Bending Branches

Angler Navigator Versa-Lok Paddle

Custom-made with kayak fishing in mind, the Bending Branches Angler Navigator Versa-Lok Paddle combines fishability with versatility. The retro-styled wooden blades are naturally buoyant and cut through the water more quietly than other blades to sneak up on unsuspecting fish while their oversized build delivers extra horsepower to maneuver our wide and weighed-down fishing kayak. Bending Branches coated those wooden blades with 2oz fiberglass and added Rockguard tip protection for added durability—and even added a 40-inch ruler on the lightweight carbon shaft to measure our lunkers. Then there's the versatile Versa-Lok system—which not only lets us adjust the paddle's overall length by 15cm but also allows infinite feathering in both directions. That lets us adjust to changing water or weather conditions, share one paddle with different-sized paddlers, or switch between different-sized boats without buying an additional paddle. We like this mix of old-school wood and new-school carbon technologies to paddle our rig to the fish.