Wavewalk Kayaks

There’s a new article available on the exciting, complex, confusing, and often daunting subject of rigging your fishing kayak.

The article is called Rigging Your Fishing Kayak: Some Basic Practical Advice

The main message it conveys is that there’s no need to hurry and start outfitting your W kayak for fishing as soon as you take it out of the box in which it came, and it’s advisable to use it at least several times as is before you decide if and what type of rigging you’d like to add to it.

The article discusses typical rigging questions like rod holders, paddle holders, rudder, seat, outriggers, motor, anchor, milk crate etc.

We recommend that prospecting clients as well as new owners of W fishing kayaks read it.

I Went fishing at Congamond Lake, on the Connecticut - Massachusetts border.
Oct 12th, I was pre-fishing, for my up coming Open Bass tourney Sat 17th.
My partner was sick, can you believe that!!! He called out sick for work and Fishing!!
So I went out in my W500.

Got on the water I think it was 10:30 or close to 11am.
Water temps were 56 to 60 degrees.
Water was cloudy, (turn over time has come) with tons of bait fish every where.
Cloudy/partly sunny, with a chill in the air.
Fished 2 feet to 26 feet.

Fished slow and on the bottom.
Weightless Texas rigged plastic worms were the ticket.

Casting it up into the pads, and let it sink slowly, waiting for the line to move, or to feel that tap.
Gave it a twitch after a count to 10, and Bam fish on.
After a short battle I got her in the net.

All of a sudden I hear “Way to Go Rox”
Two fellows I know from my Fishing site had been watching me fish, and I didn’t even know they were coming up behind me in their boat.

They were kind enough to snap a picture for me.
I wish I had gotten the weight, but in all the excitement I forgot, DOH!!!!!!!!!

She was well over 3lbs, maybe even close to 3.5lbs, and her Belly was Full!!!
Great way to start my trip.

Caught a number of 12″, 2-14″ then a solid 2.10lb and a 2.14lb large mouth bass.
Which I weighed, and was even more sure that first Bass had to be way over 3lbs.
Landed tooooooooo many snakes (pickerel) today, had to keep re-tying due to line nicks.

Wind had picked up a little more then the weatherman had said, so in 19′ of water I had to drop anchor to fish some wood down deep.

Hooked a real Nice Bass that wrapped itself up around a branch, near the surface.
Soooooooooooooo I started to paddle to retrieve the Bass keeping my line tight when my yak stopped………………I forgot to pull up my anchor………….resulting in a lost Bass……….. Oh Well!

I did get a limit, so I was happy with that, was off the water at 5pm.
Did not snap any pictures of the smaller Bass, only picture worthy Bass today over 2lbs were taken.
I should have taken a picture of my last snake, it was big long and fat.

Tight Lines and Safe Paddling All.
Rox

Hi All,

Here’s a recap of Septembers W500 adventures.

I can’t believe September is come and almost gone.

Fall is approaching way to fast this year, maybe it’s because June and July, we were faced with rain, heavy rains.
I feel a little cheated this season, August was good to me, September was Outstanding.
Some of my best Small Mouth Bass fishing ever.
The Large Mouths were Pretty Great too. 
And a Bonus Pike.

I fished Rainbow Reservoir, and Weathersfield Cove, which is a Cove Off the Ct River.
Sad part is, Rainbow Reservoir has been Drained for Dam Repair, Last pictures I got were very bleak.

On September 11th:

While fishing in the Rain, prior to the draining of the lake.
I was thinking what 9/11 has done to our country, waiting for that next ball to drop!
But we got threw the day, no mishaps, and even a few bass came to hand.
I was only out for 3 hours.

On September 12th:

Today water levels low, no movement of water, wind was blowing one way,
I’d anchor up, but Mother Nature changed her mind, and would swing me in the other direction.
Thats okay, I can take what ever she had to dish out.

Sooooooo, She opened up the skies for me!!!
But today I was ready, and good thing, because I couldn’t hide under any trees, unless you beached and walked in ten feet to the trees.
My handy dandy tarp worked out great, kept me high and dry!!

Outside view of my weatherproof yak

Inside view of my weatherproof yak

A tree I found with the sonar in 20′ of water, was Lit up with a big School of smallies, but I could not hold position to fish them, the wind was whipping, and my Anchor wouldn’t hold me!!!
Time to upgrade the anchor!!!
So I paddled out to a fellow with his 2 sons, and told them to hit the tree that was sticking out, I told him to tie on some grubs and hang on.
Within 5 minutes, the boys where Screaming like Girls!!!!!!

I met them at the launch when I was leaving and loading my yak.
He came in Thanking me for making his sons day.
His boys and himself caught 18 smallies off that tree, and his youngest boy got the biggest Smallies. (his older brother was pissed)
His first and best ever was a solid 3lb smallie, then he landed a 5lb Smallie, his Dad was so Proud.
He shook my hand and thanked me saying, “I’ve never had anyone give me help on what to fish, let alone a spot like that to fish from, Ever”

It made my day to see how happy those boys were.

I got there at 10am and left at 6pm.

