I am not affiliated with Glide Paddleboards. This is my personal opinion after purchasing the product on my own.
I’ve always been a fan of kayaking on the water. But, if you’ve ever been kayaking, you’ll know about “yak back,” which is general back pain from the sitting/paddling combination. I always found it to affect me regardless of my experience. The only real remedy on the water was standing up. So, that got me interested in paddleboarding.
I went ahead and recently purchased an inflatable stand-up paddleboard from Glide Paddle Boards. Given the spring weather, it made sense to pull the trigger. I got the Glide Angler 3.0. My research began when I saw an inflatable stand-up paddleboard at Costco. I read it was more of a toy than an actual inflatable stand-up paddleboard for exploring.
For those interested in Glide paddleboards and the Glide Angler 3.0, I’ll go into more detail below. But I wanted to focus on my awesome experience on Lake Davidson in Davidson, North Carolina. If you don’t know much about this small town, read more here!
About Lake Davidson
Situated next to I-77, Lake Davidson is a landlocked section of Lake Norman by the small town of Davidson, North Carolina. When Lake Norman was flooded back in the 1960s, Lake Davidson was formed. It was just another section of the lake. But, with the advent of Interstate 77 being built directly over Lake Norman, it landlocked that section. Forming Lake Davidson as an independent body of water.
Water still feeds under the interstate, but there’s no bridge or other way across. Cut off from the lake, it allows the waterway to be more peaceful compared to the heavy boat traffic that Lake Norman generally sees. Boats still operate here, but at limited capacity.
Lake Davidson also features a unique island that makes it the perfect place to explore. I love how it creates the perfect playground for human-powered watercraft to exist. I enjoy paddling around the island and observing the wildlife.
My Adventure in my Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard
Upon receiving my new paddleboard, I knew that Lake Davidson was the first place to take it. The only official public access for the lake is Lake Davidson Nature Preserve. It’s a bit of a walk down to the water, but the town of Davidson offers storage there as part of their store lottery system. Regardless, while carrying the paddleboard was a hike, it was well worth it.
First, About my Glide Angler 3.0
As promised, I’ll cover a bit about my inflatable stand-up paddleboard. I purchased the Glide Angler 3.0. This paddleboard was built for fishing, a favorite hobby of mine! But I was attracted to its size rather than its capability. It’s quite large compared to other inflatable stand-up paddleboards. With a 500-lb. weight limit, I was sure this would be the most stable option for me.
Beyond its size, the paddleboard features a firm inflatable chair and two rod holders. It comes with the essentials like a hand pump, paddle, repair kit, and even a nice rolling carry bag. I found everything to be high-quality and convenient given the price point (roughly $600 with their sale). The downside is that the hand pump takes about 15 minutes to get it inflated. It is a workout!
Paddling Lake Davidson
Upon inflating my paddleboard and arriving at Lake Davidson, I was excited and nervous at the same time. It was a cool spring day, so the water was chilly to say the least. But I wanted to get out. Hitting the water, I took advantage of the seat and paddled similar to a kayak. This inflatable chair was worth its while as I adjusted to standing.
While standing on the inflatable stand-up paddleboard wasn’t difficult, it took some adapting. I was accustomed to my Jon boat, so I could feel and react to the movements, but there was still little real estate to move around. Using my knees and squatting at first helped me build confidence in the stability.
I did end up crossing Lake Davidson around the island. The weather kept most people off of the water, so I had the place to myself! When finally standing, it was a surreal experience to move across the water while standing. It’s just something I’m not used to, but it’s such an enjoyable experience.
One thing Lake Davidson has is tons of tree stumps. You must be diligent in any inflatable paddleboarding or kayaking. Standing up certainly helps me locate them. So, I avoid them for the most part. I’d keep an extra eye out around the shorelines where it drops off. The tree stumps sneak up quickly.
Enjoying Spring Wildlife
My favorite part of spring in North Carolina is how it all comes to life around here! The fish begin their spawn, the birds are out in droves, and the plants start blossoming! I observed numerous species on my inflatable stand-up paddleboard.
When my Glide paddleboard made it around the coves, I was able to observe a very large largemouth bass prepping its spawn bed! Bluegill were also out in force for their spawn. Canadian geese were holding their position on the Lake Davidson Island.
Cormorants were positioned on the lake, doing some fishing of their own. Above me, all the songbirds were doing their thing. In Lake Davidson Nature Preserve, a falcon (or hawk) as well as a huge black rat snake were holding their own.
Even people’s gardens along the lake were beginning to spring their buds! It’s a magical experience that I love to watch every time!
Conclusion
I’m excited for many more adventures in my Glide Angler 3.0. It is an overall wonderful inflatable stand-up paddleboard from my maiden voyage impressions. I plan to give fishing a go and report back. My biggest fear is landing the fish in the boat! If you ever get the chance to check out Lake Davidson, make the most of it! There are numerous little spots and things to check out around the water. Now go enjoy the day!
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