New to kayaking

[Jeff Maberry]

We decided to try getting some kayaks to fish out of (wife and myself).  I got the ascend H12 and wife got a sun dolphin ss10, we went to council bluff lake to try them out for the first time and decided to leave fishing equipment in the tahoe until we got used to the kayaks. My wife did a surprise safety check on how life jackets work while first getting into her kayak it worked great, I was to smart to laugh at her thinking I would never get her back out in one again.  So we traveled around the edge of the lake for a little while and she had all kind of trouble trying to go in a straight line, we used double and single paddles the single was better for her. The ascend H12 did excellent easy to paddle, real stable and has a 40lb weight capacity which is one of the reasons I went with it, so back at the dock the wife tried out the ascend and she had no problems with stability or tracking so we will be getting another one soon. Next trip I will bring the poles and not be worried about floating my hat. 

[Jeff Maberry]

Sorry about triple post trying to delete, if I can figure it out

[Al Agnew]

I'm not surprised that your wife likes the Ascend better and can paddle it straighter.  The longer a kayak or canoe is for its width, the better it tracks.  I am surprised she found the single blade worked better for her, however.  Most novices can keep a straight line much better with a double blade.  Keep in mind that the closer to vertical a paddle is during a forward stroke, the less it turns the kayak and the more power you get with the stroke.  Most novices are afraid to reach out and plant the paddle more vertically in the water, so they make wide, shallow strokes that tend to turn the craft radically with each stroke.  If using a double blade, you might find you have more strength on one side than the other, so your boat tends to want to turn away from your strong side.  So you go zig-zagging along, with the zigs a little more than the zags!

But the single blade, in my opinion, is far better for fishing from a canoe or kayak once you master it.  I use both, but the double blade is strictly for powering along, the single blade is for maneuvering and positioning for fishing.

[Jeff Maberry]

Thanks AL your advice is greatly appreciated