WAVEWALK KAYAKS

I have been looking for a kayak or canoe that fits my needs for quite a while.

I love the sport, and find it a relaxing and useful mode of transportation. However, as I get “older” I found that the body does not necessarily wants to do everything my mind wants to do. I am 65 years old, 5’9” and 190 lbs having had back surgery a few years ago.

Jose stand up paddling in his W500 fishing kayak, Mission Bay, San Diego

The hours on end I used to spend paddling along the coast, around lakes and down rivers looking for thinks to photograph, enjoying the views or drowning some worms became a painful experience after half an hour of sitting in a standard kayak in the infamous “L” position.

I could not find a comfortable position and after about one hour I could not get out of the kayak in a graceful manner (actually I had to roll out on the dirt) and was unable to straighten for several hours.

I had to either stop doing what I enjoy, or find a different way to do it.

After a lot of web surfing I found Wavewalk’s website and was intrigued by the new design and its claim of ergonomic delights. I was disappointed that there were no dealers or a place where I could actually try it (or even see one,) other than in pictures and You-Tube videos, but my back kept screaming to try it and get my mind off my back, literally, so I called Yoav and ordered a W500.

As soon as it arrived, I went to one of the lakes north of Tucson, AZ and gave it a try. The lake was very busy with many motor boats so the water was choppy with lots of wakes. The W handled well and although at times felt a bit unstable, after getting used to it, it became easier to handle and I enjoyed the outing.

FIRST TRIP TO SAN DIEGO

The following weekend I made a trip to San Diego and took the W with me to give it a more thorough workout. In the calm water of Mission Bay it felt a lot more stable and easier to handle. I paddled for several hours without discomfort to my back.

Only when I tried to turn inside the kayak to paddle the opposite way (just like Yoav does it) I lost my balance and the W flipped… As I said, the body does not necessarily wants to do everything my mind wants…

I purchased a Solo Canoe paddle 280 cm. [9'1"] which is light, and can be broken down and reassembled at different featherings. After all, I am not going to do any extreme kayaking…

Heron on the river bank

LONG CAMPING TRIPS

I went camping in a long and narrow lake in the northern mountains of Arizona. I loaded it with a lot of camping equipment, water, food, etc for a 4-day trip, which was too much, and the overloaded W was riding too low on the water, and felt unstable. So the following day, with an unloaded and lighter W, I was able to paddle 14 miles in it and for about 6 hours, including breaks, side trips, etc. without discomfort, something I have not been able to do in other kayaks.

MY WIFE’S EXPERIENCE

I also tried using my W as a romantic canoe “a la Venice” with my wife in a small lake south of Tucson. However, she was very tense, and the W felt unstable since I had to compensate for any movement she made. It turned out not to be such a romantic event after all. My wife also tried going out with me in tandem one more time in San Diego, but we flipped at launching and she won’t get back in it unless I put on some outriggers … They are on order. She is going with me come hell or low water!

[Editor's note: You should not attempt paddling a W kayak in tandem unless both paddlers are well acquainted with operating it as solo paddlers. Unlike canoes, kayaks are basically solo boats, and therefore tandem kayaking is usually considered an advanced application.]

CONCLUSION

I am using and enjoying the W very much. It is fun to be able to spend long hours on a kayak again and do the things I enjoy such as photography, fishing and sightseeing in the water. Overall, I am happy with the W.

Those are my first, second, third and fourth impressions. I hope they help!

Jose

Here’s a short report from Al Jay, from California, who’s already contributed technical information and a trip report to our blog:

“I’ve only fished in the Newport Beach Back Bay. The fish there are mostly small spotted bass which I released. See picture below on my first fishing trip.
I don’t plan to fish in the ocean except bays and harbors this year. Too many Great White sightings from La Jolla to Avila Beach. However, I’ll still paddle in the bays and harbors for exercise, and troll while doing so.

I’m thinking of going up to the Eastern Sierra for trout fishing. It’s about 350 miles north from where I live.

Al”

New River from King’s access in NC to highway 58 bridge in VA.

9 miles, 8hrs total, approx 35 smallies.

Today I took my first maiden voyage on the Connecticut River up in Enfield in my Wave Walk W500 yak.

Skies were bright and sunny, water temps were 77 to 79 degrees, and of course, the wind was not to bad, in the beginning.

Paddle up river and started scouping things out.

I Heard a bunch of noise crashing threw the woods up by the cement wall, and low and behold, 8 coyotes were in there, one stopped to look me over.
It was creepy, but as I reached for the camera, the yote, perked it’s head up and ran back up under cover!!

Armed with only 2 poles, one rigged with a dinger, the other drop shot. (D/S)

Bait fish were everywhere, and I knew what I was throwing, Drop Shot, with a 2.5″ plastic minnow, which was matching the bait perfectly.
I paddle and found some really nice weeds with breaks in them, but open to deeper water.
I started to work the inside weed line, dropping the D/S down in the holes, which was kind of risking it with 8lb Floro P-line, time would tell.
I spot something orange out of the corner of my eye……….. Koi…………….tooooooooooooooo funny!

I started getting small smallies in the holes, the another, and another, all small nothing over 1 lb, so I put them back as fast as I could.
Untangle the drop shot……………………………….and cast back in.
Which is a real pain when there are smallies everywhere getting out the tangle mess each time.

Cast to the outside edge of the weed line, working it back slowly.

All of a sudden, I could see fish, but they were parting like the red sea, bait fish are zooming under my yak swimming away from something.
I’m figuring its a wolf pack of smallies moving in, and things are going to get real busy.

All while I’m working the D/S back to me, I start watching it in the 4′ of water I’m anchored up in.

