Having spent much of the past 20 years as a wilderness canoe and fishing guide I almost always recommend a strait shaft paddle for fishing. Paddling with a bent shaft paddle changes all of the dynamics of paddling. To start with the bent shaft is designed for a short fast pace and the steering is done by the bow (front) paddler switching sides of the canoe. Whereas, the strait shaft is designed for slower paddling pace and the steering is done by the more tradition J-stroke and C-Stroke. A traditional strait paddle is also easier to scull with and maneuver the canoe while playing a fish.

Bottom line is. I have tried numerous bent shaft paddles and have several of them collecting dust in my garage but the paddle that makes everyone of my trips is a hand carved, cherry Ottertail design. The only time that you might catch my fishing with a bent shaft would be if my plans included 2 or 3 days of hard paddling and portaging to reach a remote part of the Boundary Waters or Quetico Park.