The one and only Jeff McGovern produced these two new kayak fishing movies.
In the first one, Jeff shows a nice sea trout (a keeper), which is his first catch of this year.
In this second movie, Jeff has a guest on board: A Redfish he thinks he recognized from a previous kayak fishing movie he made last year 
Jeff McGovern to conduct kid’s inshore fishing clinic at Genung’s Fish Camp, Crescent Beach, January 23
Palatka, FL 1/4/10—Come spend an exciting, fun day with Jeff McGovern at Genung’s Fish Camp from 9 AM to Noon on January 23, 2010. Learn how to choose lures, bait, line and rigging to catch more fish in fresh and saltwater.
Emmrods will be featured and there will be a drawing for an Emmrod Packer Combo donated by Jeff’s Tackle Box at the end of the program. This free event is open to youth and youth groups of all ages and their parents and chaperones.
Coffee and donuts will be provided.
Registration is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Genung’s Fish Camp is located at 291 Cubbedge Road (just below the 206 bridge at US 1), Crescent Beach, FL. For more information or to register, please contact Johnny at (904) 471-4144.
For more information about Jeff McGovern or Emmrod, go to www.jeffstacklebox.com
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
-”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”
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
Great day on the water. Got a nice redfish and snook, 2 nice trout including a gator, several ladies and a cat, all on topwater. Bring on the Fall.
Gary Rankel
Hi,
Here’s a trip I did on Oct 19th fishing from Shore at Rainbow Reservoir, in Windsor Ct.
As you know they drained this place to repair the Dam, and since Oct 5th, it’s been refilling. 
Walked down to one of my favorite fall spots, can’t wait to get my W500 back in here.
Armed with a hair jig with a small craw attached on my 6′6″ Custom St Croix smallie ultra lite rod with 8lb test vanish. And my 6′6″ St Croix rigged with 10# fireline with 10# vanish leader with a c-rigged worm.
What a beautiful day it turned into.
I got to the waters edge at 10:30am left at 3pm.
Windy, sunny no idea what the water temps were.
Fished deep water to shore, as far as my little arms could cast out to.
As I was crawling the hair/craw jig along the bottom, I got a solid Thump, set the hook, and the battle was on.
Pulling drag at will, the beast headed out to deeper water, got her turned and battle her back to me.
She came up to show me her big old head, and in that moment I was wondering, how the heck I would land her, 8#test and a bunch of rocks, so I figured I was gonna get wet.
This is one big Bass, get her closer to shore, then in an instant, she’s gone. She straightened the Hook!!!! Holy S#*****+!! Guess I should have fought her a little longer. :banghead:
Landed a good 2# smallie bumping bottom with a new hair jig and craw, she gave me a good strong fight, then another as the rig hit the water. And the very next cast…….Bam another smallie. :cha:
Then nothing, must have been a school moving around.
Moved down the bank some more and Grabbed the c-rigged worm and started working it from deep water to shore.
Slowly dragging it, and making long pauses, I worked down the shore line about a football fields length.
I would cast and work it back to me, take 10 sets from the spot I was started, repeating it over and over, then BAM, Big Fish, shaking her head Like crazy, 20′ from shore, Up she Comes with a Big Somersault and dives, My Drag is screaming, gain some ground and Off she ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ again, I get her turned and I all STOPS????????????????? Shes snagged on a stump or something, with my line taught, I can feel her shaking her head!!!!!!!!
I start running to the right with my rod tip Held High, hoping to free the Beast, she still on I feel her pulling then Bink!!! Off she comes on what ever she was hung up on, Lord Have mercy, I got to land her PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now the battle is won, she’s tired, I’m reeling her in with no fight left. Get my thumb in her mouth and She’s Mine!!! :cha: Frigging fish will be the death of me yet, my heart is pounding, my hands are shaking, snap a couple of pictures, get her back in the water holding her tail, I don’t care that I’m wet, I’m making sure she swims away strong, she feels like shes ready, I release her tail, she rolls slightly looking at me with the Big old Bug eye then in an instant she was gone. Caught a bunch more, all put up great fights, digging down deep. Man I love fall Fishing!!!
LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!
Rox
Jesse got his W300 fishing kayak in January. He fishes mainly in the ocean near San Diego, in the harbor and in the lagoon. In this short cellphone movie Jesse is showing a 6 lbs spotfin croaker he caught:
Here is a collection of fish Jesse caught on another good day, including (top) a sand bass and (bottom) another 6 lbs spotfin croaker.
Jesse mounted a trolling motor on his W300, and he gets to speeds up to 10 mph with it. This picture shows the transom mount Jesse built:
Jesse also rigged his W300 fishing kayak with carry wheels: 
Sometimes Jesse takes his dog for a ride in his kayak:
Jesse likes to paddle his W300 standing up, and fish standing as well. Jesse also likes to fish for halibut. His favorite lures are Berkley Gulp Alive, and he recommends smearing the lures with Uni Butter (sea-urchin flavored butter) that attracts fish better than anything, both in saltwater and freshwater.
Jesse is the owner of the Five Star Pool & Spa Service for care of aquatic systems.
Sept 8th Rainbow Res.
Hit the bow at 12pm, off at 5:30pm.
Water levels are up, temps were 70 to 74.3 degrees.
Cranks, chatter, ball jig, dingers-
Cranks got nothing, chatter baits zip, dingers, of course, put the Bass in the boat.
Fishing the flats produced a 3#er and a 2 1/2#er.
Caught on the dinger fished like a jerk bait.
Then while fishing an over hanging tree in 10′ of water with the ball jig and That Bait Pickle, on 8lb test on my custom smallie rod from RayZ!!!
Pitched it up and under the tree and started reeling it in slowly, when all of a sudden, it all comes to a stop……..dang I snagged a
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Holy Cheese On Rice, BIG FISH!!!!!!!!! I can’t turn the fish!!
Drag set as tight as I dare, back down past me she flies!!
I turn her and up she comes besides the yak……………………. It’s a Huge PIKE!!!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Off she goes again, I’m stuck between two trees, and shes dragging
my yak towards one of them, I yell to James, in his boat anchored
down below me for a Big Net, it has to be at least 38″ long and thicker then my arm, he’s watching me now, I turn her again, and
shes towing my yak, turned me back towards the opposite tree.
Then Up She Comes for a Complete somersault, I watch as she wraps herself up in the line, and snap she was gone.
Lord have mercy, 5 minutes of pure heaven and 5 minutes of pure hell,
all mixed into the same pot!
I knew there where Pike in here, now I have proof, and a witness.
Spent the next few minutes clamming myself, hands shaking some bad,
I couldn’t retie a new ball jig on.
Sept 10th Weathersfield Cove, Weathersfield CT:
Hit the Cove today, got there at 12:30 PM.
WINDY WINDY WINDY, white caps sometimes, and did I tell you,
it was WINDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Water temps were 69+degrees, sunny, partly cloudy.
Fish came to hand in 1′ to 14′ of water.
Bad news, I broke my first rod of the season, my Med Heavy Premier St Croix rod!!!!!!!!!!!! I was drifting and was blown into a tree
that I had just pulled a bass out of, didn’t see it till it was to late.
Had a Huge blow up and was cut off by Mr Pike over by the Police dock.
Best part of the day was near the end of my trip.
I was getting plenty of smaller bass, perch, and a few crappie.
But had no real solid bass in the yak yet.
Till I found the magic tree.
Life is Good.
Rox
This is Rox’ answer to a question on bass lures from Petru, a kayak fisherman from Ontario:
Petru,
Here is a couple of pictures of the lures and hooks I use, and have had great success with.
The Yum Dinger, shown in both pictures, range from 6″ to 3″, and the 1/4 oz Jigs are in the top row of the picture.
As you see, I am also a Big Fan of the Chatter Bait.
Petru, Maybe you’re fishing your jigs too fast.
