What exactly is SUP?
Each time I board a watercraft, I am astounded by how far the technology has come in terms of design, materials, and general mobility. However, the focus of this assessment will concentrate on a somewhat innovative time for circumnavigating the big creeks and rivers in your home waters. I will be discussing stand-up paddleboards, also known as SUPs.
These vessels are utilized for both saltwater and freshwater fishing, and their design characteristics provide considerable benefits over kayaks, pontoon boats, and the original aluminum Jon boats and float tubes that were a familiar sight during my boyhood on the Susquehanna.
In this article, I will attempt to explain the unique design advantages of stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) over other watercraft so that you can remain educated and purchase confidently.
Let’s get started!
Best Stand-Up Paddle Boards for Fishing (Overall)
We discovered the best three stand-up paddle boards for fishing. These goods’ design, quality, and accessories make them ideal for anybody who wants to cast a line while in water.
1. BOTE Deus Aero Inflatable Kayak/Stand Up Paddle Board
Specifications:
- Convertible Kayak/SUP Design
- Portable and Inflatable
- Exceptional Strength and Stability
- Rich in Options and Highly Configurable
- Cost-free two-year manufacturer’s warranty
The BOTE Deus Aero Inflatable Kayak/SUP is definitely the best of both worlds and would have been an excellent complement to a prior kayak review I published for Anchor Fly. This boat’s convertible design is intelligent, inventive, and efficient.
This watercraft may be converted from a kayak to a paddle boat by simply removing the top chamber and seat (or leaving them at home altogether!). The Deus has BOTE’s revolutionary AeroBOTE technology, which allows it to transform from its travel bag into a 12’6″ kayak in minutes.
With the accompanying foot pump, BOTE has made the procedure of inflating a boat of this size manageable and as straightforward as possible.
This item has dimensions of 39 18.5 11.5 inches and weighs around 50 pounds. The top section of the 12’6″ boat can be removed in a board of seconds to turn it into a stand-up paddle, and it is quite sturdy. The boat is composed of “military-grade PVC” and floats in remarkably little water (5 inches in some circumstances).
Soft-hull vessels are renowned for their durability, and the Deus is no exception. This unique hybrid SUP has BOTE’s four-chamber flotation technology for unrivaled stability when standing on it and an adjustable foot bar for when you need to put more force into the paddle (more than enough stability to fly fish).
Cup-holders and multiple D-Rings for securing a cooler or whatever else you need to bring along are among the numerous additional features of this backpack.
The cockpit’s ability to direct water through the stern was the most intriguing feature. If you’re searching for a stand-up paddle board plus more, this amazing and durable device with a free two-year manufacturer’s guarantee is well worth your attention.
2. Sea Eagle Fishing Stand Up Paddle Board
Specifications:
- Exterior Dimensions: 12’6″ x 40″ x 6″ / Deflated Dimensions: 45″ x 15″ x 10″ / Board Thickness: 6″
- Comfortable Swivel Seat
- 45 lbs, 48 lbs With Motor Mount
- Weight Capacity for Two Individuals
- Drop Stitch/Seam 1000 Denier for Superior Durability
- Paddles Are Provided
I have previously evaluated Sea Eagle items for Anchor Fly, with good cause. Season after season, this firm produces a sturdy, high-quality product that you can depend on. The Sea Eagle FishSUP 126 is a 12’6″ fishing-specific inflatable stand-up paddleboard.
The swivel seat makes casting and paddling while seated easier, yet this watercraft is strong. At its widest point, it measures 40 inches, allowing you to cast streamers or achieve a drag-free drift that would have been difficult to do while seated.
The material used to manufacture the 126 is durable. The seams are quadruple-overlapped to withstand constant use and the odd contact with submerged objects that might sink a less robust watercraft.
Obviously, if you’re engaging in this activity, you need a paddle board that doesn’t need to be replaced each season. This SUP is the 126. Transportable and manoeuvrable even when controlled by oneself (and paddles are supplied). With this stand-up paddle board, Sea Eagle lives up to its reputation.
3. Elkton Outdoors Fishing Paddle Board
Specifications:
- 12 foot long 36 inches wide SUP
- 29 lbs Deflated and Packing Small
- Maximum Weight Capacity of 290 lbs
- 2 Rod Holders
- Compatible with Scotty Fishing Accessories
- Large Cargo Deck and Bungee-Equipped Cargo Hold
- Paddles Are Provided
- Manufacturer’s warranty for one year
Elkton Outdoors’ entry to the SUP category, the Grebe, is a lighter, more technical watercraft that costs nearly half as much as the previously evaluated variants. This 12’ long 36” wide SUP packs down to a lighter and more manageable 29 lbs with a backpack. This smaller weight makes it simpler to trek it into more difficult-to-reach locations, and I could see myself utilizing this on some of my local tailwaters.
This was created as a paddle board for fishing, and the addition of rod holders will make fly fishing easier while navigating shallow water. Two included attachments make the Grebe compatible with additional Scotty accessories, such as a fish finder or a GoPro camera system.
The Grebe’s broad deck provides enough stability for fly fish, and despite its little size, it can support a reasonable amount of weight. This device has received positive reviews, and the more affordable pricing is one of its primary selling points. You don’t sacrifice much in terms of quality, but you do sacrifice carrying capacity.
There are included paddles and a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee in the event of an accident. If you have expertise with other forms of watercraft and want something more than a standard kayak or raft can offer, consider the Grebe.
Best Value Paddleboard for Fishing
Paddle Boards are a costly investment if you consider our previous suggestions. We wanted to offer a more affordable choice for a superb fishing paddle board. This next product will provide everything a fisherman needs for a productive day on the water without breaking the bank.