Life Is good!

Then the rest of my September, was outstanding, Last day I fished was the 21st.

My hard work had paid off, and the Bite was on with each trip.
The last trips I made were with the yak cart, they had closed the Parking lot at Rainbow, do to the draining, so it was an easy
walk down to the waters edge, but the walk back was All Up Hill!!!!
(in my best Roseanne Roseannadanna voice) “I Thought I was Gonna Die!!”

I’ve never landed so many Quality Small Mouth Bass, some over 3 pounds, and the Biggest went 4.3lbs, caught on my last trip, September 21st of the season.
She turned my W500 in a complete circle while I battled her, once she was in the net and I lifted her from the waters, I knew she was a big girl.
I include the release photos of this 4.3 pound Smallie.

All of this Brought to you by……………..The W500 and W300, best fishing Kayaks in the World.

I also included a Video of Rainbow Reservoirs Draining, I am heartbroken.

Hopefully they will have the repair done before the Ice comes.

Tight lines all, and Paddle Safe.
Rox

Sharon and Jim Bramm, from Wisconsin, got a W500 early this year. Since they couldn’t decide who’s going to paddle it, they ordered a W500, in yellow. Here is Sharon’s review of her yellow W500 kayak:

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my yellow W500 kayak, and really see a difference between the new and old model (that Jim has). It’s MUCH easier to balance and to turn…you can actually see the hulls flex in the water when you get in heavy waves. I’m turning it just like a regular kayak now and sitting in all different positions…as my legs get stiff in one position, I just straighten them out or sit sideway on it.

Greater cockpit area and leg-width room is really nice. Since I’m disabled it’s really a joy to just step in from the shore with my walking stick on the side of the hull to balance me and then I just sit down and slide to the back to get it to float and we’re on our way! It’s also easier to handle in the wind. I’m still working on those pictures! My husband works as a Forest Ranger on the weekends so it’s hard to get him free to take pics when I do my fishing/kayaking on the weekends! But I promise I’ll get them to you.

Darby (my Service Dog) just got a new vest that is bright yellow (to match my kayak?). I use a fold-up soft canoe seat in it so I have some back support if I want it and when Darby comes along I just unfold that seat and lay it flat on the seat in front of me and that give him something to dig his claws into and is also softer for him to lay on. He really pouts if it’s too hot and I can’t take him kayaking!!! I use a drop/stop anchor rigging in the back with a 5# downrigger weight as an anchor. The round shape catches less weeds when you pull it up. I let Jim try mine and he really noticed the difference too. When are you going to come up with a cockpit cover for it? I’m too busy kayaking to sit down at my sewing machine and make one!

Sharon
Midnight Star Farm, Wisconsin

NEW: Sharon and Darby Paddling The Eagle River

We’re moving to a new location, south of Boston, in the end of August.

Until August 20th, 2009, all W kayaks and W fishing kayaks we have in stock will be on sale, and you’ll be able to get a 10% discount on them.

After that date all kayak prices will go back to normal.

Unfortunately, we can’t offer any discounts on shipping, paddles, anchors, rod holders and stake-out poles.

Yoav

Back in 2006, Gary Rankel was one of the first to write a review of his rigged W fishing kayak.

Now Gary upgraded to a 2009 W500 GF4 model:

Gary plans to keep his 2006 W kayak for guests.

-”Had a few hours without rain this a.m. so snapped a few more pictures which pretty much cover my rigging and techniques, and show how simple and economical it can be to rig the W500:”

“Noodles along the W rim serve (1) as extra flotation, (2) as head, arm and foot rests, (3) as a fish ruler, and (4) as soundproof cushions for my radio, as well as for rods and paddle which are repeatedly picked up and laid down.  Regular noodles don’t fit the W500 rim very well so I use the “monster” model (4-inch diameter with a 1 1/4 - inch hole, and a smooth, not rippled, outer surface).”

“A steel reinforced outdoor mat with bungee cords serves as a cheap and easy way to minimize scratching the hulls when moving the W from Point A to Point B.”

“Large collapsible fish cooler bag packed with flexible ice packets tucks neatly into the hull.”

“Anchor set-up with rope attached to a large clip which, in turn, clips onto the anchor or heavy duty plastic grabber (for clamping onto mangroves, oyster bars, etc.).  It can also clip onto the rope that comes with the “anchor pin” or “stick-it pin” (not shown, but a 6-foot rod pushed into a soft bottom to hold the W in place).”

And this is a nice redfish that Gary caught in August:

Read more about Gary’s kayak fishing trip

We offer this hook-type, galvanized, fishing kayak anchor with a 35 ft long, braided, yellow polypropylene line.

Weight: 2.2 lbs (1 kg)

Price: $20

Wavewalk is offering a line of gear and accessories for rigging your fishing kayak.

The line includes paddles, paddle holders, anchors, stake out pole, deck rigging, flotation modules, deck mount rod holders, flush mount rod holders, kayak carry handles, and our Wavewalk hat.

We offer these products as a service to customers who bought a W-kayak from us, and are looking to either extend their basic order, or get spare parts after the initial purchase.