It is an honest review from a paddler of all kayaks & paddles.
I still have to launch with a paddle, land with a paddle, navigate through kelp with a paddle, navigate though flats/shallows with a paddle,oyster beds, pilings, docks, sight fishing/stalking, SUP, ect. ect..Its no lame sticker tape measure either. It is a special application to the carbon fiber shaft.The Angler Pro I suggested doesnt have a hook remover either.
Jackson's other veteran Drew Gregory ecstatically uses & endorses the Bending Branches Angler Pro.
I have tested countless paddles on the market & I find the Angler Pro to be an effortless paddle from the blade design first & foremost. Not due the fancy color choices or additional advertising features, which are nothing more than a complete bonus on top of an amazing paddle. This paddle doesn't leave you zapped of energy at the end of a full day of paddling. It cuts like a razor. Remember I also have to power a boat/kayak that sports a tri-hull design and a width of 36". Couple that with a completely blown rotator cuff & you might begin to comprehend why I need an effortless Kayak fishing paddle to power one of the biggest kayaks on the market. (Pro Angler)
To prevent hang ups with frequent loose stringers of kelp in the shoreline, especially @ night which stops a Mirage Drive in its tracks, I paddle through the line up..I need to get momentum built up fast moving a near skiff compared to my ol' Prowler 15's razor piercing easy paddling hull..In the end, its going to be like your dinner preference anyhow..Some like wide blade designs, others more suited towards a touring style cut.
You'll have to try a few out OTW to really make your mind up & find what you really like.
Just like with a kayak, one shouldn't get one sight unseen merely by one persons great write up. Demo always.. If anyone see's me OTW, come by swap & try it out for a few laps & I'm sure you'll instantly agree with its performance. Field tested, tried & true..
Or spend an additional 175, the decision is up to you...
Eric Hughes, Drew Gregory and Evan Howard.
Fellow Teammate of mine Mr. Alan Ryland:
One of the most demanding Kayak Fishing tournaments around!
(The AFWC (Adventure Fishing World Championship) is a new format of kayak fishing that combines: fishing, strategy, navigation and paddling resulting in a true Everglades Adventure! XTeams of two anglers compete to reach and catch fish at a minimum of 3 out of X5 Xeligible checkpoints, in any order,and return to the start/finish before checking at 5PM with the largest total fish length. This is a catch-photo-release redfish, snook, and trout tournament. X Checkpoint locations are secret until start-time and there is no suggested route. Routes will vary between 6-12 miles, and should take 6-9 hours to complete. PLEASE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OF THIS EVENT.The Adventure Fishing World Championship will be held deep in the waters of the Everglades National Park-the largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent. XWith the Everglases exceptional variety water habitats Xand being at the juncture of temperate and sub-tropical America, fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna. There will be NO water or food support on course. Once you leave the start/finish you are on your own.)
"30+ miles in two days between pre-fishing and tournament day for the Adventure Fishing World Championship in Everglades City, FL. My partner and I Capt Alex Gorichky finished 9th overall out of 32 teams with only 16 teams completing the tournament requirements. My paddle of choice was my BB Angler Pro. What an an incredible paddle !!!"
Another Teammate of mine Mr. Bob Bramblet / Florida Flats Master..
One Fish, Many GoPros: Episode 2, "The Silver Rocket" Drew Gregory
Another fellow Bending Branches teammate of mine Mr.Stewart Venable:
"I christened my new 2013 Jackson Coosa in flooded tributary of the Coosa River in Alabama by bagging my new personal best river spot; a fat piglet that hammered a peacock River Special spinnerbait. This day also put my new Bending Branches Angler Pro through the paces and it passed with flying colors. Coosa and Angler Pro = river fisherman's dream!"
