Safety and ergonomics are closely linked in many products we use, including kayaks.
Here’s a new article discussing the issue of kayak fishing safety from a comfort perspective, that is comfort being a factor in your paddling and fishing safety:
Is An Uncomfortable Kayak Safe For Paddling And Fishing?
Needless to say that what is true for kayak fishing is true for kayak touring as well.
The first unofficial Wavewalk group fishing outing in Florida was held December 14, 2009 at Crystal River, Florida. Gary Rankel, Ed Wheeler and I participated, fishing out of the new 2009 W500 fishing kayaks. Ed and I were in our bright yellow boats and Gary was in his green “Packer Yaker” (the name of which I understood only after asking him about it–seems he is a life long Green Bay Packer fan with as much passion for the team as he has for fishing.)
We started the day at our usual breakfast place right on highway 19 in Crystal River the day with a hearty meal for the task ahead. We hit the road in heavy fog, heading over to the Ozello area for launch from the parking area of a local seafood restaurant. They have a great kayak and canoe launch directly off the lot and, as long as you park well away from the patron spaces, you are fine. Besides, nothing beats a fried grouper sandwich at the end of a day of fishing and, since you are already there, why not partake?
We launched into water that was as smooth as a sheet of glass in the fog. It was wonderful. The temperature was ideal and only a few of the flying teeth (sand gnats) were bothering us. We headed out on a falling tide using a large culvert to take us through to the other side of the bridge. That saved us at least a mile of extra paddling while heading to Gary’s favorite fishing spots that he was anxious to share. Our trip out was aided by the tidal flow, so each stroke was easy and effortless.
We began casting as soon as Gary indicated we had reached his spots. I started right off with a small sea trout and soon after, Gary landed a really nice one. I also managed to land a number of lizard fish on my lures. These fish are not considered a game fish and serve only to keep the fish I really wanted from getting to my baits.
Our rigging was standard inshore Florida style. We used both bait casting and spinning gear. Ed and Gary used superlines, while I relied on mono for my bait casters and reserved the superline for my spinning tackle. We used both fluorocarbon and mono leaders as the presentations dictated. For lures, top waters are always a good choice in the Crystal river area. Gary preferred the IMA Skimmer, a very thin pencil style top water from the Japanese bass fishing market, while Ed and I stayed with our proven Spook Jr’s and Mirrolures. The baits all managed to produce hits, but the actual hookup percentage was low that day. That’s why we call it fishing and not catching.
The entire day was memorable– both for the company and the adventure. We saw lots of new water in a different way and enjoyed the antics of both birds and dolphins. At one point, while we relaxed wading near a small island, two dolphins decided to share our fishing spot. They were in a deeper cut a few feet from us, just ripping into schools of mullet. Times like this show who the really talented anglers are– the ones that swim with the fish, to be exact. Sure they ran off our quarry, but watching them is always fun. Besides, who knows, maybe we can pick up a thing or two from the real experts in these waters?
We ended our day around 2PM and headed in back through the same culvert we used first thing in the morning. With a slightly stronger incoming tide, that short ride was fun with the W500 shooting right through the center, using the paddle only to keep from hitting the sides. A really remarkable thing that struck me about this whole day was the comfort we had fishing from these boats. None of us are young men –I am the youngest at 55, both Ed and Gary are the 70 year old range. Between us there have been back issues ranging from simple sciatic problems to major surgeries. To a man, the W500 is a boat we could use easily and comfortable. In any other fishing kayaks, our range would not have been as great and there would have been many more stops to get out for unkinking. This trip was only the start. There will be many more to come, fishing the waters off Florida’s west coast in the world’s most comfortable and fishable paddle craft.
Jeff
2009 was a spectacular year for Wavewalk kayaks -
Our sales this year grew by 64% compared to 2008, which was our best year so far. This is encouraging in view of the continuing slump in the boat and kayak markets, caused by the economic recession.
Our new W500 kayak series turned to be a resounding success, with W500 kayaks taking the lead over the old war horse, the W300.
