, so no, I'm not a credible source, but I'm going to write this review anyway because I'm immensely satisfied.I'm 6'3 newbie with a very wide inflatable kayak that I waited all summer to get due to the economy being bad. When I finally got around to using it at the beginning of September, I used the paddle that it came with, and it resulted it me being soaked due to the splashback I was getting from it. I was bummed because I figured that amount of splashback was just normal, and I would be forced to only have a small window to use this new kayak before having to put it away for the season.So I did some research and found out that I needed a longer paddle due to my height and the kayak's width, and I ordered the 260cm Angler Rise and used it today for the first time. The splashback negligible now, and this means I don't have to pack it away for the season. I can use it well into the fall without worrying about soaking myself.I know this may seem like obvious knowledge to veteran paddlers, but this paddle has been a real game changer for me, and I'm so happy I purchased it.

I love this paddle so far I’m new to kayaking but this paddle made learning very easy.

I am from Wisconsin, so of course, I wanted to support a Wisconsin-based company. I searched out this paddle because of it's durability, and also because I own a fishing kayak and wanted something suited to my setup. I have not fished one bit since I got it. I have had so much fun paddling, that fishing has fallen to the wayside and I've taken to exploring and figuring out how to best use my new paddle. I would much rather be in my kayak on the water, than sitting on the shore with a rod in my hand right now. I've noted that feathering the paddle helps me get upstream much easier, which is great because of an old back injury. Paddling has been the best physical therapy I could have asked for (not to mention, being on the water in my kayak is the best mental/emotional therapy too)! Thank you to Bending Branches for making light, easy-to-use paddles for people like me.

I'm a budget kayak angler with a Lifetime Tamarack Angler 10'. Coming from cheap stock paddles, these paddles made a priceless difference in the comfort of paddling. The ovalized grip made a huge difference in hand comfort; it is very effective at 2 things : 1. Almost eliminating the shaft twisting in your hands and thus reducing the frequent re-adjustment I experienced with circular grips, and 2. Reducing blisters that result from the shaft twist. The blades glide so smoothly through the water, making a smooth paddling rhythm feel natural. The blades themselves are obviously much stiffer and stronger than conventional plastics. I am 5'4 and the 230mm size is perfect for me.

I have a Perception Outlaw and need a longer paddle (260cm) I bought this based on the reviews and had read numerous places Bending Branches was a reputable company. I wish I had bought a different paddle, I have no issue with the quality of the paddle it’s the size of the blade - my yak is a bit heavy at 77 lbs. compared to my other yaks that average about 45-50 lbs. I need more torque or bite, I paddled a river the day I received it a lake and two sections of a river today and my group was leaving me behind as I couldn’t get enough speed out of the paddle. The grips aren’t soft and the black color of the hard grip material bleeds onto my hands every time I use it. The notch in the blade is handy. Probably a good entry level paddle for a lighter yak. Not a good fit for me and my Outlaw.

After buying my PELICAN THE CATCH 100 and paddle from Academy Sports, I took it out on the water. With Academy’s biggest size paddle (94”) and me being 6’ tall. The paddle would bang the sides with every stroke. Found out that I needed a 104” paddle online. This is a great value and preformed great! If you think the line catch cut out is a gimmick, it’s not! First day of use my fish stringer chain was caught on old fishing line 3-4’ deep. I used the line catch to break that line. Very useful feature!

So far I have no complaints with this paddle. Its lightweight, but sturdy. Gets the job done for sure. If you're not sure if you need an "angler" version with the line retrieve, I will say that it's not absolutely necessary, but I have used it successfully several times to retrieve a lure from a tree. There are more affordable paddles than this one, and they might work fine, but this paddle performs really well for what it costs. I don't see myself needing anything more than this.