On the lookout for the best kayak paddles for fishing? We’ve got you covered.
Though you might have a top-notch fishing kayak with all of the latest features, it’s important to not overlook the importance of a quality paddle, either.
In fact, more often than not, your kayaking paddle (and it’s compatibility with your height and the width of your kayak) will make all the difference when it comes to getting that big catch.
For that reason, we’ve spent some time searching for the best kayak paddles for fishing on the market so you don’t have to!
We’re going to be going through our favorites below, as well as explaining some technical jargon and what criteria to look out for in our helpful buyer’s guide area.
Got some questions? No problem. We have an F.A.Q section at the bottom of this article, too!
So, whether you’re fishing on a mellow lake or getting tropical on an ocean kayak, we’re sure that this article will help you find a paddle that’ll help you hook plenty of fish in no time!
Best Kayak Paddles For Fishing – Reviews
- MADE TO LAST: This kayak paddle is with high-quality aluminum alloy shaft (1.1mm shell thickness) and fiberglass reinforced PP blade. The material combination ensures a stiff and made to last kayak...
- USERES FRIENDLY: The oar shaft is designed with a shrinking PE tube cover. It provides better grip for your hands to prevent blistering. Especially, your hands won’t suffer from the cold feeling...
- POPULAR LENGTH AT 230CM: Not too short, not too long, the oar is 230cm (90.5 inches) at length. It’s an ideal kayak paddle with moderate length for you and your family. It’s also detachable at 2...
- LEASH/3 ANGLES/ DRIP RINGS: All OCEANBROAD kayak paddles come with a bungee paddle leash. It helps secure your paddle to your kayak, especially when you want to lay down the oars, stop by a little bit...
- SUITABLE FOR MORE: With high-quality aluminium shaft and fiberglass reinforced PP blades, the paddle ensures a nice performance in kayaking. Whether you are a starter or a pro, it's easy to master...
- Length: Measuring 240 (94.5"), this quality paddle is ideal for angler paddlers over 152 cm (5'5") in kayaks over 86 cm (34") wide.
- Durable And Affordable: This kayak paddle is made of a two-piece anti-slip grip aluminum shaft and fiberglass reinforced polypropylene blades. The blades ensure better durability and performance on...
- Multifunction: This convenient fishing paddle includes an integrated hook retrieval system directly on the blade and measurement tape along the shaft that will allow you to measure your catch.
- Ovalization: This paddle offers a unique ergonomic shaft design called indexing. The right side of the shaft changes from a rounded shape to a slightly oval shape that tells you where to place your...
- Performance: The push button system allows the blades to be feathered with a 0/65° angle. Paddling with offset blades will reduce the wind resistance on the top blade as it moves through the air....
- Sturdy two pieces anodized aluminum shaft and Polypropylene blade for maximum resistance
- Try our POSEIDON KAYAK PADDLE if you want a longer paddle
- Drip rings help keep hands dry. Available in 3 Colors, Black, Green, Orange
- 0 or 65˚angle adjustment – Get more control and stability
- This paddle is ideal for recreational paddlers between 4'8" and 5'11" and kayaks between 23"-28" wide
- DURABLE MATERIAL: Strong aluminum shaft construction is lightweight, responsive and can withstand the wear and tear of river paddling , and the durable PP & fiberglass blade delivers long-time...
- TWO IN ONE PIECE : This 2-piece detachable paddle is easy to pack.It has buoyancy, does not sink, prevents accidental falling into the water and cannot be salvaged.
- ADJUSTABLE:Adjust 3 lockbale position from 0 to 90°to fit your kayak speed.The Feather shaped baldes with 2 serrated teeth edge can reduce water drip into your kayak and keep your hand dry.
- EFFICIENT DESIGN: With 6.8" W x 19.3" symmetrical blades allows a flutter-free stroke and better direction control and saving your effort.The whole paddle Only Weight 31oz (885g).86.6inch(220cm)...
- A MUST CHOICE FOR BEGINNER OR EXPERIENCED : Whether you are a beginner or an experienced paddle boarder, having a quality kayak paddle is an important part of the experience. This paddle is a real...
