Bending Branches "Angler Pro" Paddle Hot

I have been paddling a paddle with a carbon blend rod and blades constructed from Fiberglass reinforced nylon. About a year ago I decided to move up to a higher quality paddle. The Bending Branches Angler Pro Snap fishing kayak paddle. The Angler Pro length selected for using in my Jackson Kraken is the 230 cm. My initial experience with this paddle felt awkward at first. Why awkward? It is really simple the Angler Pro weighs only 30 ounces; my previous paddle probably was in the neighborhood of 38 ounces. The reduction of eight ounces by going to a high end paddle made me feel like I did not have a paddle in my hands.

The blades are constructed to take a beating. The Kaken is my off shore, near shore, and jetties fishing kayak. When fishing the jetties occasionally I have to use the paddle to push off of the rocky wall that makes up the jetties. So far the paddle blades have held up to this abuse.

The light weight shaft and the stiff paddle blades allow me to paddle the Jackson Kraken with ease whether paddling into the breakers. The paddle performs well when bracing into the waves when heading onto the beach. By the end of the day I do not feel fatigued as in the past
The spring snap that holds the two sections together is very tight; there is no movement when attempting to twist the two pieces. There are three holes on one of the shafts. These three holes allows the user to offset by 60 degrees either right or left and the other hole sets the blades with no offset.

At my seminars when I talk about paddle selection I re-enforce my experience about purchasing a high quality paddle like the Bending Branches Angler Pro. The bottom line when you decide to purchase a paddle plan on spending in the neighborhood of $330 for that paddle to compliment your kayak. Believe me you will not be sorry in this choice.

I have been paddling a paddle with a carbon blend rod and blades constructed from Fiberglass reinforced nylon. About a year ago I decided to move up to a higher quality paddle. The Bending Branches Angler Pro Plus fishing kayak paddle. The Angler Pro Plus paddle is not a snap together paddles but has a telescoping ferrule. For using in my Jackson Big Rig I selected the 240 – 255 cm length. My initial experience with this paddle felt awkward at first. Why awkward? It is really simple the Angler Pro weighs only 30 ounces; my previous paddle probably was in the neighborhood of 38 ounces. The reduction of eight ounces by going to a high end paddle made me feel like I did not have a paddle in my hands.

The blades are constructed to take a beating. I primarily fish inshore in the Charleston area. So I use the paddle to push me away from pilings, docks, and floating platforms. At low tide these structures will have large buildups of barnacles and oysters which will normally tear up low end paddle blades. However the blades on my Angler Pro almost look new. I have also used the paddle to push myself across a shallow flat pushing the blades into soft mud or oyster bars. Again the blades have held up to this abuse.

The light weight shaft and the stiff paddle blades allow me to paddle the Jackson Big Rig with ease whether paddling with the tide, against the tide or crossing the tide. By the end of the day I do not feel fatigued as in the past. I’m convince that for someone that has shoulder problems that if they would purchase the Angler Pro the light weight paddle will ease that pain and allow them to paddle a little longer on the water.

The telescopic ferrule option is ideal for a kayak that has the ability to use a seat similar to the Jackson Elite Seat. While I’m in the high seat position I will use the paddle at the 250 cm length as I paddle. In the low seat position I will adjust the paddle to 245 cm. The ability to shorten and lengthen the paddle actual allows to you paddle more efficiently in my opinion. One issue that I have with the ferrule is that it takes me some time to adjust my paddle at the 60 degree offset.

Now at my seminars when I talk about paddle selection I enforce my experience about purchasing a high quality paddle like the Bending Branches Angler Pro. The bottom line when you decide to purchase a paddle to plan on spending in the neighborhood of $355 for that paddle to compliment that kayak. Believe me you will not be sorry in this choice.

This is the best paddle I have ever used in 19 years of kayak fishing. If you want performance this paddle is the way to go. Very light but yet durable in the water.

I used this paddle in 260 cm all last season, and plan on continuing to do so, this year. That is, unless I trade in for the new adjustable one. The blades are solid, and easy to feel the difference over lower end models. It is also extremely light. I would have never guessed how much a few ounces would matter. I originally scoffed at spending this much on a paddle, but now I can't imagine going back. It is totally worth the difference in price, and I might even say I'm more attached to this paddle than I am to my actual kayak.

The new Plus Ferrule on the Angler Pro is a great addition to an already solid paddle line. I have paddled with a 240cm and a 260cm for the past 2 seasons and they have proven themselves to me. The 240-255 adjustable Plus Ferrule is no different. It is rock solid after adjustment and really makes it great to transition from low position to high position seating or from sitting to standing. On a recent trip I collapsed it down to go through a mangrove tunnel then opened it up to stand up paddle the flats. gotta love the versatility !