WAVEWALK FISHING KAYAKS BLOG » paddling standing

6’4″ 265 lbs Ex NFL Player 1st Time Standing in W Fishing Kayak, By Mike Hancock

W kayak — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:59:36 +0000

I took my kayak out for a test spin at the lower lake lagoon at Castaic Lake here in South California. It’s been raining off and on the last two weeks but I finally just went!

It took about 5 minutes of getting used to the balance of sitting up so high on the center saddle, but after getting used to it, I was fine! I weigh 265, now I can start working out a bit again, paddling.
It was a May Grey day and windy as heck, but I went all over the lagoon anyway. No problem at all except my large profile acts like a sail going straight into the wind, so I leaned forward and that helped a lot!

I couldn’t stand up in the w kayak in the rough windy center of the lake, but when I got in the calmer waters near shore, I could! The fact is, I just don’t have that good of “sea legs!” I even had trouble standing on the back deck a big fishing boat in Alaska last year when the water got rough.

I took most of these pics myself so angles are weird, especially standing shots as I could only shoot straight down, but right at the end of the day, I talked a guy on shore into taking a few pics of me doing a short spin out in the water. It had brightened and got calmer by then too!

I’m NOT a guy that likes to just paddle around for fun. Now that I know how easy this thing is to use, I’m going fishing from now on! The guys in the float tubes just drag 4 to 6-inch plastic worms while kicking along (I saw about 5 fish caught), one about three lbs.
I have the two built-in rod holders in my W kayak, but their angle seems better for holding spare rods then for trolling, so I’m going to try the clamp-on holders. I’m going to paddle around slowly dragging a worm myself, and fish!

The bass are way bigger in this little lower lake lagoon than in the upper lake they said.

I’m back IN THE GAME NOW. That lower lake lagoon was off limits to me with my big bass boat. No power boats allowed except small boats powered by electric. It’s only 30 minutes away…so with launching, it’s only about 45 minutes to world class bass fishing. I’m taking advantage.

Next time I’m going to fish!

Mike Hancock
South California Fishing Kayaks, Simi Valley

Wooden Paddle for My W Fishing Kayak, By Kevin Eastman

W kayak — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:31:08 +0000

I finally finished that paddle I’ve been building forever, and have paddled it a bit. It’s working out quite well for the W kayak.
I laminated the shaft out of one layer of poplar in the center for stiffness, and a layer of cedar on each side.
The blade is a lamination of two different colored cedars along with a maple tip to take a bit more abuse.
The blades have fiberglass cloth epoxied over both surfaces, and the shaft is finished in Tung oil (China wood oil) over the bare wood.
I also included a ferule for the shaft so I can break it down, as well as feather the blades left or right.
The paddle is nice and light, and really moves the boat along well. I’m liking it a lot so far.
I’d like to build one with carbon fiber paddles at some point, but who knows how many years that would take a the rate I put this one together.

Kevin

Kevin is a fly fisherman who fishes mostly standing up in his W kayak. He paddles and poles his kayak while sight fishing for red fish >>

Standing in Your Fishing Kayak – New Picture of Jeff Taubes, Cape Coral

W kayak — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:32:31 +0000

Here is yet another picture contributed by Jeff Taubes, of Florida Fishing Kayaks, in Cape Coral:

Doesn’t the color of the water in this picture just make you want to leave everything and take a vacation in Florida?

Testing The W Fishing Kayak

W kayak — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:07:43 +0000

Here is a picture sent to us by Gene, from High and Dry – Wavewalk fishing kayaks dealer in Palm Coast, Florida:

Fisherman standing in kayak and showing a big fish he caught

It shows one of his clients testing a W kayak, apparently with noticeable success

My First Pompano – Kayak Fishing Trip Report By Gary Rankel

W kayak — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

We had perfect conditions today so we paddled to the open Gulf and fished around a moored crabbing boat named the Viagra Express (we thought we better not peek through the window). We got some nice trout and I got my first pompano which was more amazing since I got him on topwater, which is really rare. What a great fighter for a not-so-big fish. We also ran into a school of rays, a couple of manatees hosting a bunch of remoras, and a disappointed osprey who crashed into the water near my W only to come up empty. What a great day.

Gary

Gary's first pompano

Bob fishing standing in his W kayak