Fishing paddles-Blade shape and paddling
style.
Simply
put, if you focus on a paddle that fits you it will means less fatigue, more
time on the water and more fish in the boat.
A lot goes into a great paddling paddle and each manufacture will
happily tell their story, so do your research, try stuff out and make an
informed decision.
However
the constant between all brands is that you are going to see 2 general blade
shapes. They will differ some, but
generally you’ll have short and fat or long and skinny. Each
shape is designed specifically to perform better with your paddling style. Now sure you can use any blade, paddle
however you want, but to get the most from your paddling matching a blade shape
to your paddling style. Let’s take a
closer look.
Long and Skinny.
This
shape is for “Low-Angle” paddling. In
this style your top hand is shoulder height during your stroke, and much more
relaxed as it puts less pressure on your smaller muscle groups. This allows you to spend more time focusing
on landing fish. Try for yourself and
see how the longer, narrow blade shape “fits” in the water better and presents
more surface area of the blade to the water.
Now the disadvantage is that with every stroke the blades travel away
from the side of the boat, making the boat turn slightly as you travel across
the water. Less of straight line means more
time to get from point A to B.
Short and Fat.
When high angle paddling, your top hand will
come up to about forehead height. Notice
that your blades travel much closer to the kayak helping you to track
significantly straighter. Again note
that the short and wide blade shape “fits” in the water better in this
position. It can be harder on the
smaller muscle groups, but as you commit to perfecting your paddling technique,
it will allow you to be a more efficient paddler. The common misconception is the fatter blade
is faster, more powerful. Generally the
blades are the same overall size and again the shape difference is to match
style. To truly become more powerful,
faster, work on technique. Here is a
great, short, video for the kayak angler and their forward stroke.
Still
not sure what paddling style is best suited for you? Ask yourself, “What do I
see myself doing the most out there?” If your answer is to get out there, relax
and maybe catch a few fish, low angle would be the way to go. If your answer is
to get out in the water and focus on better technique for more efficient
paddling, high angle would be the ticket for you. You can always get out there and try paddles
out. The day you become a kayak
fisherman, you have to think like a paddler first. Consider your paddle fit as much as you would
consider any of your tackle.
Don’t
forget, a bad day of fishing is still a great day of paddling.
Article provided by the paddling instructors and paddle designers at Werner
Paddles.
