Wavewalk Kayaks

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.

Jeff McGovern has introduced many innovations in fishing from the W kayak. His latest rigging improvement is a device that helps you position your fishing rod inside your kayak’s cockpit.  Says Jeff:

-”I took one of those paddle clips and attached it to a section of pool noddle.  I plan on using it in place of the rod positioning one I have now that is just a crude grove cut into a section of the same stuff.  You might notice the screws holding the piece in place in the foam.  Those are actually not into the foam itself.  I used plastic screw in dry wall anchors with the tips cut off first, they work pretty well when working with foam.  They won’t handle a heavy load but for this purpose to position the rod tip it should be fine.”

Jeff reflects on casting from various fishing kayaks:

-”Yesterday got me to thinking again about just how good the casting position is from a W kayak.  In the riding position the power that can be put into a cast is nothing short of incredible. Gear balance is important but with the W kayak it is possible I believe to impart more power to a cast than from virtually any other water craft.  This includes standing on the deck or a bass or flats boat.  The W is the base of the a launcher in the form of a human body. The other thing is under windy conditions the angle of the cast from a W kayak with the increased power allows better distance if you must cast into the wind.  This whole thing is a subject for much more study.

–Jeff”

This weekend Jeff McGovern wrote from Florida:

-”Aside from the fishing today the W was a great relief. A four hour flight from LA to Atlanta yesterday, then a short hop to Jacksonville was uncomfortable to say the least - That sciatic nerve issue has been pain.
However a few hours in the W today was almost a cure. It must be the upright position combined with the paddling that does it.
According to everything I’ve been reading from trainers and alike exercise is the key. I Don’t know why but I feel so much better after time in the W boat - the W is really something.

Got a few hours on the water today and it was beautiful. The weather was just a bit chilly starting out but warmed to T shirt temps around 9:30AM.
The W performed like a champ. Fishing wise it was a busy time. Nothing huge but loads of blue fish and smaller trout. Ended up for every trout I would get four or five blue fish.
This was one of those days being able to quickly stand helped quite a bit.
At one point I kept hearing splashing and thrashing in the water on the other side of an oyster bar.
I was able to peek over by standing and saw a pod of three dolphin tearing into schools of bait fish.
Seeing their path I was able to avoid them and still be able to catch a few more fish before heading home.
I’ve attached a few pictures.
The strange looking little rod in the shot with a blue fish on the seat is an Emmrod.
The little thing handles very well from a W thanks to the upright casting position the boat allows. For close in casting at short ranges the rod is lots of fun, especially with fish that pull as hard as those little blues.
I’ll have to review the rod itself for use in the W since it’s a nice combination.

–Jeff”

Today I watched a video showing a young, athletic looking, rather short guy demonstrating fly-fishing standing in a wide, canoe-style kayak.
Although the water was perfectly still he performed casting and other fishing maneuvers while standing rather awkwardly: His feet were too far apart to offer an optimal basis, and his movements seemed too slow, not energetic and not at all spontaneous. The way he paddled was awkward too - he looked as if he was making an effort to keep his balance and repeatedly about to lose it.
He was obviously not feeling fully confident fishing standing in that boat, and I kept thinking that he had to be extra careful because had he lost his balance he would have had to swim, and possibly even deal with an overturned boat and some fishing tackle lost.
There was no way for him to land back in his seat in case something happened that would make him lose his balance. The seat was too low and the boat too unstable to offer a solution to any “What If” scenario, and everybody knows (or should know) that stuff happens when you’re out there fishing, and you should be prepared to deal with the unexpected or else risk some unpleasant consequences.
In this sense the kayak featuring on that video was less stable, less comfortable and less safe than a wide fishing canoe that offers a higher seat as something to fall back on, literally.
However, this lackluster demo movie shows that stand up kayak fishing is no longer viewed as impossibility or as an unnecessary requirement, but it’s becoming a problem that kayak fishermen expect manufacturers to solve, which is good news for Wavewalk since we already solved it completely:

While the advantages of fishing standing are pretty obvious to most fishermen many who haven’t tried the W Riding (mounted) position may wonder what’s so special about it, and why it is considered so advantageous when compared to the traditional L kayaking position or to fishing seated in a canoe.

The answer is that it has to do with how much support you have for your casting and reeling-in efforts, as well as when you’re fighting a strong fish:
The result of every physical effort you make, whether it’s jumping, running, pulling or throwing something depends on the kind of support your body gets from the ground you stand on. Soft, slippery or shaky ground doesn’t offer you good enough resistance.
Similarly, fishing from a big boat enables better physical performance than fishing from a small, unstable one: You can cast to longer distances and fight bigger fish more easily.
Riding the saddle of a W kayak doesn’t offer you as much stability, support and confidence as the deck of a big bass boat, but it certainly gives your legs more support than a sit-in or SOT kayak does, and through your legs you get more support and power for your arms and upper body.
Imagine riding a pony, which is similar to riding a W kayak saddle: The horse rider can gallop and jump hurdles, throw a spear or shoot arrows like ancient warriors used to do, or a lasso like modern days cowboys still do, and so on. -Now try to imagine all this being done when the rider sits on the horse’s saddle in the traditional L kayaking position… It’s practically impossible because the rider lacks stability and sufficient support from his legs.
Like any analogy this one is not perfect but it’s close to the truth: The combination of having two hulls on the W kayak’s sides and riding the saddle that you mount in a posture that’s advantageous from a biomechanical standpoint changes everything when you fish.

As Jeff McGovern puts it: -”I would venture to say the W offers improved casting with any gear. From the riding position, I get more power with my casting and spinning because I can put my whole body into the cast and use my legs. The solid feel of the boat gives you a great sense of security. ” (Read More)