WAVEWALK KAYAKS

I took my W500 out to Rainbow Reservoir in Windsor Connecticut on June 30th.

June has really kicked my butt, as far as fishing goes. I’ve caught plenty of fish, but nothing over 2 lbs.

But today, the Air temps were perfect, water was 77 degrees, from 82 degrees yesterday.
Windy, and it was a pain…
Started off with the Carolina rigged worm, with a 3/8 oz weight, fan casting all around me, but the only thing I was pulling in the boat was weeds.
Went to the deeper edge with a steep drop off from 9′ to 22′, started working the C-rig there…….NADA
Went back to my confidence bait, the yum dinger, Texas rigged weedless, and started working the wood.
Remember when I said wood is good.
Well it is, I started pulling in crappies, perch, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass, but nothing with size.
Headed to a fresh tree that came down last week, and skipping my yum dinger, up and under the tree’s outside edge in 8′ of water – Let it sink, while counting to 10, as I reached 8, I felt a tick – Swung back and set the hook hard, Crap it’s Big and heavy, pulling my yak right into the tree.
I’m trying to paddle with one hand to back out, then the wind kicks up, like Gail Force.

I Worked myself and the fish out in front of the tree and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ………… Back in she goes, towing my yak back into the tree once again.
Now I’m almost certain I must have snagged a crap, because this baby was yanking me all over.
I dig in as best I could with the Paddle, and backed the yak off a good 10′ with my bail open…………reel in the slack line, and she’s still there, I stand up and really put the screws to her -
This was the moment of truth, either she’d come out of the tree with my lure still in her mouth…………or she’d be gone. I felt the weight of the fish as she popped out of the limbs, and she gives me a big howdy doooooooooo with a tail walk.
I’m c—-ing my pants, grab the net and pull her towards it, and scoop her up.

BIG Large Mouth Bass – I Get her weight, 5.4 lbs, just a hair over 22″ long.
Man if she was fat she would have weighed a lot more. Long and skinny, and recouping from the spawn.

I thanked Rainbow Reservoir for finally giving up one of her Pigs.

Life Is Good.
Paddle Safe All.
Rox

I Met up with My Fishing Buddy, Daddy Pickle to fish some new waters on Friday June 4th.

We headed out to Quaddick Reservoir in Thompson Ct. 1.5 hour drive from home, but well worth the trip.

Got to the waters edge at 10am, sunny/cloudy skies, The gin stained colored water was 80 to 85 degrees….air was HOT!!!!

Throwing top water, jigs, spinners, cranks…………the kitchen sink!

Within 15 minutes, I was dunking my hat in the water to help cool me off.
Got a small largemouth bass right off the bat and kicked the skunk out of the boat.
Pickle had a huge hit, but no hookup.
We were working a rock pile, but that one hit was it.

We make a move to another spot, a get back to it.
Pickles retying and I’m working the bottom with a jig, and I get Slammed!!
Up she comes and its a good bass, Pickle reaches for the net, but its all tangled, so I swing the Bass up, and it hits the hand rail,
out pops the hook and she’s gone…………………
……………….What was I thinking…………….
Pickle says, “that’s okay Rox, it’s not a money fish”  It didn’t make me feel any better…………..

As we a going along, and I’m still crabbing about the lost Bass, I cast my lure up under the trees, and Bam…………..missed…S-o-B!.
I cast back in and BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Fish on ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ she’s headed for the lillie,
up she comes…… Its A Big BASS.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ now I turn her, and she heads right under the boat.
Pickles ready with the net, but she don’t want to come out, she does a couple of circles under us, and I finally get her to come out, and Pickle scoops her up in the net.
And she filled that net!!!!

5lbs 10 oz, 21 3/4″ long. That made up for that lost one!

All in all we had a great day on a New lake, we covered 327 acres in 8 hours.
14 Large Mouth Bass, 3 Pike, a bunch of Crappies, and 4 Pickerels.

Can’t wait to go Back, I’ll be bringing My W500 fishing kayak in here as soon as I can.

Tight Lines and Paddle Safe All.
Rox

Here is a picture sent by Darrell Beam from North Carolina -

Darrell is sitting in his W500 fishing kayak, outfitted with a unique plexiglas dash designed and crafted by Darrell himself.

Fishing for bass has many fans, including in the W kayak fishing community.

Here is a list of some prolific W bass kayak anglers:

Rox Davis, Kayak Bass Fishing Superstar, from Connecticut

Norm Craig, from Rhode Island

John Fabina, from Wisconsin

Jeff Lenkowski, from Massachusetts

Wayne Taylor, from Florida

Jamie Harter, from Wisconsin

John Zoltner, from New York

Doug Hord, from Long Island, NY

Donavan Campbell, from North Carolina

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

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

I Went fishing at Congamond Lake, on the Connecticut – Massachusetts border.
Oct 12th, I was pre-fishing, for my up coming Open Bass tourney Sat 17th.
My partner was sick, can you believe that!!! He called out sick for work and Fishing!!
So I went out in my W500.

Got on the water I think it was 10:30 or close to 11am.
Water temps were 56 to 60 degrees.
Water was cloudy, (turn over time has come) with tons of bait fish every where.
Cloudy/partly sunny, with a chill in the air.
Fished 2 feet to 26 feet.

