Getting another paddle, for you sit on top guys do you prefer high or low? I don't want to spend a few hundred and regret my decision.

Can a low angle still get me going good if I want or is it going to beat me up more? And is a high angle that much different than a low angle just slowly moving spot to spot? It just kind of seems to me a high will be just as good as a low just cruising but have the horsepower if i want it. 

I currently have a Field and Stream Ace paddle 240 Blade dimensions: 18.3” x 7”

I am looking at Aqua bound of some version.

I'm going to give you an incoherent opinion, but I was also just reviewing my paddle upgrade options, and coming to terms with that I would have to spend $200-300 to make it worthwhile. I like the look of the FS Ace; why do you want to upgrade and what are you looking for? I currently have 5 paddles I use (and 5 kayaks) have broken several others over the years. I have a carbon shaft Werner skagit that I like a lot (at 230) and another one that is like 210 that is nice; both purchased used on consignment several years ago. Both of those have low angle blade shapes; I have other paddles with more of a high angle shape and I don't like those as much. But my paddle style is high angle. I want to lower my paddle stroke though, both to paddle easier (so to go slower and longer) and to reduce stress on my shoulders. And, critically, because high angle paddling pours water all over your legs and that is really cold when the water is cold. So I am a high angle paddler but I prefer the shape of low angle paddles (and have no trouble powering them hard and high).

 

I was looking at the Werner Camano (carbon for $285) or the bending branches angler Ace (carbon $200). I didn't really like the look of the aqua bound fishing paddles though. When fishing, and the paddle is stored, I really prefer flat blades that tuck in close to the boat, so I don't like paddles that are cup shaped, and I think from memory and from pictures the AB paddles are cupped (but the Mantra Ray in Carbon may be nice?). I hate hitting anything with my rod or getting tied up on anything or the paddle getting in the way of landing a fish when the fish decides to go to the wrong side of the boat.

 

edit to answer your question: I think it is the opposite: so a low angle paddle is better and more efficient for cruising along, but can be powered up if you need it; a high angle paddle is less good at cruising, but may offer more top end power per stroke (but really you can ramp up your stroke rate anyway). So the high angle paddles are better for moving water, surf or river, where you get one stroke to move and turn the boat on that spot. But really the length matters as much here than the paddle shape: a high angle paddle would be shorter, maybe much shorter. I want to buy a 240 or 250 paddle to "force" myself to paddle lower. Once a paddle gets long enough, you aren't going to be able to get on top of it enough to paddle high angle.

Thanks for the the reply,my son is now using my paddle and I want something a little lighter also see if a upgrade is more efficient for me. If I'm buying another I don't want the same one..try something new

The best academic answers to your questions are probably on the paddle maufacturers' website, in all honesty.  Some, like Werner and AB like to classify their paddles in low and high angles, just as tackle sellers classify bass jigs according to certain characteristics.  Like bass jigs, you certainly shouldn't let that classification alone drive what you buy or how you use it - I use a couple of 'finesse jigs' to pitch into some pretty heavy cover (War Eagle and Santone).  If you're using a 240 cm paddle with an 18" blade, you're either 7'+, a fair portion of the paddle shaft is in the water during your paddle stroke (bad), or you have a pretty wide (32"+) kayak.  If you have a pretty wide kayak, and you're not 7', you probably are using a low angle forward paddle stroke.  But that doesn't necessarily mean that you won't prefer a 'high angle' paddle.  For AB straight shaft nonwhitewater paddles, I think this leaves the Manta Ray (high) or Sting Ray (low).  I've used both, and in the $200 models (carbon shaft, reinforced blades) they represent a fantastic value.  I prefer theManta Ray personally, even on a wide kayak, but I am using the paddle more often for maneuvering than covering long distances, and the larger blade area is better for sweeps and draws that help with kayak positioning.  As for AB styling, I've heard more than once that the graphics look like they're lost in the 80s.  Maybe so, but the graphics on my ZRE canoe paddle is equally antiquated, and the old adage 'chrome won't get you home' applies here too.

need to know what kayak you have.  how wide and how high is the seat?  how tall are you?  some of these newer fishing kayaks are over 35" wide and have an elevated seat that you need a 270cm plus paddle.  If you want more power, I highly recommend a bent shaft paddle

How do you paddle now?  Do you paddle with a low or high angle most of the time?  The difference between them isn't huge and you can paddle either way with either paddle pretty fairly efficiently (though the right paddle with be slightly more efficient).  But if you already have your preferred technique down, might as well go with a paddle designed for that technique.  Paddle length makes more of a difference than angle.

 

Personally, with a wide, SOT, fishing kayak with a high seat, I'd go with a low angle paddle.  That's what I do most of the time on mine.  That being said, I will paddle with a high angle when trying to pick up speed.  And when I do, it's not the angle of the blades that bother me as much as the length of the shaft.  But, for most of my paddling, I like the low angle approach.  It's less powerful than the high angle, but with such a wide kayak and seat that sits so high up, I prefer not to have to lean my body over side to side to meet that high angle.  That saves me some energy.  However, if I were in a narrow, sit-inside, kayak with a low seat, the low angle blades and long shaft wouldn't ever do me any good.  I wouldn't have to lean over, but rather just twist my body, and the high angle approach would probably be the only technique I'd use. 

 

 

Following........ my fiancé has a wide kayak with a high seat. 

My sit on top Kayak is only 30" wide but I did a seat mod and raised it 10 inches,,was really looking for what a lot of you prefer.. high or low angle. I ordered a Aquabound Stingray hybrid(low angle) 240.. was suppose to be here yesterday.. now its says delayed shipping.

18 hours ago, TcRoc said:

My sit on top Kayak is only 30" wide but I did a seat mod and raised it 10 inches

Have you actually put this in water since you did the seat modification, or are you waiting for the paddle?  I'm wondering how stable that will be.

 

12 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

Have you actually put this in water since you did the seat modification, or are you waiting for the paddle?  I'm wondering how stable that will be.

 

I explained it wrong,, it wasn't raised a additional 10 inches..they are now 10 inches to seat top, but yes they are in the water all the time.. 6 hours today of some great Father's Day Fishing..  they are fine. Both myself and my son have the mod and its so much nicer sitting up higher. Cheap mod. to get me thru until I can pick up my next yaks..Vibe Shear Water 125.