-”It’s all hype so far. In comparing the Kayak Angler guide to a much wider distributed magazine or rather catalog the information is about the same. I’ve got both [brand of fishing gear stores] and [brand of fishing catalog] catalogs at the house and the hype you see for various products and the crazy claims are much the same. For example reels that won’t backlash and can make you a better fisherman. Total and complete nonsense, I know people that have purchased baitcast reels because of the claims and after a few days use never ever go back to that style. They did not live up to the claims.
Sometimes people can be saved. My friend for example had loads of trouble with a bait caster. I looked at his reel an older hand me down from a relative and found it sound but in need of tuning. That issue combined with a very one broken down rod was his problem. I tore down and serviced the reel. Then at a visit to [fishing gear store] had him buy something that complemented that older reel. Now he loves the setup because it works and it fits him properly. If he had only seen the catalogs and bought the hype nothing would have worked.
Lures might be the worst of all with claims of filling the boat if a certain brand or type of lure is thrown. It’s made more complicated by the late night infomercials for things like the Banjo Minnow.
I know the whole thing is upsetting, but remember Wavewalk really does have a totally different boat. It is like nothing before it, and it will become a boat for the masses. Other fishing kayaks answer no current issues with the back or comfort since you still sit low.
The answer most folks seem to have to the comfort problem is to add a really nice seat, that I verified by checking with guys with our kayak group here. They keep upgrading their seats. First an additional pad then more padding and finally dropping big dollars (like 200+) for a fancy aftermarket seat. Of course it solves nothing long term. Fact is boats should have had comfort taken into account up front but I guess that takes away their price advantage. Of course in your case the Wavewalk seat is already there and requires nothing else to work. Also your day is not ruined when you show up to fish and find you’ve forgotten your seat.
The accessory market is also very interesting. For the added cost of the “factory” rod holders you really can’t use them in a sit on top. If you do you subject your reels to loads of saltwater wash over but then again I guess that is good for the reel companies. Treated in that fashion unmaintained reels would make it maybe one season.
Talking about reels one of the local radio fishing shows here nearly gave me a heart attack a couple of weeks back. They were on air talking about proper equipment care after use in saltwater. What they recommended would only benefit a reel repair business or the tackle firms themselves. Those fellows recommendations were just so wrong. I tried to call at the time of the broadcast to be on air. But while I was waiting and driving at the same time my cell lost it’s signal. By the time I got one again they were on to other subjects and the screener said the lines were too full. I did try again last weekend when they were on but my subject was not on the table so I didn’t make the show.
Oh well, sometimes the pioneers like Wavewalk take the sling and arrows. I like helping shoot back. The W kayak is the best of it’s kind in paddlecraft.
– Jeff”
