Bob lives in a small coastal town in Maine that’s famous for its fishing, as well as for other reasons. It was easy for Bob to drive down the Massachusetts to test the W500, and it was easy for him to decide to order one on the spot.
Here is what Bob wrote us after a few weeks of using his new w500:
I have been out with my wavewalk 500 almost every day, ocean, lakes and rivers, having a blast and learning its operating characteristics. I’d like to recommend this kayak to those who express more than a passing interest.
I have been wanting to send you pictures, but I find it a bit challenging catching fish on the fly, out in the ocean, and taking pictures at the same time! Guess I need to just get better at this! Yesterday I caught 1/2 dozen stripers, some up to 30″, all on the fly, and , of course, all standing up in the wavewalk. Doesn’t get any better!
Will practice on my picture taking.
And here’s an email Bob wrote to the editor of his favorite fly fishing publication named the Angler’s Report, shortly after he bought his W500:
“Just read your recent report on kayaks…thought you may want to check out Wavewalk kayaks. Just purchased one yesterday after researching and trying out both the [folding outriggers "stand-up" SOT kayak] and the [tunnel hull, 'hybrid' "stand-up" canoe-kayak] fishing kayaks. Their web site is entertaining, especially all the videos. In my mind, this is truly the only standup kayak out there. You actually walk onto to it, sit down and paddle away. I was standing and jumping within 2 minutes (trying to simulate one of the videos I saw) much to the concern of Yoav, the designer and owner of Wavewalk, as he watched from the shore. Later, we even went out tandem in the kayak. No other kayak has this kind of stability. A fly fisherman’s dream. Period.
Anyway, I am not trying to “sell” you the kayak… just thought you may find it worthwhile to check it out.
Bob Smaldone”
The editor of the Angler’s Report published Bob’s letter. Thanks Bob!
Some pictures of Bob fly fishing in Florida (Thanks to Gary Rankel) -
Bob getting ready to launch his fly fishing kayak, next to Gary Rankel’s “PackerYakker” W500 kayak
Bob (L) talking to Dick Sherman (C) while looking and Dick and Gary Rankel’s W500 fishing kayaks beached in Crystal River, Florida.
Photos: Gary Rankel
What a cryptic style “a town famous for its fishing as well as for other things”… “a folding outrigger “stand-up” sot kayak”…. a “tunnel hull “hybrid canoe-kayak”…
Sounds like some mystery book, or TV quiz!
Pete
ps, at least those mysterious definitions are pretty easy to decipher
The Angler’s Report published Bob’s letter including the non-encrypted brand names of those two other yaks. I guess Wavewalk is trying to be politically correct, or something like that…
Marco
Great write up on your new W500.
Good luck, we look forward to more reports and maybe even some pictures.
Tight lines and Paddle Safe all.
Rox
All is OK here in Crystal River. I have spent many hours in my W500 and caught hundreds of fish on the Fly, not to mention close encounters with manatees, dolphins, and various sea turtles. I paddle mostly standing up, and of course fish from the same position. Sight fishing in shallow water for reds just doesn’t get any better than this!