- Two sturdy pieces of aluminum construction. Impact resistant fiberglass reinforced polypropylene feathered blade design for great durability
- Adjustable drip rings to help keep hands dry for a better grip
- Enforced push-button connection with 0 or 65˚ angle adjustment
- The perfect fit! Our 90.5 inch (230cm) long paddle is not too short and not too long. Perfect for your trips on the water!
- Ovalization: The shaft goes from a rounded shape to a slightly oval shape (called indexing) which serves as a reference to where you should be placing your right hand
- Enhanced Durability Meets Lightweight Design: The Pelican Takedown Kayak Paddle boasts a corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum shaft, striking an ideal balance between enduring strength and lightness,...
- Convenient Portability and Storage Solution: Featuring a two-piece shaft with a user-friendly push button, this paddle is engineered for hassle-free disassembly, making it perfect for compact storage...
- Innovative Drip Rings for Dryer Paddling: Equipped with carefully designed drip rings, our kayak paddle prevents water from sliding down the shaft, ensuring your hands remain dry for a comfortable and...
- Optimized for Recreational Use: Tailored for beginners to intermediate paddlers, this paddle, with its 86-inch length, is ideal for those between 4'8" and 5'11" tall, navigating kayaks 23" to 28"...
- Unmatched Value for Every Paddler: The Pelican Takedown Kayak Paddle is not just about exceptional functionality and comfort; it represents outstanding value, combining top-notch materials and...
- CARBON FIBER KAYAK PADDLE --- Crafted from the premium carbon fiber shaft, lightweight and comfortable to use, allowing you to achieve maximum speed and control on the water. It’s sturdy yet with...
- FIBERGLASS +PP ENHANCE BLADE --- Our paddle blades have good durability and corrosion resistance, float in saltwater and freshwater. The streamlined design adds power and stability to the kayaking...
- ADJUSTABLE KAYAK PADDLES --- The total length is 86"-94"/220cm-240cm, 20cm adjustable. Total weight is only 2 lbs (0.9kg). Suitable for most types of kayaks and paddlers. Whether you're a beginner or...
- A+ ADVANTAGE and DESIGN --- Travel friendly: 3-piece combined design makes the paddle more portable. Easy to use: ±60° Quick Pin Button Lock makes it easier to assemble fastly and adjust the paddle...
- WHY CHOOSE WONITAGO --- Our kayak oars reduce fatigue and maximize performance, allowing you to paddle for longer without discomfort. So, whether you're exploring the coast, racing down a river, or...
Best Kayak Paddles For Fishing – Buyers Guide
Decoding the Types of Features on a Paddle:
Blade
Kayak paddles contain two blades. The blades provide the surface area on the paddle that allow the paddler to propel themselves through the water.
Shaft
The shaft is the handle of the paddle (this is the part that connects the two blades together).
Ferrule
To put it simply, this is a ring or a band that is usually made of metal that will help to strengthen the joint and, in the case of paddles that contain multiple pieces, the ferrule is the joint joining the two pieces together,
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a type of plastic that is a lot more resilient and tough than other types of plastic (meaning your paddle will be less likely to chip or crack!). This type of plastic is also heat resistant.
Carbon Fiber
This is the best material on the market for paddles as it’s so durable and lightweight, making it the most expensive type of paddle, too!
Feathering
Feathering refers to the angle that the blades are positioned apart from each other. Many kayak paddle shafts allow you to rotate the ferrule on the shaft so that the blades are at an angle to each other rather than just straight in order to reduce the wind resistance while paddling.
Dihedral Blade
Dihedral blades are easily identifiable by the ribbed separation down the center of the blade. This perpetuates a natural flow of water over both halves of the blade.
Asymmetrical Blade
When holding the paddle and looking at the blade, you’ll notice that an asymmetrical blade features a long top that tapers downward to the bottom and becomes more narrow. This design provides a much more efficient paddling style and is able to glide through water effortlessly.
What size paddle should I pick?