You have to make sure they reach bottom, remember the 1/4oz jig takes a little longer getting to the bottom. Your lure has not reached bottom till you see your line go slack.
Then make short hops, and long pauses, with a twitch here and there.
And always keep contact with bottom, your line and jig.
You can pop it hard, just follow it back to the bottom with your tip, and be ready to set that hook!
Any kind of line movement, could be a strike, when in doubt, set that hook.
Most strikes will happen on the Fall, so always keep a close eye on your line as it sinks to the bottom.
A Bass can grab and spit that bad boy out before you even realize you missed a strike!
The Yum Dinger, can be fished many ways, as a jerk bait, finess, whacky rigged, placed on a ball jig, chatter bait (killer pike bait), or Dead sticking it.
Same as the jig, you must reach bottom, always watching that line for any signs of a strike on the fall, most will happen then.
But when the fish are in a negative mode, let it hit bottom, with long pauses between a pop, pop, pop, reel your slack line, and repeat all the way back to shore or
boat.
You can also add a small finish nail, or small screw to the butt of the dingers.
This will increase the fall rate, but not hurt the action.
Toss the dinger in 3′ of water and count it down till you reach bottom, then in deeper water you’ll have a better idea when it will reach the depth you want to fish.
Hope this helps Petru.
Good Luck and Tight Lines.
Rox
Here’s a new report from Gary Rankel:
Was out for 7 hrs yesterday in hot weather and sun.
Ran into lots of redfish yesterday, but most were pretty spooky.
I did manage to get this beautiful 10 pounder on top water just as the sun was coming up.”
Also got a few sea trout and jack crevalle.
I just missed my “West Coast Slam” as a nice snook shook my topwater lure while airborne about 20 feet from the W (sorry I couldn’t snap a picture of that).
I also ran into a visitor who was really interested in your new W 500 (I think he thought he had just found the perfect mate). He entertained me for a good 20 minutes, repeatedly coming right to the side and of the W to get a good look.
-”I had few great days of fishing in between storms, here in Connecticut.
1:30pm I started my trip on the Farmington River coves in Simsbury.
Water levels are way up, I only had to walk down half of the path to the water, launched the W500 right on the hill, just slid down in and off I went.
I started off with a small white chuckit frog, landed 3 bass right off the bat.”
“Headed down towards the Main arm of the Farmington River, stopped at some trees, picked off a couple more with the small chuckit frog.”
“Then I heard an osprey, and it sounded like it was fighting, I look up, and out of the trees comes a Bald Eagle attacking the Osprey.”
“This Eagle meant business, and was looking to kill this Osprey.
I got a video of it:”
-”I figured after watching this, I didn’t care if another bass came to hand, but the bite turned on.
I started pitching into the holes in the weeds, yum dinger t-rigged weightless, letting my bait sink and shaking it, while waiting for that tap.
I pulled 3 Bass up and out this way, nice chunky bass.”
-”While paddling I came upon some Monster Grass carp.
Here is a video of the encounter:”
-”I had to leave for an appointment, so I was off the water at 5pm.
Life is Good!
Tight Lines all
Rox”
It’s time for another look at this style of bait and the rigging that works best. I just got back from another of the McGovern family trips to Canada fishing Lake of the Woods. As with the last three years, the Redfish Magic type lures caught the vast majority of the fish for everyone. Even folks not in our group, who we had told about the lures years back, were using them with equal success. It did not even matter what species of fish — northern pike, muskie, walleye, and smallmouth bass all succumbed to these baits. If you have not tried this type of lure (especially if you live in the northern areas), don’t do it unless you are prepared to catch fish after fish.
I’ve gotten to the point where I build them as required from available rigging. But if you chose to tear open a Redfish Magic and use it straight from the package, that’s fine too. They are considered saltwater bait. The original design is called a jig spinner. The first of its type was the Beetle Spin, which you can read about in another article here on this site. Redfish Magic was intended to be a heavy weight version to catch redfish in US coastal inshore waters. It works very well as intended, but when you transition to freshwater, it works even better. The lure is two sections: a jig spinner harness with a blade swivel combo, a safety pin type clasp, and then a jig head which attaches to the clasp. The jig head can be adorned with a variety of trailers from plastic to bucktail. You can vary the weight of the presentation by simply going to a lighter or heavier jig head.