4. Goture Stand-Up Paddle Board
Specifications:
- 11-foot SUP, 36-inch-by-6-inch Paddle Board
- Carrying Capacity of 350 lbs!
- Rod Holders, Carrying Handles, Side Fins for Better Tracking
- Exclusive camera mount compatible with GoPro
- 14 D-Ring Attachments
- Seat and Leg Leash Padding
Clicking the aforementioned link reveals that Goture is a manufacturer of several fishing-related items. In order to access the reviews, you will be bombarded with 3M Thinsulate gloves, ice jigs, and other products. In conclusion, this SUP is a commendable attempt by Goture.
This stand-up paddleboard has a broad paddle board, providing greater stability while getting on and off the padded seat or sitting back down. This paddle board is rock-solid while standing (and fly fishing). This bigger paddle board has a substantial carrying capacity (350 pounds!).
If I had to summarize this SUP, I would roughly refer to it as a more affordable variant of the Sea Eagle reviewed before. The Goture SUP has received positive reviews, despite the fact that certain manufacturing problems were discovered upon closer investigation after shipment.
This device comes with a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee, and customer service is satisfactory.
This stand-up paddleboard, like the Sea Eagle, is designed with social media in mind and has Goture’s brand-specific camera mount for convenience so you can fish with your GoPro (or the camera you like). This is a practical and reasonably priced alternative to the other SUPs I’ve examined thus far.
What Should You Look for in a Stand-Up Paddleboard?
Consider the terrain before selecting a paddle board. These paddle boards are effective when the water level is low, and all of the SUP models I’ve tested feature front and rear handles for dragging the board back to the water where it can float if it’s scraping the bottom.
However, these watercraft are good at remaining afloat in little quantities of water (as long as they’re not overloaded). When searching for a paddleboard, you should also consider its weight. If you know you go light and don’t want a cooler and a cargo pad, you probably don’t need a SUP with a very high carrying capacity.
Rod holders make paddling a stand-up paddleboard much easier if you need to swap from the fly rod to the paddle quickly, and they keep your rods from slipping off the board and into the water.
Two of the SUPs I evaluated feature built-in and proprietary camera attachments. If you’re a YouTuber or TikToker looking to take your video production to the next level, a SUP may be the right watercraft for you.
Sturdy and relatively simple to shoot from without camera mounts, installing camera mounts on several of these goods simply facilitates the creation of films.
Regarding the SUP’s construction, the heaviest and most durable materials are desired. These items are intended to be sturdy and long-lasting; therefore, using the highest quality building materials can only assure this. Heavy denier and reinforced seams will keep water out and air in, which is always a bonus when selecting a stand-up paddleboard.
Additionally, consider the weight of your goods. If you know you can inflate your SUP and slide it directly off the tailgate of your vehicle and into the water, weight is not a huge worry, but dragging a deflated SUP back after an exploratory float will become a concern.
Find one that readily inflates and deflates, preferably with a backpack-style dry bag and a deflated weight you can carry as comfortably as possible on your shoulders.
How to Fish Using a Stand-Up Paddle Board?
SUPs provide a novel approach to fly fish on many types of water. Some of the more expensive models I’ve seen include photographs of enormous redfish caught at the bow, suggesting they can perform well in both flats and bigger freshwater streams.
I believe they will also function well on the Susquehanna. They are quite robust and let you shift your weight from foot to foot, making shooting and presenting much simpler than if you were confined to a kayak.
How I would fish from a stand-up paddleboard would depend on the water, but I can see how pursuing smallmouth would be vastly simplified. I favor long casts with large streamers or mid-range poppers on the river, but I highly recommend a stripping basket to protect your fly line from the boat and vice versa.
A stripping basket, or even a small laundry hamper that you can place on your SUP to handle your line while stripping larger flies, can save you a ton of trouble.
If you intend to paddle your SUP down larger tailwaters and streams, such as those prominent in my home state of Pennsylvania, you will likely require a more technical and subdued presentation.
It is helpful to stand and sit on a seat (whether it swivels or not) when on a “soft” float that does not need much paddling or thrashing. Most of the stand-up paddleboards I’ve evaluated can easily handle choppy water.
Keeping below the maximum weight capacity is crucial for safety reasons, so weigh your loadout goods on a bathroom scale.
Inflatable SUP vs. Non-Inflatable (Hard Shell) SUP
As with kayaks, inflatable SUPs are swiftly gaining favor over their rigid counterparts, and for a good reason. When made from quality materials, the elasticity of inflatable boats allows them to withstand submerged obstructions and jagged pebbles better than rigid SUPs.
Inflating and deflating a stand-up paddleboard might be difficult and physically demanding, but this is the price you must pay for their mobility. The rigid SUPs require a roof rack or an empty truck bed, but the inflatables may be transported in the trunk.
Once again, inflatables have the benefit over hardshell alternatives. For me, the decision is straightforward: inflatable SUPs. As construction materials and designs continue to improve, I expect that, outside of extremely particular uses, inflatable SUPs will soon completely replace hard plastic SUPs.
Conclusion/Tightening Up
In the past decade, stand-up paddle boards have advanced more than much other fishing-oriented watercraft.
These items are equally useful and user-friendly as the most modern kayak because of their innovative polymers, many inflatable chambers, and extraordinary stability.
They allow us to fish in areas of our own waters that we cannot access from the bank or with chest waders, which is a key selling point. Another key draw of these items is the ability to fish in previously inaccessible, comfortable, and, most importantly, productive regions.