Most pleasing is the fact that so many W500 clients have taken the time to send us great reviews and stories.
The W500 seems to be a kayak that people simply LOVE, including those who’ve already owned or used a W300 before. As some of these clients have put it: -”Wavewalk took the world’s best kayak and improved on it!”.
Some W anglers go as far as saying the W500 is better than any small fishing boat, and not just fishing kayaks.
This year we expanded our exports, with shipment to clients in Norway and Australia, and increased our sales in New Zealand and Canada. We look at this geographic expansion with particular satisfaction.
In 2009, more clients have ordered a second, and sometimes even a third W kayak from us. This shows to us that once people get used to W kayaks for either paddling or fishing, they’re not likely to change, or go back to an old-fashion sit-in or SOT kayak. In other words, it means we’re on the right track.
Our website wavewalk.com attracted over 150,000 individual visitors this year, including tens of thousands of returning visitors. This is an annual increase of over a third compared to 2008. Our blog is vibrant with stories, pictures, movies, comments and discussions, and has a growing number of fans - some of which aren’t even Wavewalk customers (yet…) In other words, although we’re still a small company, we’ve already established a significant web presence.
The more we listen to our customers the more we learn, and it helps us improve our products, as well as the service we provide. We would have not succeeded in making the W500 as good as it is without people commenting on their experience with the early models of the W300, and its latest version - the 2008. The blog we introduced in 2008 proved to be an increasingly useful means of communication between our customers and us, as well as between the customers and themselves. This blog is also fun, which is a bonus for everyone 
And last but not least - our customers: You people proved to be courageous, patient, creative, supportive, productive and loyal beyond anything we had expected, or deserve 
. You people made this year great for Wavewalk, and we are very grateful to you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!
Yoav
I got out today and thought it would be good to add to the blog. Granted we don’t have the winter weather some folks are getting slammed with but I did brave 52 degree air temps this morning.
Fishing wise the day was awesome, trout after trout, red after red, and of course those darn little blue fish tearing up lures. The trout fell to Mirrodines and DOA shrimp both classic trout lures. I managed 11 of them with all but three in the legal range, a nice bunch of fish. The redfish all hit the same topwater lure a Super Spook Jr in white & chrome with bright red eyes. The blue fish hit anytime a sinking lure got in their way near the surface.
As long as I got it under them the trout could get it. This was typical Florida winter fishing, loads of action so long as you could find the spots holding fish. As it was my final tally was 11 of those trout, 8 redfish, and at least 20 of those crazy little blues. Of course the W500 performed like a champ. By the way when I got back to Genung’s Fish Camp a number of folks were checking out the W. Hopefully some of them will be interested in buying.
Take Care, Jeff
December 2nd Season ending trip for Rainbow Reservoir.
Well the ice has come to Ct, and I am very sad.
Dec 2nd was my last trip, I was hoping to get out one more time, but I’ve been busy, and when I got to my Favorite Smallie waters, they were iced over with 1 1/2″ of ice on Monday December 9th, Tuesday was no better.
Time to switch gears, get ready for ice fishing, and chase some trout on the upper Farmington river, which never freezes here in Ct.
All Smallmouths caught on a 1/8oz jig, rigged with a 2″ paddle tail white, with a red dot added to the belly with a red magic marker. (I always carry red and black markers)
I cast out to where the waters run to and around an old dam, letting it drop to the bottom and popping it with long pauses, and waited for that little tic, and only lifting my rod tip to set the hook, if you set it to hard, it resulted in missed fish.
Water temps were 42 degrees, slight winds at 8mph, Air temps were 40 degrees. Current was moving pretty good, they had the lower dam open for the upcoming rains.
I find myself wishing for Spring already……………..
Safe Paddling All And Happy holidays!!
Rox
Here’s a kayak fishing action movie and pictures that Jeff shot during that kayak fishing trip to Crystal River, Florida:
Gary showing a trout he caught
Gary hooking a trout
Gary releasing a trout
Here’s a picture I took of Jeff McGovern and Ed Wheeler yesterday in Ozello, Florida.
