WAVEWALK KAYAKS

Here’s a new report from Gary Rankel:

Was out for 7 hrs yesterday in hot weather and sun.

Ran into lots of redfish yesterday, but most were pretty spooky.

I did manage to get this beautiful 10 pounder on top water just as the sun was coming up.”

Also got a few sea trout and jack crevalle.

I just missed my “West Coast Slam” as a nice snook shook my topwater lure while airborne about 20 feet from the W (sorry I couldn’t snap a picture of that).
I also ran into a visitor who was really interested in your new W 500 (I think he thought he had just found the perfect mate). He entertained me for a good 20 minutes, repeatedly coming right to the side and of the W to get a good look.


More from Gary


By Jeff McGovern

Range of motion and protection from the fish – Sounds a little weird but the W kayak offers a far better range of motion for anglers and some measure of protection when landing fish.
I’ve noticed this the most dealing with saltwater speedsters in the form of jacks and ladyfish. Both are considered trash fish but only in terms of eating them. For getting into lots of pulling and yanking they are a blast. But when brought boat side for landing they always have far better ideas than the angler. Leaping and jumping at the last moment can easily put one into your lap or worse. Since they also have a face full of hooks the results of this last moment dash for freedom can be a disaster. If you are stuck in that L position you are too low and too limited in movement options to do much about it. These are also fish that will run in any direction and in a boat you can’t turn your body very well chances are you’ll be tangled up in no time.
In the W kayak, because you are upright in the riding position you can turn much more toward the fish and it’s angle of pull. Also when you go to land the fish you are above most of the danger zone and far better protected. After netting a fish you can simply rest the handle across the cockpit rims and hold in in place. You don’t have a net to worry about getting caught up in the rod, a portion of your body, or other gear. Plus if you are dealing with a fish you might want to keep for a great fish meal if it does jump around it’s going to end up at your feet in one of the hulls safe for the table.
Even in the course of battling a fish if all goes according to plan the L position is a lousy one to fish from. Since you can’t rotate well from the waist or really brace for the battle your shoulders and arms take some real punishment. The L position acts to deny using your core muscles to fight the fish. The W offers so many fish fighting advantages but as with many things about the boat they are not truly realized until the angler actually can try it. If there is a problem with that it’s simply that nothing compares to the W. No other boats have the advantages.
Anyway I just wanted to shoot a note along this line. Sometimes you just have to feel sorry for all those other non W kayak fishermen out there.




I was on the water for a few hours today fishing for snook. Got a nice one just under keeper size when they are in season. Came in at 26 inches, once the season reopens Sept 1 they have to be between 28 and 32 inches to be kept, one per day per angler. I’ve attached a shot of the fish it’s sub tropical species that cannot tolerate cold water.

The northern edge of their range is about where Marineland, Florida is on the map. They are considered an inshore fish and fight like a demon. They have a set of razor sharp gill rakers that can cut heavy leader like kite string if it hits them. I normally use 20lb fluorocarbon leader that most of the time has to be retied after each fish.

At one time they were considered trash fish nick named “soap fish” because the meat tasted like soap. However once anglers learned to skin them they found delicious table fare to be had. The skin was the problem. These fish are one of the more sought after saltwater species because of the dramatic jumps and power the fish have once hooked.
Of course we were fishing in an area that has a reputed 14 foot gator. I’ve not seen this creature but some of the other folks have in fact the latest sighting was last week.
It’s times like that you have to really love fishing.




Here’s an update on my latest trip in my W500:
Hot humid (92 degrees) with slight winds.
I went to Rainbow Reservoir, it’s a dammed area of the Farmington river in Ct.
I headed down to some submerged trees in 26 Feet of water, pulled out the drop shot and started working it through the center of the tree, letting it drop fast to the bottom, and a little shake, pause, then I reeled up a few cranks, pause, shake.
As I moved the bait closer to the surface, I mean inches from the surface, the drop shot got slammed!!
A Tail walking Smallie, came up did 2 flips, but was put quickly in the net.

As I moved to the outside edge of the tree I dropped it down to 26′, paused, gave a little shake, wait, reel again 3 more cranks, pause, shake………………..BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy Cheese on Rice, one quick push with my paddle, and a well timed gust of wind, all my rod tip is doing is pumping down towards the water, my reels drag tighted as much as I dare, and they it all STOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR can’t reel, snagged or wrapped up on something, dropped my tip, pushed back with my paddle one handed, let the line slack just a little, then I felt movement………………………………free…………………up she comes with a Big Friggin Splash, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz my drag is screaming!!
Up again and does a flop on her side……………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…., holding my rod tip high, finally gaining ground I get her near the surface then she digs in, straight for the Bottom, I just hold on, bow my rod into the water, and start reeling her in again, she is tired.
I get her close, scoup that net and She’s Mine!! YeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
20 1/2″ Long!!!!! 4.15 on my scale. Man if this fish was fat, she would have tipped 5lbs easy.
She was pretty beat up, not sure why, I quickly shot a couple of pictures, and held her lip to revive her, a quick flip and of
her tail, a splash right in my face, she swam away strong.
Wiping my face with a towel, and a big shiteating grin, I didn’t care if I caught another fish after that.
My hands were shaking so bad, I just had to stop and sit, and Smile!
Caught too many bass to count, hit the water at 11:00am and was off at 6:30pm.