Rigging properly gets the most out of this style lure. I avoid the use of as much hardware as possible for this bait. My preferred method of use is to tie a leader to my main line first. Last week in Canada, it was 15 lb fluorocarbon for 8lb mono line and 20lb fluorocarbon for heavier lines. The leader is attached to the main line using a four turn surgeon’s knot. The lure is tied to the leader using a canoeman’s loop knot. Both those knots can be found and explained here in this site, as well. Most important, before tying on the lure, is to put a small section of 1/8 inch ID clear plastic tubing over the “R” bend of the shaft. This creates a closed attachment loop and prevents the leader loop from sliding onto the shaft of the harness. It also adds a movement or articulation point so the bait has more action in the water. With zero hardware (metal leaders, snaps, and swivels), you will catch more fish. The fluorocarbon leader is tough enough for even toothy fish like pike and muskie.
Our success with this type of lure and rigging is unbelievable. When we introduce it to other anglers, they are a bit skeptical. However, after they make the first attempt, they are solidly hooked. What’s funny is how this usually happens. We talk about the bait and even show pictures. They smile and say “Hey, that’s great!” and give the lure to their kids to try first. You know– too simple, only one hook, great for kids– all that sort of thing. Then, on the first day with it on the water, they are right back casting their expensive baits with loads of gang trebles on them. Of course, the kids are just catching fish right and left with Redfish Magics, while the adults pull in empty lures. By about 10AM, and who knows how much bribery, everyone is fishing them. When the group heads in for the day, the live well is full and there are some great shots in the camera.
For those of you reading this with a little skepticism, I understand. The lure is cheaper than most and does not have flashy lights or a super realistic finish. Put that aside and buy some–you won’t be disappointed. Follow the rigging instructions and make sure you have strong arms for all the pulling you will be doing. The best places to find them in the south are places that sell saltwater tackle. In the north, you can find them online in the saltwater lure sections of fishing gear stores and catalogs.
Jeff McGovern (c) 2009
More kayak fishing articles by Jeff
Here’s a funny movie that Jeff sent us from Florida:
And this is a great view of a Florida sunrise caught by Jeff’s camera:
“Yesterday was the classic fishing day. The sunrise, as you saw from the picture was simply beautiful. Air temps started out with t-shirt conmfort at around 70 degrees and warmed into a humidity free low 80s by noon. They was just enough of a light breeze to ripple the water just a tiny bit but not so much as to hamper casting in any direction you pleased. I figured with the upcoming Jax Kayak Classic it would be a good day to experiment.
I was very surprised by the lure that out caught everything else by a huge margin today. Most of the newer baits we are seeing in stores have some type of wiggle, sound, or eratic action built into them. That is the current fad and of course every lure firm has examples in their lineup of baits. While I was prepareing my tackle Friday night I cam across three little lures long discontinued by by L&S Bait Company under their Mirrolure brand here in Florida. These folks are known for their tough durable saltwater hard baits and I do have a number of them in my tackle stash. What I came upon were three little Mirrolure 3M3 ultralight topwater plugs. The first one I picked up had rusted hook tips so I dug through my hook supply looking for replacements. I found two that would work. One a standard #6 treble and the other a dressed #6 treble. I swithced them out and tied the lure to my old Ugly Stick pack rod with one of my Daiwa 1300SS reels. The line was 8lb test mono with a 15lb Flurocarbon leader. This little lure has no rattles no particular wiggle or wild action. It just glides along and does pretty much nothing looking to all the world like a tiny glass minnow just moving near the surface.
Sometimes that lack of obvious action is what the fish want. I would toss it out and not all that far since it’s very light at 1/8oz and has the aerodinamic flight of a potato chip. Once it hit the water I would just reel it in ever so slowly. There were times yesterday it was a fish on each cast and the type varied.