Fishing was a little slow, but Jeff managed to get a few trout and a whole bunch of lizard fish.
We had a great day weatherwise, and I enjoyed getting together with a couple of other wave walkers…
Gary Rankel
Left: Ed standing near his yellow W kayak
Center: Gary’s green W kayak
Right: Jeff and his yellow W kayak
Gary Rankel from Hernando, Florida, and his friends founded a new, local kayak fishing club called the Nature Coast Kayak Fishing Club.
Congratulations Gary - We wish you and your friends success, and hope you’ll have a lot of fun!
Gary has already contributed great reviews, stories and pictures to our website and to this blog, and today he sent us some more pictures of his W500 kayak fully rigged for fishing:
Gary’s unique and ingenious way of mounting a compass between the hulls of his W kayak:
And this is already a classic: A doormat attached underneath the hull tips, enabling Gary to drag his fishing kayak on asphalt and concrete pavement for long distances. When Gary reaches the water he simply folds the mat inside one of the hull tips.
Gary’s tackle box:
In this Kayak Year-End Sale we’re offering 10% discount on all our kayak models: Touring kayaks and Fishing kayaks, W300 Series and W500 Series.
Offer ends December 18, 2009.
Jerry Kushner is a winemaker from Kentucky, who purchased a W300 fishing kayak early this year, before the W500 became available.
Here is Jerry’s review of his W kayak:
“I planned to fish some of the fast flowing rivers with my Wavewalk kayak.
After I got it I tried it in my pond, and at first it felt tippy but once I got my balance I found it easy to paddle and maneuver.
Finally, I got to use it in the Gulf of Mexico. I installed a pair of fold up outriggers that I purchased from Paddlers Hideaway (I found them on e-bay).
The first time I took the kayak out the waves in the surf were one to two feet high and even when broadsided by a wave the system was solidly stable.
I felt real secure, and for an almost eighty year old this rig is ideal for fishing offshore.
Jerry Kushner”
Here is a video clip of me motoring up the Farmington River from the Rainbow Reservoir launch on September 15 2009.
It would take me 2 1/2 hours to paddle this far, and I would be exhausted, paddling against the current.
But with the W300 and my hands free steering 30 lbs thrust minn kota trolling motor, it took me a little over 20 minutes to make the trip, that meant more time to fish!
Tight lines
Rox
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thought I’d share some fishing news:
I took my visiting 5 year old grandson on his first ‘fishing trip’. We have a small pond in this wooded area behind our house and since his parents had left us alone while out shopping, we decided to go fishing. We had a lot of trouble trying to dig up worms, but we finally found 3 tiny little guys.
Anyway, after some lessons on how the bobber on the line works, he wound up catching 5 sunfish to my one! I tried to explain that he caught more than me because I was the one constantly rebaiting the hooks and that he was holding the rods 90 percent of the time.
Later I heard him tell his Grandma that he was a good fisherman today and that Grandpa was a bad fisherman.
Some things never change I guess!
John Z
Read John’s Review of His Motorized W500 Fishing Kayak
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY! 
From Yoav and the Wavewalk Team
I took the W500 out to Rainbow res today.
Hit the water at 10:45am and was off by 3pm.
Water temps were 45.6 degrees, air temps were 49.
Slight wind at times, and misty light rains fell on me all day.
(thought the Weather Man said it was supposed to be nice today)
All bass came out of 11′ of water to 19′ of water.
I started with a crank bait that dives around 14′, making sure I had good contact with the bottom.
But after 20 cast, and not even a bump, I put that rod down.
I started throwing a grub on 8lb fluro, on a lite fast action rod, keeping contact with the bottom at all times.
I’d cast out, let the grub drop to the bottom, give it a 10 count and pop it, and let it drop again.
Repeating until i felt a strike, which at this time of year is very light strike, and set the hook, but not to hard, just enough to raise my tip high and then the fight would be on.
I repeated this all day long with great results, the Small Mouth Bass gave me some great fights on the light line.
And as always, I dressed for the weather, PFD worn at all times, layered clothes and my rain gear kept me dry and warm.