No Back pain or Leg pain, 7 1/2 hours of pure fishing and paddling Heaven in my W500.

Tight Lines All
Rox




Gary Rankel, a kayak fishing aficionado from Florida, got his first W kayak back in 2006 (see his first kayak review). Since then he had spent countless hours in it, until recently, when he got himself a new W500 fishing kayak, that he rigged to perfection.
Gary’s favorite game is redfish, and here’s an account of his latest fishing expedition:
-”Not the hottest day yesterday, but was out for 6 hrs in 90 degree heat and much sun. Got a nice red while it was too dark to take a picture, and then this smaller one. Also one shot of my two fishing buddies after we got back. We’ve had some pretty slow days this summer, but things should pick up as water cools this fall. –Gary”

By Jeff McGovern

In preparation for comparison to the new W500 I have been spending time “relearning the joys” of sit inside and sit on top kayaks.

Besides the obvious back issue already known there is the concern of shoulder pain. I have had some discomfort, but in talking to a few other fellow kayak fishermen they mentioned the pain associated with casting from the awkward L position. I noticed soreness the next day trying to power out long casts from the L position. It was far easier to just get out and wade since in the standing position the casts were braced.

I think in many cases the so called fishing kayaks are really just fishing transport devices, since actually fishing from them is a constant compromise. Many times getting out on a suitable bank or sand bar is far more comfortable. Besides, in many sit on tops the wet butt syndrome leads to other comfort problems down the road…

If we compare a standard cast from the W kayak to a cast from a sit on top we see two different things entirely: The sit on top cast is a controlled flail with the hope for distance and accuracy. It is many times followed by a winch from the angler as they deal with the pain. A cast from the W kayak is a powerful controlled launch that accurately places the lure right where it needs to be. It’s quite a difference, and one that can only be experienced – it is difficult to describe.

I’ve mentioned the Emmrod fishing rods before both in articles on the your site, and in articles for Emmrod itself. Out of the W kayak the Emmrod casting rods are deck guns in power and distance. The W riding position allows the angler to use the Emmrod to it’s fullest. From the L position that same rod on a cast will not get the same results.

I thought about this motorized W boat design a few years ago:

It shouldn’t be too hard to turn a W500 kayak into a similar ‘personal watercraft’:

Using standard aluminum tubes, the stem of the steering handle can be made to be telescopic, so it could extend and retract, thus allowing to steer while riding the saddle as well as standing up.

Also, such telescopic steering system could allow for the driver to move fore and aft on the saddle while still steering. This could be useful for dealing with different water conditions.

-Food for thought for the engineering-oriented members of the W kayak community…

I recently learned with sadness that Darrell Leidigh had passed away, at the age of 78.

Darrell started designing and manufacturing pontoon boats and canoes in 1958, in Florida, where he founded Mohawk Canoes. Darrell designed dozens of models, some of which are still in production. Mohawk became one of the most successful and well known canoe companies in the country.

Darrell also designed and produced the famous Mohawk paddles. Wavewalk has sold Darrell’s versatile double-blade canoe paddles until recently.

Darrell sold the canoe business in 2006, and the paddle business in 2007.

Darrell was my first client – He bought the first W boat from me in the spring of 2004, before I even had a format for an invoice…

This morning, while I was going through some old documents, I found the stub from the check he sent me.

After Darrell got his W-boat I called him, and asked him if he had already paddled it, and what was his impression. Darrell’s answer was:

-”I paddled it, and I felt more comfortable than in a canoe.”

I didn’t know what to make of this answer, because as a beginning designer I was inexperienced and rather confused. My ideas at that time were focused around stand-up whitewater and surf paddling, and I didn’t quite see the significance of what he had told me.

I think I see it now.

Yoav

-”Jeanne and I had a chance to take a trip down a stretch of the Wisconsin river. Fishing was slow but the scenery was beautiful. The weather was perfect and we had a great time with the W kayaks.
The day after we arrived home my new W500 arrived. I sent some pictures from our trip to the river and my new paint scheme for the 500. I figured the tiger scheme will look good if we take it to Africa…

My plan is to use the 300 for streams, rivers, and ponds. I will use the new 500 for larger bodies of water and lake Michigan and be a little more visible.

I hope to test it out soon after I add a few fishing accessories.
John”

Read John Fabina’s first W fishing kayak review

Here’s another ‘myth busting bomb’ on the Painless Kayak Fishing blog: It’s called “Kayaks, Back Problems, Lumbar Support – and the Simple Truth”

Basically, it details how sit-in and SOT kayak seats don’t offer lumbar support but rather inflict lumbar abuse on kayak paddlers and kayak fishermen alike.

Personally, the more I think of it the I’m outraged by what’s going on in the kayak market, and professionally, I’m dumbfounded by the fact that you hardly hear anybody talking about these big and painful issues that affect so many people.

It may be a ‘dirty little secret’ for those kayak professionals who are aware of it, but it’s a major problem for all those regular people who don’t.

Yoav