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I caugfht redfish on it, blue fish, sea trout, and ladyfish they all seemed to key in on the almost total lack of action. My fear was on such light tackle I would loose the fish since the bait is so tiny. But those nasty sharp little hooks held on and the fish came to net or hand. I guess the moral here is just beacuse the lure is old fashioned and out of date don’t think the fish will ignore it. At this point it might become my secret weapon.
I guess your website is even seen by seakayakers. I was fishing next to a small island when a group of 10 sea kayakers went through bird watching. As they glided past me I could hear the comments. Words like “hey there is that boat I told you about”,” that is so cool”, and “I’ll bet it’s easier to get around than these things”. I just waved and wished them well.– Jeff”
-”It’s all hype so far. In comparing the Kayak Angler guide to a much wider distributed magazine or rather catalog the information is about the same. I’ve got both [brand of fishing gear stores] and [brand of fishing catalog] catalogs at the house and the hype you see for various products and the crazy claims are much the same. For example reels that won’t backlash and can make you a better fisherman. Total and complete nonsense, I know people that have purchased baitcast reels because of the claims and after a few days use never ever go back to that style. They did not live up to the claims.
Sometimes people can be saved. My friend for example had loads of trouble with a bait caster. I looked at his reel an older hand me down from a relative and found it sound but in need of tuning. That issue combined with a very one broken down rod was his problem. I tore down and serviced the reel. Then at a visit to [fishing gear store] had him buy something that complemented that older reel. Now he loves the setup because it works and it fits him properly. If he had only seen the catalogs and bought the hype nothing would have worked.
Lures might be the worst of all with claims of filling the boat if a certain brand or type of lure is thrown. It’s made more complicated by the late night infomercials for things like the Banjo Minnow.
I know the whole thing is upsetting, but remember Wavewalk really does have a totally different boat. It is like nothing before it, and it will become a boat for the masses. Other fishing kayaks answer no current issues with the back or comfort since you still sit low.
The answer most folks seem to have to the comfort problem is to add a really nice seat, that I verified by checking with guys with our kayak group here. They keep upgrading their seats. First an additional pad then more padding and finally dropping big dollars (like 200+) for a fancy aftermarket seat. Of course it solves nothing long term. Fact is boats should have had comfort taken into account up front but I guess that takes away their price advantage. Of course in your case the Wavewalk seat is already there and requires nothing else to work. Also your day is not ruined when you show up to fish and find you’ve forgotten your seat.
The accessory market is also very interesting. For the added cost of the “factory” rod holders you really can’t use them in a sit on top. If you do you subject your reels to loads of saltwater wash over but then again I guess that is good for the reel companies. Treated in that fashion unmaintained reels would make it maybe one season.
Talking about reels one of the local radio fishing shows here nearly gave me a heart attack a couple of weeks back. They were on air talking about proper equipment care after use in saltwater. What they recommended would only benefit a reel repair business or the tackle firms themselves. Those fellows recommendations were just so wrong. I tried to call at the time of the broadcast to be on air. But while I was waiting and driving at the same time my cell lost it’s signal. By the time I got one again they were on to other subjects and the screener said the lines were too full. I did try again last weekend when they were on but my subject was not on the table so I didn’t make the show.
Oh well, sometimes the pioneers like Wavewalk take the sling and arrows. I like helping shoot back. The W kayak is the best of it’s kind in paddlecraft.
– Jeff”
Jeff’ McGovern’s new kayak fishing article is called ‘Good As Live Bait?’. It’s a review of the Fishbites and Gulp lure brands.
Jeff writes: -”The brands I’ve been using are “Fishbites” (Carr Specialty Baits, St Augustine, Florida) and the more widely distributed “Gulp” (Berkley). 
They are very different in composition, but achieve the same purpose for me: live bait results without the hassle of storing or keeping bait alive in my W. Whenever I’m fishing saltwater flats, both products are onboard and ready to catch fish.”
