Wavewalk Kayaks

Jeff did it again: Here is his new W kayak fishing action video for all to enjoy (2.55 min):

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Here is Jeff McGovern’s latest contribution to the art and science of W kayak fishing -

A two minute, online guided tour of his rigged, 2008 W fishing kayak (video plus audio).
It’s a gem:

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:

Anyway on to the largest fish today. I had gotten out to cool off with a little wading when the big jack hit a minnow style plug. It was like trying to hold back a train. That fish hit with a quick flash and peeled off line against the drag. Thank heavens I was using a stiff bait cast rig with 16lb line. I was barely able to keep the fish from running right around the oyster beds.

Size wise it pulled lots harder than it looked but it’s still a nice sized jack for the inshore waters. The last shot is how a strong fish can actually bend a very strong saltwater treble hook almost open. A few more minutes on the line and this fish would have straighted the hooks and pulled loose.

Last year, Brandon C. - a kayak fisherman from Cape Cod, MA got his first W fishing kayak.

This is a picture of Katie (now Mrs. Brandon C…) posing last year by Brandon’s SUV featuring Brandon’s patent-pending multipurpose vehicle extension - and his green 2007 W fishing kayak.

Katie seemed happy paddling Brandon’s W kayak, so this year Brandon got her a yellow 2008 F2 for her birthday.

As you can see, Brandon likes to attach their W kayaks to his car rack facing down, to keep the rain out.

Brandon from Cape Cod made this ingenious instant release anchor system for his W kayak.

He writes:

-”Here are some pics of an anchor system that worked really well for me last season. The key is to be able to release the Wavewalk kayak from the anchor line in an instant to chase and fight a big fish.

The Genius Carabiner opens at an angle so only one hand is needed. The float allows the angler to find the anchor system after the fight and start fishing again from that productive spot.
Commercial fisherman use a similar (yet much beefier) system to hook, fight and land giant bluefin tuna here on Cape Cod.”

Read more about Brandon’s Fishing Kayak

This is a picture of Jeff’s new 2008 F2 Model W Fishing Kayak, fully rigged for fishing:

The rigging includes an the anchor trolley on the side, a milk crate with a battery of three rod holders, and Jeff’s new DIY paddle holders. Note one of the two flush mount rod holders that holds the fishing net’s handle.

You may be asking yourself “What about a fish finder?” Well, Jeff is the kind of kayak fisherman who prefers to use his knowledge and instincts rather than electronics. -”I don’t use electronics too much because the depth can be checked with my paddle.  In some cases I actually see the fish before they see me.  Kayak fishing like it was years back in my canoe allows me to slip into the areas the fish are holding without alerting them to any danger.  So long as you keep as silent as you can and watch your shadow on the water fish will keep tight to the area they are feeding in.” he explains.

And by the way, as a dedicated sportsman that he is, Jeff practices ‘catch and release’ unless he has instructions to bring a particular type of fish back home for dinner…

Jeff drags his W fishing kayak on sand, pebbles, gravel, dirt and grass with all the gear still in place, and since the W Fishing Kayak is a true ‘Toss’n Go’ boat, Jeff simply hauls it onto his pickup’s truck bed, attaches it, and drives away.

It saves him a lot of time and work…

A couple of days ago I visited the website of a rather known figure in the world of kayak fishing. The man who resides in Florida published a book on kayak fishing and produced instructional kayak fishing videos as well.

This is what he wrote on his website:

“No matter who you are — or what physical condition you are in—-eventually, if you sit in your kayak long enough— you will eventually begin to experience back pain. It will creep up on you at first, but eventually, it will be noticeable enough to erode your enjoyment of the outing even if you are catching fish.”

Why was I surprised to read such an honest statement from a kayak fishing professional? Because kayak fishing pros are in many cases so passionate about this sport and are so keen to promote it that they tend to close an eye to the difficulties that most kayak fishermen face in practicing it.

In many cases kayak fishing pros would brush aside issues such as back pains, leg pain, leg numbness, wetness and other symptoms of discomfort resulting from poor ergonomic design because let’s face it: their livelihood depends on kayak fishing, and telling the full and sometime not so pleasant truth about this sport would be against their interest - whether they sell kayaks, rent them or offer outfitting, instruction or guide services.

In some cases kayak fishing pros would advise you to cushion your seat with some foam or other soft material such as a gel bag, or add foam under your knees - as if such means could provide more than a temporary and partial relief. Some of them are unaware of the real causes for kayaking and kayak fishing back pain, but it seems others simply chose to ignore these issues.

And why do we keep talking about the ergonomics of kayak fishing, back pain and other such painful issues? Simply because we think they are real and widespread problems, and kayak fishermen deserve to hear the whole truth about them, and we also happen to offer a better solution.

Doug is a surf fisherman from Long Island, NY, who drove all the way here (Newton, Massachusetts) to pick up his new W Kayak. He told me he chose to get a W after had tried an ordinary fishing kayak and didn’t like the way he had to sit in it. He also wanted to paddle and fish standing. Before that he had paddled a canoe - as a boy…

Doug is middle aged, medium built, around 6′ and 200 lb. He emailed me the following report::

“I got it [the W kayak] out onto Jamaica Bay on Saturday on water not over my head. Went well. I like being able to go in a straight line without paying too much attention to what I’m doing. Paddled standing up w/o too much instability…; Practiced turning around inside the ‘cockpit’ without incident.”

I was satisfied to read that everything went well for Doug, especially in view of the fact that he didn’t get a chance to try the kayak here because of the cold weather we had.

What struck me in Doug’s report was that he able to turn around in his W kayak’s cockpit so quickly: When he was here he asked me about it and I explained to him how it should be done, but I also warned him that it was an ‘advanced’ trick, and that he shouldn’t even think of trying it before he got very well acquainted with his new boat.

In any case, Doug’s success story doesn’t change our basic advice to new W kayakers and kayak fishermen, which still is: “Lower your expectations and progress slowly and carefully in your study of the use of your new W kayak, because stuff happens…”

Yoav