3. DON’T DRAg yOUR KAyAK
WITh yOUR ARMS
The optimal stroke won’t have power com-
ing from your arms – it will come from your
core. Many newcomers attack the water with
their biceps, but the key is using the larger
muscles in your quads and rotating around
your torso. Reach forward toward your feet
with the paddle blade and draw back, press-
ing against the foot pegs.
When pulling from the left side of your
kayak, you should be pressing with the right
foot against the pull. Bring your paddle back
to your hip, and reach forward to stroke with
your opposite hand. Press with your left foot
for the right-hand stroke – this should feel
nearly like a bicycle push-and-pull motion,
and the nose of the kayak should move left to
right with each stroke, using your core as the
pivot point.
forward stroke
4. fORWARD SWEEP STROKE
Paddling harder on one side of the kayak
will turn the boat, but it isn’t the most efficient
method. A better way is the forward sweep
stroke. To perform this stroke, reach forward
with the paddle blade toward your toes.
Sweep out in an arc away from the boat, and
then pull back toward the stern, keeping your
other hand at shoulder level or below. The
kayak will turn to the opposite side of your
stroke, and you will be able to maintain pad-
dling momentum. Keep your center of gravity
over the middle of the boat.
forward sweep
5. REvERSE SWEEP STROKE
Need to make a quick pivot with the
kayak? The reverse sweep stroke will allow
you to turn the kayak rapidly in place. Twist to
initiate a stroke that begins behind you,
reaching toward the back of the kayak in the
direction you’d like to turn. Sweep the paddle
out in an arc and then back toward your toes,
and be sure to keep your body centered and
use your torso to twist.
At first, it might seem like a lot of work to
use proper technique while paddling.
Developing and maintaining good form on the
water will keep your body conditioned after
years of paddling – and that core strength is
something that’ll go a long way toward
improving your hookset, too.
APRIL 2018 I FLWFISHING.COM
ABOUT ThE AUThOR
River-bound year-round, Bridgett howard’s play-
ground includes the rivers and streams of east
Tennessee. fortunate to be able to combine work and
play, she is part of the Jackson Kayak and Orion
coolers marketing and fishing teams in addition to rep-
resenting Werner Paddles, Kokatat and RAM Mounts
on the water. howard loves to prove that big fish live in
skinny water, and bass are among her favorites.
reverse sweep
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