No matter what, the perfect paddle will be strong, durable and comfortable to use. However, there are a few factors to consider!
Even if you’re embarking on a short kayaking tour, you will still be carrying out thousands of strokes, so the right paddle for you and your boat is really important. When choosing a paddle, here are four starting points that you should bare in mind:
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The type of blade – the paddle’s blade material will affect the way it performs in the water
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Length – the length depends on the width of your boat and how tall you are
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Shaft choice – the type of shaft shape will help to improve the paddle’s effectiveness when cutting through the water.
Finding the right length paddle is relatively straightforward. All you need to remember is this: the longer the boat, the longer the paddle needs to be! As for your height, short paddlers will need a shorter paddle, while taller paddlers will need a longer paddle.
This brings us onto the type of blade! Keep reading for a quick run-through on the different types and their individual benefits:
Fiberglass Blades
Fiberglass blades offer outstanding durability and top-notch performance at a moderately placed price point. They are more lightweight than plastic or nylon blades and though they can be prone to chipping, they hardly ever crack and offer great efficiency in the water thanks to the flexibility it offers.
Plastic and Nylon Blades
Plastic and nylon blades are the cheapest option, making them ideal choices for paddlers on a budget. Though these materials are pretty resilient and hard to crack or chip, they don’t offer much flexibility so you might find that your stroke suffers with this material option.
Carbon-Fiber Blades
If a blade is made of this material, chances are it’s going to be high quality and premium. These blades are lightweight and offer unparalleled energy transfer with each stroke for an optimized and consistent stroke performance, again and again.
So, now you know all about the types of blade materials, what about shaft materials? Well, aluminium shafts are the most affordable without compromising on a good performance. However, be mindful of aluminium shafts as they do tend to react to the temperature they are exposed to (they can get both very cold and hot).
On the other hand, though fiberglass and carbon shafts are more expensive, they are strong, resilient and ultra-lightweight and will ensure maximum paddle performance.
Like we mentioned above, the blade design is also very important to consider. Most paddle blades feature an asymmetrical- dihedral shape. Asymmetrical blades are quite narrow and will be shorter on one side than the other in order to angle it and make the blade more streamlined while gliding through the water.
A dihedral blade has a rib down its middle which allows the water to flow over each half of the blade. In general, narrow blades are more comfortable to use as they are lightweight, making them ideal for long tours, while wider blades provide more powerful strokes to accelerate quickly, making them a popular choice for kayaking surfers or those who enjoy whitewater kayaking.
Lastly, you’ll need to consider the shape of the shaft! Bent shaft paddles will position your hands at a more comfortable angle when paddling, which will reduce the chance of discomfort or fatigue in your joints, while straight shafts will provide uniformed strokes through the water (these are usually the most common type).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which paddle is right for me?
When considering which paddle is right for you, it’s important to consider what level of kayaking you are going to be participating in. If you are going to be trying out whitewater kayaking or touring in choppy waters, you might want to go for a higher angle paddle.
However, if you’re going to be taking on the world of kayaking at a more leisurely pace, your best bet is probably going to be a low-angle design paddle which is more suited to mellow waters.
How do I use my paddle?
Whether you are an expert kayaker or a beginner, it’s always a good idea to brush up your knowledge on how to correctly and safely use your paddle.
It’s really important that you learn the correct technique when gripping a paddle so that you make sure that you can achieve the most efficient paddle stroke possible – and there’s plenty of different paddle strokes to get used to.
Let’s start with the basics. Just like the name suggests, the forward stroke is for going forward, while a reverse stroke is for going backwards or slowing down.
The next stroke is known as a sweep stroke, and is used to help turn the kayak left or right. The draw stroke is a swift motion stroke that is used when you need to move the kayak sideways.
Simple enough to follow, right? Now you know the names of some paddles strokes, we’re going to quickly run through how to hold your paddle.
First, you want to position the paddle blades properly. After you do this, adjust your grip on the shaft and then gently relax your hands in order to allow a secure, yet totally comfortable grip of the paddle.
