WAVEWALK KAYAKS

I went to Huntington Harbor on Sat. I had no problems paddling my W500 in the sitting position. I had to paddle thru a deep area to get to a shallow part of the harbor. I paddled around in the sitting position for a while in that area. After I felt comfortable, I stood up and paddled in the standing position (in the shallow area, about 1 to 2 feet deep). On the way back, I had to paddle thru deep areas and paddled in both in the standing and sitting position.
I took it slow, and I found the W to be very stable. I think my experience with SOT, ATV and riding horses helped.

I didn’t take a fishing equipment on my first trip, and will not take any while I’m learning to handle the W. After that I’ll start using the W for offshore fishing.

W loaded on Tundra to head home. My wife made the red flags about 8 years ago that I used to clip to the handles of my SOT while transporting those kayaks.

John owns four of the world’s best looking fishing kayaks, thanks to his original camo designs. But how do you attach four W fishing kayaks to a pickup truck bed when you’re going for a long paddling and fishing trip with your family ?

Says John:

-”It should be easy to transport four W s in the back of my pickup. I used the noodles on top of the 300 s that fit side by side between the wheel wells just as they did before. The slightly wider 500 s are placed on top of the noodles and the 300 s. Five straps do the trick. Two in the back keeping any sliding out action from occurring. Two pulling back to prevent the top W s from going through my rear window, and one strap going through the handles to prevent the wind from lifting the W s up. Hope to take the fleet out Friday if the weather cooperates.
John”

Read more about John and Jeanne’s kayak fishing trips in Wisconsin and Michigan >>

Great weather and a good turnout accompanied the first meeting of the Nature Coast Kayak Fishing Club held yesterday in Crystal River. My W 500 was noticed by a few other W owners in the area who stopped by to say hi and chat. It also attracted many other folks inquiring about that “crazy looking” twin hull kayak on my truck.

After a few hours of paddling at a local park, we gathered for a picnic hosted by Matt and Sue Clemons of Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company in Crystal River where Cap’t Adrian Englert also organized a Meet and Greet for the new club. He brought a few rigged fishing kayaks with him including his W 300, and lots of folks stopped by to inquire about the sport, kayaks and gear, and claim their club membership cards.

I’ve now met 5 people in our rural county who own Wavewalk kayaks, and haven’t heard a negative word about them yet. Perhaps we can organize a W convention and fishing trip sometime this summer.

Gary Rankel

Gary got a second W500 GF2 fishing kayak, and sold his old W300 to a friend.

He writes:

-”As per attached, the two 500′s fit nicely in my pickup, still leaving room in the top W500 for paddles, rods, etc. – should work out great when I’m taking a friend out.

We’re finally getting some decent weather. Headed out yesterday. Five hrs without one hit – first time that has happened. The cold water has really done a number on the fish – saw a few big snook belly up on the bottom, and F&G has just canceled the snook season for the year. Hope the redfish and trout didn’t get hit too bad.”

-”After my wife Jeanne caught on easily on her first trip we decided to head to big water in beautiful door county Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. We faced almost record cold temps for this time of year, highs in the fifties and light showers.”

-”We didn’t venture out the first day but I snuck a little fishing in the second day on the mink river off of Rowley’s bay, lake Michigan. I had a little action with smallmouth bass and perch on leeches and a splitshot. The second day was all about taking in the scenery at cave point.”

-”Calm weather on that side of the peninsula allowed us to take in the beautiful scenery and take a little break, We did land up answering a lot of questions about the w kayaks from the on lookers at cave point state park.”

-”Something tells me that more orders from Wisconsin are going to be pouring in…

That evening on the other side if the peninsula the wind calmed down also.”

-”We headed to Ephraim bay and enjoyed glass like conditions and a wonderful sunset.”

-”We had a great trip thanks to our new w kayaks which made it enjoyable, comfortable, and safe.”

-”I also learned a lesson. The water may be calm, but don’t loose sight of the big picture, especially on the great lakes. I was standing at Cave point when a rogue wave snuck up behind me. I didn’t have a chance, the swell propelled the w forward and I went backwards. It was a clean dismount and the w did not flip. It was totally my fault and not the boats. I forgot for a second that I was on the big water. Always be aware what is going on around you knew before we headed out though that the water was a tolerable temperature, or of course I would not have been standing at all. Jeanne was entertained and I told her to snap some photos while I found a spot to empty the w kayak and get back in a wiser man.
Have a great fourth!
John and Jeanne”

For those interested to know how to attach their W kayaks to the truck bed of their pickup trucks Jeff created this 1 minute video clip, in which he shows and explains how he does it:

Thanks Jeff!

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…