As I’m watching the minnow about 4 feet from the yak, all I see is mouth, then ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ out to deeper water, turn baby turn……………………………
Now she charging straight at me…………………..reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel man reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel…………………………….
Up She comes and it’s a BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ turn her back and under the yak she goes, out she pops on the other side and I’m c****ing my pants, up she jumps, I got the net in my hand , she charges the yak, crashes into the hull and Boink, In My NET!!!!
I can’t make this chit up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I remember to breath, hands are shaking so bad, I pear over the side and there she sits in my Net.
As I lift her up, the hook had fallen out.

This has surpassed my D/S PB Large Mouth Bass, which was 3.8lbs from West Hill.
This Puppy is 21 3/4″ long and 5.11 lbs. Man if she was only fat, I could only imagine what she would have weighed.

I spent the rest of the day, anchored up right in this sweet spot.

Total tally for the day, 22 Small Mouth Bass, all on the Drop Shot.

Almost feels silly to post what the rest of the Smallies looked like.

The paddle back was not as easy as my ride out, remember in the beginning of my post, I said the wind wasn’t to bad till…………………………

I started back, all heck broke loose, winds kicked up, I bet well over 20 miles per hour, swells, and even with the current, I was going backwards at times.

Oh Man, and what is ahead of me, but swells up to 2′!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crossing the rapids, was exciting and a little scary at times, but I had my PFD on so I wasn’t to worried.

The Wave Walk W500 handle it like a Champ, I was high and dry, but very very tired.

Grateful for such a wonderful day, and a New PB Smallie on the Drop Shot.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Tight lines and Paddle Safe All.
Rox

When we talk about Super Mobility, or Extreme Mobility, many people find it hard to imagine what it could mean.
When we say ‘Launch anywhere, go anywhere and beach anywhere’, some think it’s just another marketing phrase.
But it’s not -
This movie shows how kayak anglers and touring kayakers can go above and beyond obstacles in shallow water paddling and fishing.
Once again, our W500 kayak keeps expanding kayaking and fishing in every dimension. When compared to other types of kayaks, it is not just the world’s best kayak for touring and fishing – it’s in a league of its own.

The delivery process of my w500 kayak was seamless …I was pleased by how quickly it arrived.

I’m having a blast so far. My back tolerates and actually benefits from using this kayak.
I have significant back challenges (that’s what actually got me to your site via Google) and I’m just thrilled.
I feel good about what you’ve got there.
I have massive back issues that I’ve been working on since a surgery gone wrong about 10 years ago. The ww fishing kayak keeps my core engaged and my posture correct…amazingly comfortable. It’s a real pleasure.

I’ve included a shot of what I caught this weekend…my first bowfin, caught Sunday. Definitely was looking for bass and this thing took a spinnerbait. Fights extremely hard, before it got hung in some weeds…I really liked how I can reel the kayak in to the fish in those situations, I hate breaking lines on hooked fish (yak fishing all new to me).

W. Taylor

Now the Wavewalk fishing kayak has its own song, written and performed by the ‘Unknown Traveler’, a singer/songwriter, health & fitness, outdoors, fishing & hunting enthusiast from Ohio:
Like many other outdoorsmen, Traveler really loves his ‘W’, and if you’re ever in North Eastern Ohio contact him for a close up look, and maybe even a demonstration, of his treasured kayak!

He always likes to meet new people and talk “Wavewalk” …
His email: UnknownTraveler@yahoogroups.com

Walking on the Wave – Lyrics:

And the fish below, know
When the north wind blows
They’d better beware

I got the wind in my hair
And there’s fish everywhere

I’m walkin’ on the wave

I see a big one in the weed
He’s a monster guaranteed
As I paddle out of view

With a Clouser on the line
This bruiser could be mine
As I cast into the blue

The presentation couldn’t be
A better minnows plea
As that muskie Hit like a storm

Now his picture is on my wall
In memory of it all
And he lives to fight again

I got the wind in my hair
And there’s fish everywhere

Oh I’m walkin’ on the wave

Oh yes I’m walkin’ on the wave

—Copyright (c) G.D.P. 2010—

Like many outdoorsmen, Traveler really loves his fishing and hunting gear, and he also wrote a song about his Henry – an accurate replica of the legendary Henry Big Boy .44 rifle.

We live on a small lake in northern Wisconsin.
My brother, Gary Rankel, just gave me a Wavewalk for my birthday and I’m really enjoying it so far.
I still haven’t figured anything out that’s any better than this setup…my pup sits a bit high, but luckily she’s stayed calm while we’re out there (I haven’t been capsized yet!). So far she’s been great, despite distractions like other boats/waverunners/dogs…
It’s not pretty, but it works for now!

I’ll keep you posted if we rig something up that’s better/prettier.

Thanks for a great product!!!
Kay Rankel

I went to Huntington Harbor on Sat. I had no problems paddling my W500 in the sitting position. I had to paddle thru a deep area to get to a shallow part of the harbor. I paddled around in the sitting position for a while in that area. After I felt comfortable, I stood up and paddled in the standing position (in the shallow area, about 1 to 2 feet deep). On the way back, I had to paddle thru deep areas and paddled in both in the standing and sitting position.
I took it slow, and I found the W to be very stable. I think my experience with SOT, ATV and riding horses helped.

I didn’t take a fishing equipment on my first trip, and will not take any while I’m learning to handle the W. After that I’ll start using the W for offshore fishing.

W loaded on Tundra to head home. My wife made the red flags about 8 years ago that I used to clip to the handles of my SOT while transporting those kayaks.

Last year, Steve sent us a review of his W500 without accompanying pictures.
Now he sent the pictures, which we added to his initial kayak review:

http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/08/08/review-of-my-w500-fishing-kayak-by-stephen-cano-texas/

Enjoy!