2 moves to gain a stronger paddle stroke

Let’s face the truth...many of us are kayak anglers.  And although Winter is breathing down our necks you can start getting ready for soft water and have a stronger paddle stroke. We got into kayak fishing for our own reasons but really, we want to catch a new personal best.  To help us get those honey holes we need our trusty kayak and motor.  Oh WAIT! We don’t have motors, we have paddles.  So let’s rev up your guns chilling on the outside of your shoulders and gain a stronger paddle stroke. Why? So you can get to that honey hole faster and catch even more PB!

Making 8’s - sideways

Paddling our kayaks utilizes many of our core muscles. So let’s make them stronger! Sit on the floor with your legs slightly bent.  Your kneecaps should be facing the ceiling. Then while maintaining a straight back lean backwards towards the floor.  Without falling onto your back interlace your fingers and let your palms touch.  Then with your hands make a sideways figure 8 motion.  Your upper body should rotate with your hands.  You should feel this in your abdomen.  Do this move as long as possible To intensify it, add some weights and/or get lower to the ground.

Boulder Shoulders!

Our shoulders are the one muscle group that attach our arms to our body and help transfer the energy from our torso to our paddle.  So let’s not only get them stronger but build up endurance. Stand tall with your feet shoulder length apart.  Now imagine you’re a zombie and raise both arms forward without bending the elbow.  Bring your arms down and then raise them sideways without bending your elbow.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Do this as many times as possible.  To intensify this move, add some weights!

5 Healthy on the Water Snacks

Ever get the munchies?  I know I do!  Especially since I started working out and eating well it seems like I am constantly snacking throughout the day.  Needless to say when I’m spending hours on the water I get hungry.  Here are some healthy snacks that work great when you are on the water and keep you on your diet.

Apples

  Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, or any others for that matter.  Apples are a fantastic quick and easy snack to have while you are on the water.  Not only are they easy to eat they provide you with some hydration!  

Seeds

  Snacking on seeds while on the water is a great way to keep to enjoy a simple snack and get some fiber and healthy fats.  Pick your favorite ones and snack away!  My favotires are roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.  Especially the non shelled sunflower seeds.  Grab a mouth full and keep on fishing and/or paddling away!

Nuts

  Nuts are a great source of protein and healthy fats.  Plus they are a quick and easy snack when you are paddling and/or fishing!  The biggest thing is to try to stay away from the salted variety.  Try to grab lightly salted or just plain roasted.  Even Honey Roasted works well.  Some of my favorites are peanuts and almonds.

Carrots

  Grab some baby carrots! You only get in a vegetable but have a fun finger food snack. I portion some out in a bag when I know I'm going to need a snack and put it next to my kayak seat and snack away.  It’s easy to quick grab one in between paddle strokes or casts.  You can keep on munching and paddling/fishing.

Granola Bars

  Granola Bars are one of the easiest snacks to grab on the go and are a great source of fiber, protein, and much more!  There are many on the market but not all of them are healthy.  The tricky part is finding one that fits your tastes and needs.  If you rather not shop, you can always make some at home and bring them with you.  Just search the internet and you can find lots of recipes.  So find or make your ideal ones and snack away! Here is one of my favorites (Energy Ball) https://youtu.be/Jxk-6mjZN6U

Stay Hydrated on the Water

 Whether you are just paddling for fun or trying to catch a fish of a lifetime you will want your wits about you.  Especially during the summer when the sun gets up in the sky and the temps are on the rise you need stay healthy.  It’s no time to be dehydrated which could increase your risk of heat stroke.  Having a water bottle onboard with you is obviously the easiest way to ensure you are set but how much should you drink? What about other beverages?  Let’s take a quick look at those questions.

