WAVEWALK FISHING KAYAKS BLOG » Massachusetts

W Fishing Kayak Rigged For Oceanographic Research

W kayak — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:51:56 +0000

Peter Traykovski is an oceanographer who specializes in Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering. He works at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. WHOI is the world’s largest private, non-profit oceanographic research institution, and a global leader in the study and exploration of the ocean.
Peter is also an avid kayaker and surfer…
Peter needed a small, lightweight, stable, dry and comfortable boat, in which he could spend long hours in the ocean. After testing various options, he chose the W500, which he outfitted with a 2hp 4-cycle Honda outboard, as well as various scientific instruments. Says Peter: –

Working great so far… Have it mostly rigged for science, just a few finishing touches required.
Did a quick survey of Woods Hole Harbor last week with the Honda motor and the Hummingbird sidescan and was pleased with the results. Put some sump pumps in tonight for keeping water out in rougher conditions. Just need to finish integrating the RTK GPS and will be all set. I am shipping it to North Carolina for a project studying a tidal inlet next week so that will its first major test. Will send some more pics when I get a chance.
Peter

W kayak in the surf - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Woods Hole harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

First Kayak Bass Fishing Trip of the Season, By Rox Davis

W kayak — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:37:50 +0000

I finally got out in my W500 for the first trip of the season in my yak.
I launched at 10:30 am at lake Congamond in Southwick Massachusetts.
Today was a picture perfect day.
Slight wind with sunny skies, I was hoping for some clouds, but they didn’t show up until the end of my day.
Water temps were 43 degrees to 47.8 degrees, and gin clear.

Long story short, I threw everything but the kitchen sink.
Though I had 3 Bass follow my jerk bait all the way to the boat, but they just wouldn’t commit and bite it.
I caught 5 pickerels, and only small bass.
I called it quits at about 3:30pm.

I was paddling through the flats, an area where the water is 2’ to 8’ deep, and decided to give one more lure a try.
I had a little mepps inline spinner in brown trout color, tied onto 8’ test floro.
I cast it almost to shore and retrieved it back to me slowly.
That picked me up a couple more small Bass, but not what I was looking for.

I made a cast up shallow next to a dock, and as the spinner came past the very end………….BAM!!! Fish On!!
I had a head shaking fool, running for deep water.
Now I’m getting my first tow of the season, as she turns and heads straight at me……………
I’m reeling in the slack line as fast as I can to catch up to her, and up she comes for my first tail Dance of the season.
She dives under my W500 and Pops out the other side, my pole dipped down under water hoping she would pop off.
She surges back out for the shallows on the dock I pulled her from.
I pull her up towards the surface, back towards my yak, and into my net.

Now this is what I was Looking for, 3.5 lbs fat healthy Large Mouth Bass.

Called it a day after that, and headed home.
A side note, I picked up another motor, a 2003 2hp Honda 4 stroke.
After it gets a tune up, I’ll be making another video.

Life Is Good.

Tight lines and MoPaddle safe all.
Rox

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