I hope to do this until the ice comes, as I do every year
Happy and Safe Paddling all
Rox
-”Here you go, a true inshore saltwater trophy 36 inches, 37 with a pinched tail, weight at 17 to 18lbs.
This redfish was caught on a topwater plug (Chug Bug) in about 2 feet of water as it cruised the edge of a mangrove island.
The rod of course an Emmrod which I suggested they call a “Topwater Special”. This was the first fish on this new model.
Later this week I’ll be trying the feat again only in the W kayak instead of on board a flats skiff. -Jeff”
This movie shows an 8 year old kid launching his old W300 fishing kayak from a steep bank - maybe too steep for an adult kayak angler carrying a lot of gear and tackle on board…
But at least it demonstrates the principle:
Tim Kerr, a W kayak paddler from Buffalo, New York, contributed this movie that shows him practicing deep water reentry with his W500, on the Niagara River, in upstate New York.
Tim is a member of the local kayaking club, and he knows that when it comes to paddling, it’s important to practice everything that’s related to capsize, recovery, reentry and safety in general.
Note how easy and smooth Tim’s getting back in the kayak is: Once he reaches the middle of the cockpit, his legs simply fall into the hulls, on both sides of the saddle, and Tim finds himself ‘back on the saddle’, literally - confidently riding his W500 kayak.
Right after Tim got his W500 kayak he contributed this kayak review ==>
Nov 2nd, spent an hour fishing and got two nice smallies In 13′ to 18′ of water with a crank bait.
November 3rd I went to Rainbow (again) :) in the W500. Got on the water at 2pm, off at 4:30pm– Windy, partly cloudy/sunny, water temps were 49 to 52 degrees.Got to my first spot after paddling against the wind, positioned my yak, went to reach for the anchor, And it’s not THERE!! I took it out to empty the container because it had water in it yesterday…………….And I forgot to put it back in!!!!!—Soooooooooooo I couldn’t hold position, where I needed to. Many shorts, which I didn’t take pictures of, and Jinxed myself. Always take a picture , or the big ones won’t come!!!!!!!!!! —I got tired real fast, so I decided to just drift back to the launch along the steep drop offs in 25′ to 14′ of water. Picked up another small smallie, and snapped a picture. 3 cast later my crank bait got SLAMMED!!!! And this is what I got:
5.4 lbs on the scale, never touched the brown with my hands or net, thank God for boga grips.
I removed the hooks as quickly as possible, wish I took the length, but didn’t want to lay the Brown on the tape.
She swam away STRONG!
Life is Good!
Rox
Went to Rainbow Reservoir in Windsor Connecticut, to fish with a friend on his boat.
Mike (known as Daddy Pickle) wanted some small mouth Bass.
I figured I cast a few from shore while waiting.
I must have cast 20 times, and on the last cast with the lure just rising out of the water by shore, a Huge Pike rushed and slashed at the dinger.
I almost $#!^ my pants, totally caught me off guard. With this approaching storm, my hopes weren’t too high.
We had slight winds to friggin pain in the >@$& winds, cloudy, water temps were a steady 50.5 degrees
everywhere.
Today, the back of the boat was a good place to be.
Pickle did start us off with the first smallie, but he said it wasn’t picture worthy, I think that smallies buddies heard him, so they wouldn’t play nice with him after that.
My arm and Hands are Killing Me!!
I couldn’t even tell you how many cast Pickle and I made today.
But if the bait wasn’t moving, you weren’t getting Nothing!
Cranking was the key, no pauses, most fish came out of 14′ to 30′,
deep down bumping bottom FUN!
I haven’t used crank baits in a long time, but Pickle has helped
rekindle my first Love…………….Cranking.
He may be sorry he did! 
Another thing, when the winds did pick up, the bite stopped,
then when there was a lull in the winds, one of us would hook up!
LIFE IS GOOD!!!!
Rox
Here’s a nice idea for an ergonomic steering system for a kayak’s motor:
Applying it to motorized W kayaks looks easy and convenient.