I have been using bent shafts for the last several years. For those of you who have done this route, we are going up and back to Lac La Croix what do you think straight or bent?

Reservation for Moose River North this June. Have been in four previous times at that EP and usually base on Agnes and day trip to LLC. I'm always in the stern and always using my Bending Branches Cruiser Plus with an 11 degree bend.

Some here will say that bent doesn't belong in the stern, bent doesn't belong in rivers, but I love using it and I'm not looking back. Oh, and they'll say it's 2-4 inches too long for me, too. If you've liked using a bent shaft paddle on other routes, there's nothing about this one that would change that.

Use whatever you like best. I used bent coming out of there last year.

Bent user here 95% of the time and during our time up and back through EP16, I had no complaints. Almost all of the shallow/winding part of the river near the EP is soft bottom so, as far as damage goes, I wouldn't be any more or less concerned than any other trip. There are some tight turns, but it's a very lazy river for the most part so it's not a big deal on perfect steering or placement.

Take the bent if that's what you like normally!

Takining the same route in June.
We always bring a spare paddle.
Everyone paddles with Bent shafts, but The spare is always a straight shaft as it tucks in the canoe well.
Maybe I'll use the spare for the River portion of the trip.

halvorsonchristopher: "Takining the same route in June.
We always bring a spare paddle.
Everyone paddles with Bent shafts, but The spare is always a straight shaft as it tucks in the canoe well.
Maybe I'll use the spare for the River portion of the trip."

We do the same, straight spare is tied into the boat but I never get it out.

halvorsonchristopher: "Takining the same route in June.
We always bring a spare paddle.
Everyone paddles with Bent shafts, but The spare is always a straight shaft as it tucks in the canoe well.
Maybe I'll use the spare for the River portion of the trip."

True that. Forgot to mention. We always have a slightly older wooden straight paddle along as a spare. Thing is, its only function on most trips is as our walleye filleting board. :-)