Wavewalk Kayaks

Here’s a link to a new, funny blog post about Compulsive Kayak Fishing Disorder (CKFD).

Some anglers refer to themselves as being ‘fisholic’, and that’s basically the same thing, although phrased in different pseudo scientific terms

That new article is amusing, but it’s also serious, since anglers and paddlers who spend too much time in sit-in and SOT kayaks can develop chronic pain, especially in the lower back (yak-back) and eventually be forced to quit kayak fishing and paddling, as many do - and that’s too bad.

Enjoy the read, so you may enjoy the ride!

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

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

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

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”

Oct 17th Congamond Lake Open Bass Tourney.
Start time 7am to 3pm
Water temps were 50 early am, to 56/57 degrees by 1pm.

We were faced with 15 boats, and had to pick numbers to line up for the start of the tourney.
My partner Mike, told me to pick the number, and I picked #11.
I was bummed to be near the end of the start up pack, but was very happy to Learn that the Numbers started at 10, so that put us in the number 2 spot of the starting line up. 

It was a cold 43 degrees when we launched at 7am.
Thankfully, there were no winds Yet, but that all changed by 9am.
With winds from 9mph to 20mph at times, made boat control a chore, but my partner Mike did a great job battling the winds.

We had a game plan, depending on the water temps, so when we passed through the flats and they were at 50 degrees, we made the decision to head to a point with some wood that went from 2 feet of water that sloped down to 20 feet of water.

Mike was fishing horizontal baits, and I was fishing vertical.
Hoping to establish a pattern quickly.

My choice of lure, Black Texas rigged worms, fishing them weightless.
Which is always a challenge when you add in the Wind Factor.
Keeping contact with the line and bait as best I could, letting it slowly stink in the middle of the downed tree in 14 feet of water, when I get a mushy feel, not a tap or strong bite, just felt a little mushy.
I reeled up the slack, felt weight and set the hook hard.
My partner got the net, and the first Large Mouth Bass was in the boat.

Then it happened, in the FLW rules, you are supposed to not fish within 50 feet of a boater.
After getting the first bass in the live well, I turned back to fish my tree, and a boat had moved in On Top of it and was jigging.
Next thing we see, they land a Bass, then another and another, they pulled 5 Bass off of where I was fishing, Unbelievable.

So we started working our way down the bank towards another downed tree that also went from 1 foot to 14 feet of water.
As we got closer, I heard the boat we left at our first spot start their motor and race over the the next tree we were going to fish.
They just cut us off, and Left us with our Jaws hanging wide open.

I had this strong urge to whip a 40lb braided line with a huge treble hooked bait on it at them…………but that would be un-sportsmen like!
But it felt good to think it.

These are some of the reasons I don’t fish Bass Tournaments, as far as I’m concerned, these two Bass fishermen are cheaters, but I do believe in Karma.

We fished hard the rest of the morning and afternoon, with nothing to show for it.
My partner lost 3 bass and I wasn’t getting anything.
We switched up on lures, cranks, spinnerbaits, jigs, swim baits, drop shot, whacky rigs, nada zip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then with 30 minutes left, we headed back to the point and the tree everyone had beaten the snot out of today.
Back to our original plan, Mike fish a horizontal bait and I fished vertical.

Dropped my Texas rigged Black worm back into the tree, and Bam, fish on.
Now we had 2 bass in the live well.
I cast back up into the tree, and Mike yells fish on, I drop my rod, grab the Net, now we Have three Bass in the well.

Pick up my rod and cast back into the tree and counted it down to the bottom, a little twitch after a 20 count,
Which seems like forever when your on the clock, and I got the mushy feeling again, set the Hook and Bass number 4 came to the net.
5 Minutes to go before we had to be back for the weigh in, we worked the bank back to the opposite tree, but time ran out.

So we headed back to the ramp 2 Bass shy of a limit, and Thankful for the Bass we did get.

The winning Bag went 22.19 pounds, but there were many boats with no Bass at all, I think we came in around 12th.

And the Two Bass Fishermen who cut us off, didn’t end with the winning bag, though their bag went for 17.8 lbs, Karma took them out of the running.

Tight Lines All
Rox

Ed Wheeler and Jeff McGovern, two Floridian W kayak fishermen made a trip to Crystal River with their W500 fishing kayaks. Jeff tells:

-Our fishing adventure went very well as did the time spent in the W500s.  Ed is handling the boat like a champ now.
We spent five to six hours in the boats with one short break on shore where we shot a video. Ed found the W500 more comfortable and fishable than his pedal drive fishing kayak model.

Certainly handling the W500 in and out of the pickup and just getting ready to go is much easier than the longer heavier kayaks. Thanks to some incoming storms we did not have a chance to get the W’s into the Ranger Banshee for some mothership testing but that will be the next adventure.

Ed has spent some time customizing his W500, and he already added a cooler placement on top of the saddle.

Being upright to cast adds so much to the ease with which the W fishes over any other kayak on the water.  The other thing is your stored items can be accessed on the water without having to head to shore to retrieve them.  Nice when you are looking for a cold drink out of the cooler or making an adjustment to your tackle.  By the way this was Ed’s first fishing trip in his new W500 and he managed to slime the boat with a nice sea trout that was let go to someday become a big trophy sized fish.
As a long term user of the W series I was very impressed with the ease he handled the boat.  This is a boat anyone can use successfully the first time on the water.  The learning curve we have discussed in the past is just that, in the past.
It’s also a boat that becomes a tinkerer’s dream.  You can use it as is and be very happy, or you can add any number of modifications to suit your own personal angling style.
The larger hull space of this new boat allows even long flats fishing rods to be placed inside the hull for the drive.
Our two W500s fit easily side by side on Ed’s full sized GMC truck.

–Jeff

Sometimes we tend to forget that kayak fishermen are people with additional interests in life besides fishing… Some have families, and they like to share their experience and even their boat with family members and friends.

Such is Dan, from Vermont (see Dan’s W Fishing Kayak Review).

Dan invited his daughter Emily and her friend Tunie to try his 2007 W fishing kayak, and like him they had no problem paddling standing:

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.”



Jeff McGovern elucidates this complex and sometime confusing issue in a new article entitled Choosing a Bait Caster.

In his article Jeff methodically explains and advises the new kayak angler about different rods, reels and lines, and helps see more clearly into the huge product offering available today in the field of fishing tackle.

The article includes pictures.

By the way, Jeff serves as adviser to tackle manufacturers, and last time he counted he had three hundred fishing rods in his collection…