It’s common to find professionals in the outdoor industry at the forefront of design and performance. They often lead the use of new technologies and materials, adapting their tools to the job at hand.

Sawyer is no different. Continuous feedback from professional guides, outfitters, and athletes drives our innovation.

With a racing history that influenced design, Sawyer has always taken a thoughtful approach to boat control. From handcrafting wood oars out of raw materials like ash, cedar, and Douglas fir to building composite oars and blades with fiberglass and carbon fiber, Sawyer products are designed for one essential task: controlling a boat on the water safely and getting back home again.

Today, an oarsman might make 1,000 oar strokes per mile. After 10 years of guiding anglers myself, and rowing many sets of oars, today’s Sawyer lightweight and high-performance products are a strong fit for professionals and recreational rowers alike.

Oar Design for Anglers

When we design oars and oar blades for anglers, the end result does not always fit the traditional profile. As you read before, the Shoal Cut blade was designed with shallow-water applications in mind.

I liken it to the difference between a spoon and a knife. Buttering a slice of warm sourdough right out of the toaster? A knife with a long, thin blade gives you an even application. A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast alongside it? A spoon, of course. Yes, we’ll even talk about the beloved spork in future posts.

Guide Perspective: Brian Wheeler

Brian Wheeler, a professional fly fishing guide in Montana, has two sets of Sawyer oars for different boats and purposes. At around 80 days a season guiding and another 40 or so floating with his wife and their dogs, Brian spends most of his time on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Madison, and Smith rivers.

Here’s his take.

“In my 13’ Aire Tributary, I row the classic Smoker DyneLite in a 9’ length with the narrow blade and have abused these oars for the past seven years. I am in love with them.

The lightweight, smooth-flexing construction with the bomb-proof blade is simply perfect. I personally love both the flex and pop you get from wood. In fast-paced pocket water, you have to be able to dip in behind and around rocks to make corrective and speed-stabilizing micro-strokes.

It’s simply second nature with these oars. The pop of wood allows for maximum efficiency of your stroke in those tight spots where trout live, if your anglers can hit the spots!”

“In my Clackacraft Eddy, I upped the size of my oars to using 9’3” SquareTop Dyno X, also with the narrow blade. The Eddy is a wide boat. Adding 3” to each oar, though adding some weight, was definitely a benefit.

My hands stay closer and my rowing stroke stays in the power zone, instead of reaching farther apart and putting stress on my already stressed-out shoulders. Though 9.5-footers would be great as well, for me, the 9’3” is the perfect balance of extra length, swing weight, and functionality.

The Dyno X wrap stiffens up the wood oar to a noticeable degree, though it still beats the complete lack of feel in fully composite oars. The stiffer flex helps me get moving when the water gets pushy.”

Brian is clearly a toast-is-best-buttered kind of guide.

Coming Up Next

Until next time, we’ll hear from a member of our specialty shop team on why they choose Sawyer for their customers. Eddy out!