What should you drink?  To put it simply, water.  Other drinks like soda, energy drinks, coffee, alcohol, and other drinks of the sort may make you feel full and trick you that you’re staying hydrated but you are not.  Instead, they are actually dehydrating you!  So try to stick with just water.  If drinking plain water is not something you enjoy, look at adding fresh fruit to it and flavor your water.  And if your like me and won’t give up your coffee for anything, that’s ok.  I drink my coffee on the water.  But I make sure I bring an extra water with me to have to ensure I stay hydrated.

How much should you drink?  Your body uses up the water you drink naturally but it needs even more when you are sweating.  When the sun is beating down on you and reflecting off the water you’ll dry out even faster.  (Although it may not feel like it)  OSHA suggests that outside workers working in over 103 heat index should drink 4 cups of water every hour.  This should be done throughout the hour and not all at once.  Now even if we aren’t out there in that kind of heat you should be drinking throughout the day.  And try to drink a total of 2-4 cups an hour when you’re out paddling around.

I want you to have an amazing time on the water so don’t let getting sick and dehydrated stop this from happening.  Bring bottles of water with you and remember to drink up when paddling around!  

The Ultimate Paddling Exercise

You can look at almost any body of water during the Summer and there they are, people standing and floating on the water.  Wait, they are standing and paddling on a board!  That’s right, paddle boarding, and now our addiction to fishing is starting to take a hold.  Heck, many of you probably already fish from one!  Let’s get you to your secret hot spot quicker and easier, all with this one workout move.  Well, let’s not waste anytime, here is the ultimate move to gain a stronger paddleboard stroke.

The Floor Figure Eight

Sit on the floor with legs in front of you with a slight bend in your knees.  Keep your back straight, tighten your abdomen, and lean back.  Having your back at a 45 degree angle would be fantastic but get as close to that as possible.  Clasp your hands and make a sideways figure eight.  The top of your figure eight should be at least to the top of your head.  When making the lower part of your figure eight twist at your body in the direction of your hands. (Similar to a strong kayak stroke).  Do this for 30 seconds.  Once you’ve mastered it here are some ways to challenge yourself and get even more from this great move!  First, lower your back closer to the ground.  Second, do this move longer, 45 seconds, 60 seconds, more!!!  Third, hold onto a weight.  Start with a little weight and work your way up.  

Build up your core strength and you’ll be in our spot faster than ever before!

Check out the video below or click HERE and subscribe to our channel!

OUCH! Get Sweet Relief from Casting BIG Lures

You are on the water before the sun rises and come in after it sets.  With every cast you are eagerly anticipating a huge tug on the end of your line. So whether you are chasing bull reds, stripers, muskie, or anything else for that matter your casting arm may get sore after chucking lures hours on end in hopes of catching a new personal best.  Try these 3 stretches to find relief from soreness.

Wrist Relief

After casting and reeling all day your wrists take a beating.  To find some sweet relief keep your palms up and extend your arm in front of you.  Gently bend the wrist of the extended arm toward the ground.  Then with your other hand slowly and gently press the wrist of the extended arm toward the ground even more.  Do this until you feel a stretch in your forearm.  Be careful not to go too far.  It should be a mild stretch and not a painful one.  Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and then repeat 3 times.  Repeat with the other wrist.

Soothing Shoulder Soreness

After paddling and casting for hours on end my shoulder is sore.  To soothe that soreness extend your right arm straight ahead of you and bring it across to the left side of your body.  With your left hand hold onto your bicep and gently pull your right arm closer to your body.  Ensure you keep your chin out of the way and look forward.  Hold for 10 to 20 seconds.  Then raise your right arm above your head like you are eager to answer a question from your favorite teacher.  Keeping the upper part of your straight arm up, bend your forearm and drop your hand towards your back.  With your left hand hold onto your right elbow and gently pull it towards the left side.  Do this until you feel a mild stretch.  Hold for 10 to 20 seconds.  Repeat both of these moves 2 times.  

BONUS MOVE!!! Check it out here and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Page! Watch below or click here: https://youtu.be/9fLDJXcx7AU