Fished slow and on the bottom.
Weightless Texas rigged plastic worms were the ticket.

Casting it up into the pads, and let it sink slowly, waiting for the line to move, or to feel that tap.
Gave it a twitch after a count to 10, and Bam fish on.
After a short battle I got her in the net.

All of a sudden I hear “Way to Go Rox”
Two fellows I know from my Fishing site had been watching me fish, and I didn’t even know they were coming up behind me in their boat.

They were kind enough to snap a picture for me.
I wish I had gotten the weight, but in all the excitement I forgot, DOH!!!!!!!!!

She was well over 3lbs, maybe even close to 3.5lbs, and her Belly was Full!!!
Great way to start my trip.

Caught a number of 12″, 2-14″ then a solid 2.10lb and a 2.14lb large mouth bass.
Which I weighed, and was even more sure that first Bass had to be way over 3lbs.
Landed tooooooooo many snakes (pickerel) today, had to keep re-tying due to line nicks.

Wind had picked up a little more then the weatherman had said, so in 19′ of water I had to drop anchor to fish some wood down deep.

Hooked a real Nice Bass that wrapped itself up around a branch, near the surface.
Soooooooooooooo I started to paddle to retrieve the Bass keeping my line tight when my yak stopped………………I forgot to pull up my anchor………….resulting in a lost Bass……….. Oh Well!

I did get a limit, so I was happy with that, was off the water at 5pm.
Did not snap any pictures of the smaller Bass, only picture worthy Bass today over 2lbs were taken.
I should have taken a picture of my last snake, it was big long and fat.

Tight Lines and Safe Paddling All.
Rox

Hi All,

Here’s a recap of Septembers W500 adventures.

I can’t believe September is come and almost gone.

Fall is approaching way to fast this year, maybe it’s because June and July, we were faced with rain, heavy rains.
I feel a little cheated this season, August was good to me, September was Outstanding.
Some of my best Small Mouth Bass fishing ever.
The Large Mouths were Pretty Great too. 
And a Bonus Pike.

I fished Rainbow Reservoir, and Weathersfield Cove, which is a Cove Off the Ct River.
Sad part is, Rainbow Reservoir has been Drained for Dam Repair, Last pictures I got were very bleak.

On September 11th:

While fishing in the Rain, prior to the draining of the lake.
I was thinking what 9/11 has done to our country, waiting for that next ball to drop!
But we got threw the day, no mishaps, and even a few bass came to hand.
I was only out for 3 hours.

On September 12th:

Today water levels low, no movement of water, wind was blowing one way,
I’d anchor up, but Mother Nature changed her mind, and would swing me in the other direction.
Thats okay, I can take what ever she had to dish out.

Sooooooo, She opened up the skies for me!!!
But today I was ready, and good thing, because I couldn’t hide under any trees, unless you beached and walked in ten feet to the trees.
My handy dandy tarp worked out great, kept me high and dry!!

Outside view of my weatherproof yak

Inside view of my weatherproof yak

A tree I found with the sonar in 20′ of water, was Lit up with a big School of smallies, but I could not hold position to fish them, the wind was whipping, and my Anchor wouldn’t hold me!!!
Time to upgrade the anchor!!!
So I paddled out to a fellow with his 2 sons, and told them to hit the tree that was sticking out, I told him to tie on some grubs and hang on.
Within 5 minutes, the boys where Screaming like Girls!!!!!!

I met them at the launch when I was leaving and loading my yak.
He came in Thanking me for making his sons day.
His boys and himself caught 18 smallies off that tree, and his youngest boy got the biggest Smallies. (his older brother was pissed)
His first and best ever was a solid 3lb smallie, then he landed a 5lb Smallie, his Dad was so Proud.
He shook my hand and thanked me saying, “I’ve never had anyone give me help on what to fish, let alone a spot like that to fish from, Ever”

It made my day to see how happy those boys were.

I got there at 10am and left at 6pm.

Life Is good!

Then the rest of my September, was outstanding, Last day I fished was the 21st.

My hard work had paid off, and the Bite was on with each trip.
The last trips I made were with the yak cart, they had closed the Parking lot at Rainbow, do to the draining, so it was an easy
walk down to the waters edge, but the walk back was All Up Hill!!!!
(in my best Roseanne Roseannadanna voice) “I Thought I was Gonna Die!!”

I’ve never landed so many Quality Small Mouth Bass, some over 3 pounds, and the Biggest went 4.3lbs, caught on my last trip, September 21st of the season.
She turned my W500 in a complete circle while I battled her, once she was in the net and I lifted her from the waters, I knew she was a big girl.
I include the release photos of this 4.3 pound Smallie.

All of this Brought to you by……………..The W500 and W300, best fishing Kayaks in the World.

I also included a Video of Rainbow Reservoirs Draining, I am heartbroken.

Hopefully they will have the repair done before the Ice comes.

Tight lines all, and Paddle Safe.
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



Took my green monster out on Monday 31st, to Rainbow Res. in Windsor Connecticut.On the water at 9:30am off 5:30pm.

Water temps were 64 to 67 degrees, strong winds, but I had my anchor to hold me in place.