WAVEWALK FISHING KAYAKS BLOG » Massachusetts

New England Kayak Fishing Trip Report: Chunker Bass and Rats, Minus a Pig Lost, By Rox Davis

W kayak — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:42:15 +0000

Well the weather has been great here in Connecticut, and I took advantage of it.

Sunday, November 27th and Monday November 28th.

I took the W500 with the 1.2hp outboard and headed to lake Congamond in Massachusetts. The motor comes in very handy for getting to my spots quickly.

Got to the waters edge at 10:30am and I was off the water at 2:30pm. Water was a little dirty, 45 to 46.8 degrees.

Tossed rattle trap, rapala fat rap, silver buddy, and 2″ paddle tail on a 1/16th oz jig. The only lure that worked was the paddle tail.

I did have a rough start, standing at the waters edge before launching, I lost my footing and took a shi##er, got both feet $#@#%$# wet to my ankles, son of a beach…..and I’m going to have a nice bruise on my arm by tomorrow….

Then my motor wouldn’t start…….I’m thinking -”The Gary Curse is upon me” (he is a friend of mine, and when ever he goes out fishing something always goes wrong) -

After pulling and pulling and thinking, what the heck….. I said to myself, gas, spark air……..sheet, I forgot

to turn on the gas switch…….DumbASS!! Curse nope, blond moment…….yes.

I spent the first half hour tossing the RT, Fat Rap, and silver buddy.

Then I caught 8 small bass right off the bat when I switched to the paddle tail grub.

I’d cast it out, let it sink to the bottom and pause, then give it a light pop.

All the bigger Bass came out of 16′ to 22′ of water.

I had to head home, my feet were cold……note to self: Keep socks and an extra pair of sneakers in my truck.

Monday the 28th:

Water temps were 46 to 48 degrees, and very windy.

I was in 9′ of water popping the jig with the paddle tail. Cast it out past a weed line break and popped it back into the slop, as I freed it from the weeds…………….BAM…. shake, shake Flash of green goes the the right zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, flash of green goes to the left zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Crap my Net is stuck on my bungee………………… under the yak she goes, and I slowly pull up and out to pull her back, reach down and I shove my thumb in her mouth.
I’m a happy camper, 4lbs of plump Largemouth Bass.

I continue on with the paddle tail, 2 rats, and three reties after the pickerel chew up my line.

I head over to a drop from 9 to 22′ of water and start working the jig.

Bam…………..nothing, darn pickerel cut me off again.

So instead of retying, I put the rod down and grab the shakey head worm, Zman straight tail worm dark green, cast it into a spot with a little wood in 16′ and let it sit, shake, pause, shake shake

BAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM med/heavy rod doubles over, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ then nothing.

WTF, I figured maybe a nick in my line and it snapped.

I reel in the slack, and there in front of my eyes…………….. A PIGTAIL………….knot failure…..and I know it was my fault, I didn’t like the knot when I tied on the shakey rig, but I thought it would be okay.

One of the things I tell people when tying knots: if it doesn’t look Pretty…. RETIE IT!!!!!!

Well Thank God for my first chunker, only rats minus the pig I lost was it.

Still grateful for getting out, it was a beautiful day.

Life Is Good.

Tight lines and MoPaddle safe all.

Rox

More about motorized fishing kayaks >>

Fishing Kayak Outfitting Plans, By Chris Ott

W kayak — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:16:50 +0000

As usual, you were right in pointing out that there was some good kayaking left in the month of October.
I made two short outings. I promised I would put the W in the cellar when it was time to put the winter attachments on the tractor. Unfortunately this happened this past weekend in anticipation of 16 inches of October snow. So now I am in Winter Project mode where I plan (and dream) of my next W outing. It would be interesting to read what other W owners will be doing during any Winter “down time” (for those of us with this seasonal limitation). I suspect with the recent postings of how easy it is to motorize the W, that this will be on some folk’s lists. I plan to re-glue/replace the PVS piping on my W kayak cart (seen in one of the pictures). I did not use the correct adhesive and it is becoming loose. I also plan to modify the seat/cushion. I’ll either replace or put splints on it so I can position it on the saddle or go with another design. I may not use Kevin’s design because I am not ready for standing that high in the W yet. I also have to rethink how I fish now because of the additional range I have in the W. For starters, I will be researching the techniques Rox mentioned in her most excellent recent outing as well as taking a look at Jeff McGovern’s fishing poles. All in all the planning will be limited by the reality of two kids still in college!

Well, that’s it for now from snowy Central Massachusetts,

Chris

Fall in New England viewed from the W fishing kayak

System For Quick Kayak Position Adjustments For Fishing Fast Species, By Brandon Cutter

W kayak — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:19:21 +0000

Brandon fishes offshore and in the estuaries of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The unique solution he developed was inspired by oar systems first here first by Wayne Taylor, and then by Dave Baumbaugh.
Says Brandon:

-I was trying to figure out a way to control the boat while in fishing mode: When targeting false albacore or bonita, speed to the fish and a quick cast are pivotal. These fish are extremely fast swimmers and pop up just for a few seconds, so I needed to be able to spin my W kayak and cast in an instant.

I drilled (29/64″ drill bit) 4 holes on the gunwale (port fore, port aft, starboard fore and starboard aft). Then dropped (2) smaller open oarlocks into the holes so they fit snug. I will not bolt them down in order to be able to move them on the water from paddling position (whether with both oars or just one) to storage position for the oar/paddle.

I plan on starting with the oarlocks in the fore position. This allows for me to paddle normally to propel the W kayak. I can rest the paddle perpendicularly at any time and cast over it. Once hooked into a fish, I can quickly move the starboard fore oarlock to the port side aft position and store the paddle inline.

If fish are breaking sporadically (like false albacore and bonita usually do), I plan on splitting the kayak paddle and using half as on oar on the port fore position. I should be able to spin the boat to the proper angle with the left hand and cast with the right.

I doubt I will be able to test it until the spring, but can’t wait.

Brandon

Brandon Lands A 9 Lbs False Albacore On A Fly, In His W300 Kayak, MA

W kayak — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:29:50 +0000

Brandon Cutter, an offshore W kayak fly fisherman from Cape Cod, MA, landed this 9 lbs false albacore on a fly:

Read Brandon’s review of his W300 kayak >>
(He has two, actually)

Chris’ New Kayak Fishing Trip Report, Massachusetts

W kayak — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:19:01 +0000

I have been kayaking on the East Branch of the Ware River. The water is at its highest ever since Tropical Storms Irene and Lee and most of the beaver dams are below the water level.
I took a nice bass (picture included) in a quite part of a turn in the river recently.
The higher water level allows me to go further upstream, but the vegetation and current can pose challenges as one picture attests to. Of course coming back downstream is a blast because the challenge (and fun) is not to portage down an obstacle but to kayak over it!

Don’t know if I will have a chance to go out again this year, but the W will stay in the garage until I put the snowplow on the tractor for the winter.

Once again, thanks for a great kayak!

Chris

"Guerrilla Kayaking" Chris' style

More "Guerrilla Kayaking" - Paddling in difficult spots