my next purchase for my kayak fishing. bait monkey will need to stand in line.

[Darth-Baiter]

I worry about my OEM Hobie paddle.  I think I cracked it somewhere that last trip out.  wind, current and I pushed hard against the riprap to get away from the shore. I heard and felt a crack..somewhere.  I can't find it visually, but I know the sound. 

 

that same trip, I threw the luckiest Senko into a tree.  haha..I stood up and couldn't get it because the water was moving to fast and it was just out of reach.  I was thinking to myself.  "Why doesn't some paddle company put a hook on a paddle?"  well, I remembered some fishing paddles have lure retrieval hooks.    I cut my line and put on the second luckiest senko and went back to work on the bass

 

I think its time for a new paddle.  a stiffer one, and a lighter one, and one that has that darn hook.  

 

I think I will go with the Bending Branches version.  I am blown away how much they kinda cost!!!  yowza..the bait monkey might have to get way way back in the line.  I'll go a smidge longer in paddle to assist with standing up paddling and my fat/wide kayak.  

 

[casts_by_fly]

look at the carlisle magic angler.  Bit cheaper than the BB paddles and works great.  Also very light and two piece of you need it to break down.  Hook cutout on the blades and ruler on the grip.  Mine is strapped to the side of the kayak so I just hold a fish to it as I drop it in the water for a quick length.

 

 

[Wprich]

10 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

look at the carlisle magic angler.  Bit cheaper than the BB paddles and works great.  Also very light and two piece of you need it to break down.  Hook cutout on the blades and ruler on the grip.  Mine is strapped to the side of the kayak so I just hold a fish to it as I drop it in the water for a quick length.

 

 

I agree I just bought this paddle and took it out for first time Wednesday it allowed me to get the same Jackhammer back twice from snags

[Bankc]

I have a Bending Branches Angler Classic.  I'll be honest, I used that hook a few times, and discovered it's rarely worth trying to use it.  The paddle floats, so pushing the paddle under water is pretty difficult.  And it's so much easier to just dip your rod tip, reel up the line until your lure is at your rod tip and just push forward to free it.  And if it's deeper than your rod, then it's deeper than your paddle, so you're pulling out the plug knocker.  And getting a lure out of a tree isn't easy either, because often the line will be wrapped around everything.  Realistically, you could cut that notch out of any plastic paddle out there, if you were so inclined.  So I wouldn't buy that paddle just for that.

 

Having said that, it is a great paddle.  It's neigh indestructible, isn't too heavy and doesn't flex.  So even though it wasn't cheap, I'm glad I bought one.  

[flyfisher]

That hook is a gimmick to me but some people like it.  I have been using the Aqua Bound Manta Ray

https://paddleva.com/products/aqua-bound-manta-ray-hybrid-2pc-kayak-paddle since i started kayak fishing and haven't seen the need to upgrade.  

 

First one I left at a ramp somewhere....second one I used for 5+ years of pretty heavy use and a lot of use on rivers pushing and pulling off rocks etc and that one broke and the last one i still have doesn't getr as much use except for positioning since I have a motor

[Darth-Baiter]

18 hours ago, Bankc said:

I have a Bending Branches Angler Classic.  I'll be honest, I used that hook a few times, and discovered it's rarely worth trying to use it.  The paddle floats, so pushing the paddle under water is pretty difficult.  And it's so much easier to just dip your rod tip, reel up the line until your lure is at your rod tip and just push forward to free it.  And if it's deeper than your rod, then it's deeper than your paddle, so you're pulling out the plug knocker.  And getting a lure out of a tree isn't easy either, because often the line will be wrapped around everything.  Realistically, you could cut that notch out of any plastic paddle out there, if you were so inclined.  So I wouldn't buy that paddle just for that.

 

Having said that, it is a great paddle.  It's neigh indestructible, isn't too heavy and doesn't flex.  So even though it wasn't cheap, I'm glad I bought one.  

this is great insight.  thanks. 

whoa!!  those Werner Paddles are EXPENSIVE!!!

[Jmilburn76]

Im still using the discontinued Carlisle Predator I bought on clearance 4+ yrs ago. Its been great but if/when it breaks Ill get a Bending Branches.

[WaterOtter]

I use a Carlisle Predator and I love it.  Mine is heavy because it has a thick shaft, but the paddle is tough and sturdy and works great.  It's a long paddle, and with my long arms I seem to have an advantage getting down lures other people leave behind. 

 

The most satisfying way is get the lure's treble hook in the cutout and then the lure comes down easy because you can rip it out.  Other times I grab the lure itself in the cutout, especially spinner baits and inline spinners.  But most often I end up using the cutout to grab a small branch or stem near the lure and then I pull the branch down to me so I can free up the lure by hand.  Then I use the cutout to grab the fishing line out of the tree so I can clean it up.  All good fun when there's a shiny prize

[greywalls]

Honestly, it sounds like the Backwater Assassin paddle would be perfect for what you need.  I have a buddy with one, and he likes it.  It seems pretty danged durable, and he uses it in ways that I wouldn't risk chipping up my own paddle (which is featherweight awesome, but somewhat fragile) to attempt.  Anyway, you likely could find the Backwater Assassin for less than $150 -- so, might not be a bad option for a knockaround yet pretty-decent option...

https://www.yakgear.com/product/backwater-assassin-carbon-fiber-hybrid-paddle/

  

[Darth-Baiter]

thanks for the input everyone.  I think a light paddle would be really useful since I use mine to sometime one-arm it to better position myself for a cast.  

[WaterOtter]

A thought ... if you have a router table you could pretty easily cut a hook into any paddle you like. 

 

When I received my Carlisle I looked at the hook and thought "man, I could have cut that into my old paddle".  I still think about adding one to the right blade so I have them on both sides, but maybe the right blade doesn't have a hook because it's the one we put our weight on when we slide ourselves on and off shore.

[schplurg]

The paddle hook collects grass and gunk. My experience. Especially in the Delta  Not all the time but I've never used it to retrieve a bait. Could though one day. I'd rather not have it.

 

I have a Bending Branched fiberglass paddle. Was $90 I think. Couldn't afford carbon just for that extra ounce or whatever. 

 

But it doesn't matter now because I have pedals. I use the paddle at the launch ramp, maybe. I really haven't used it in two years.

 

Also, the dummies put the notch on the bottom side of the paddle where it is more likely to snag grass. Brilliant.

 

I have a DIY tiny one-handed paddle for micro adjustments but I don't think I've ever used it. I gotta get the yak back out there.

[BustedSwimbait]

This was the first paddle I bought, and got returned the very same day after the trip because it kept getting caught in the lily pads and any grass I was over. I got sucked in by the word "angler" and was like "Hey, that's me! I need this one". Got myself a Carlisle Magic Plus Paddle 240cm and never looked at those types of paddles again. If they work for your situation that's great, but not for mine.