Backwater Paddles Assault Hand Paddle Backwater Paddles Assault Hand Paddle

From Backwater Paddle Company comes the Assault Hand Paddle, a device created to allow for simultaneous fishing and propulsion of watercraft. I spent the summer with the Assault, and have come to value and rely upon what I can only describe as the paddle’s elaborate simplicity. Created by former US Navy survival instructor, Ed Halm, the Assault is the mechanical incarnation of the motto, “adapt and overcome.”

In my time with the paddle, I truly found nothing to complain about.  I did, however, discover numerous situations in which the Assault truly shines:

- My local reservoir develops a strong wind in the evening, and the phenomenon makes it quite hard for an angler to hold a position over marked structure.  Jigging over a small rocky reef normally involves an elaborate juggling of double bladed paddle and rod.  With possession of the Assault, however, the process is streamlined, and one can easily maintain position while experiencing uninterrupted jigging.

- The same reservoir features numerous shallow coves and creek mouths; entering into these areas – with intent to fish – is a task best performed with utmost stealth. The Assault allows an angler to silently approach noise and vibration-sensitive areas with minimal disturbance. Albeit a slower approach than a double bladed paddle, the technique is quite effective when sneaking up on skittish bass.

- On swift river descents, it can often be hard to simultaneously carve a line into an eddy and fish a tail out. A recent trip down Montana’s Kootenai River had me praising the stiffness and blade size of the Assault. Digging into a current seam and casting a lure was a natural dance that resulted in many tail out-derived rainbow trout.

- The Assault’s blade features a deep notch, and it is this characteristic that allows the paddle to become quite useful in debris and vegetation-choked creeks and sloughs. The notch easily grabs overhanging or path-obscuring branches, and can even let one hold position – via these branches - in mellow versions of this water.

The small size of the Assault makes storage a snap. Though I often started my trips with the paddle stowed in the center hatch, the Assault nearly always ended each journey stashed under my legs. In both locations, the Assault was barely noticeable.  This fact, when combined with the quite reasonable MSRP of $29.95, makes the paddle a truly versatile tool that is accessible to most every kayak angler. The Assault’s uses are nearly countless; as such, it is, in my opinion, one of the best values to be found in the current marketplace.