Need a kayak paddle!

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fish-n-fool
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Need a kayak paddle!

Post by fish-n-fool »

Any suggestions pros or cons about your paddle and any recommendations on a decent paddle.

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cotton
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by cotton »

I will leave the suggestions to the experts. I'm a cheapskate and here's my two cents. I've had 3 paddles. 1 Cheap, 1 not so cheap, 1 in the middle. There's a big difference between a $30 paddle and a $80 one. Not so much a difference between a $80 one and a $150. I wouldn't have a clue about the high end $300+ paddles. If you plan on using it a lot, sooner or later, they all break. I wouldn't begin to guess how many BK has broken.

So, for my money, I would stick to those in the mid-range. On my last trip home a found a surplus store selling mid-range paddles for $19. I noticed the same ones at BPS and Academy for $79-$89. I bought 2 and like them almost as much as the one I paid over $100 for.
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Shorewalker
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by Shorewalker »

I got a used high end paddle (AT Fishstix). I would not have paid full price for it but it is pretty damn bombproof and light as a feather.That said I mostly pedal when I can and use the paddle to push off oysterbeds and for reverse gear so many other people will have more experience with their paddles....
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gatoremt
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by gatoremt »

So the 2 piece fiberglass paddle for $69 at Academy would be a good first paddle?

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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by jsuber »

I've had some $100 paddles and have a few $500 paddles. AT sent me a new Camo Fishstix for this year and it's bad to the bone. I love it. It's very light and paddles like a dream. I hear there are a few digital camos and I missed the boat on that.


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kikstand454
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by kikstand454 »

For the money.... the Day Tripper has been great for me.

http://carlislepaddles.shptron.com/c/ka ... r?mobile=1


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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by Mongo »

I am basically still a "Newbie" so take my input with a grain of salt. I invested in a carbon fiber paddle at Academy for a little over $100.00. It is noticeably lighter than the fiberglass models and I'm sure that does pay dividends for excursions or long paddles to a favorite fishing destination. When I first started fishing from a yak, I did a lot of scouting and it was not unusual for me to paddle 6-7 miles and would often get in a creek mouth and do several drifts with and against the current on the same trip.
What I found is that there are plenty of "fishy" areas that are fairly close to the identified kayak launch locations so the correct paddle is not as critical as I once thought it would be. I would agree to find a good mid-range paddle and invest your dollars elsewhere. I would say that up to this point that my best investment has been spending a half day with a professional kayak fishing guide or you could probably tag-a-long with one of the seasoned veterans on this site. Although you will pick up a wealth of knowledge by following these posts, I found it is the finer points that makes the difference between letting a fish ride in your cooler for a little while (inside joke) or getting skunked. And I have fished in Florida my whole life.
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gatoremt
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by gatoremt »

Thanks for the input guys. I will get a mid range to begin with. I can't afford a AT wow the one I looked at was $354

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bk
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by bk »

Carlisle yellow bladed paddle at Kevin's is a great paddle. Period.
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gatoremt
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by gatoremt »

Thanks BK. Bass Pro has them also. I saw the yellow paddle there. I think it was $29 I believe at BPS.
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bk
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by bk »

gatoremt wrote:Thanks BK. Bass Pro has them also. I saw the yellow paddle there. I think it was $29 I believe at BPS.
probably a different yellow one. The carlisle i was referring to was the "expedition 220 cm". mfr $150
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rudderman
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Re: Need a kayak paddle!

Post by rudderman »

don't go too cheap on a paddle. As soon as you upgrade you will never go back and that first paddle will always stay at home. Expect $100-$150.
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