Wavewalk Kayaks

Here’s a new article called Wheels for Fishing Kayak Transportation.

It summarizes various rigging projects that we know about in this field, thanks to W kayak anglers who’ve contributed their creativity, insight and pictures…

Donavan Campbell is a W kayak stream fisherman from North Carolina, who contributed a fishing kayak review of his W300.

His wheel system offers the advantages of being low-cost, simple, easy to make, and lightweight for carrying on board. It’s all-terrain, and easy to attach to the kayak.

-”Wanted to pass along pictures of the wheel system my dad and I created for the W300.

We utilized a 1/2″ aluminum tube as an axle inside a 3/4″ aluminum tube, attached plastic wheels and mounted (drilled through both tubes) aluminum shelf brackets as guides and as a place to attach the bungee.

Important thing to me was keeping the weight to a minimum (complete set weighs about 3lbs) because when you river fish, where you put in is not where you get out; the wheel system goes with you.

Additionally no ball bearings or anything that would rust as the wheel spins on a plastic bushing, the axle does not turn.

Has proven to be very stable and quick to attach and detach.  Everything was purchased at Lowes Hardware for little less than $50.

No problem maneuvering any terrain now.

I imagine in a couple of years the plastic bushings and wheel will need to be replaced but this is a minimal investment.  Hope someone finds this helpful.

–Donavan”

Following Rox’ recommendation, we tested the clamp-mounted rod holder from Tite-Lok, and decided to add it to our selection of optional rod holders.

The advantages we see in this rod holder are:

1. Versatility - You can mount and dismount it within seconds, and change its location along the cockpit’s spray deflector. Both vertical and horizontal angles are easily adjustable.

2. Quality - This device is built to last.

The Tite-Lok 5615 clamp mounted rod holder attached to a W500 fishing kayak’s spray deflector.

The Tite-Lok clamp mount rod holder viewed separately from the kayak

Note that the clamp offers two different attachment spots fro the rod holder: on the side and on top.

Price: We’re offering the Tite-Lok rod holder with a clamp mount for a $45.

For more information on the rod holders we offer, visit our Fishing Kayak Rod Holders page

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

Donavan Campbell is a stream kayak angler from North Carolina, who got his W300 in the summer of last year. He took his time to write a review, and it was worth waiting for…:

I wanted to share my review of the W300 with you…

-”Look at the teeth on that Muskie!”

I use the W300 on the New River in the NC mountains (Sparta, Jefferson) for smallmouth bass fishing.

I was very impressed with the stability of the W300 for river fishing and it’s tracking.
Water depths range from 10′ to 6″ on the New River and the W can handle either along with occasional sharp rocks.

I keep the rigging light for easy maneuverability out of the water and plan to add an additional rod holder and the “wheels” I see from other owners. I fish with other standard kayaks and am glad I purchased the W, I strongly recommend the W to everyone that asks, thanks.

Donavan Campbell
Statesville, NC

Added some fish pictures, first calendared fishing trip for 2010 is March 26th & 27th!

PS- If anyone in western NC wants to check out a wavewalk I would be happy to help them…

There’s a new article available on the exciting, complex, confusing, and often daunting subject of rigging your fishing kayak.

The article is called Rigging Your Fishing Kayak: Some Basic Practical Advice

The main message it conveys is that there’s no need to hurry and start outfitting your W kayak for fishing as soon as you take it out of the box in which it came, and it’s advisable to use it at least several times as is before you decide if and what type of rigging you’d like to add to it.

The article discusses typical rigging questions like rod holders, paddle holders, rudder, seat, outriggers, motor, anchor, milk crate etc.

We recommend that prospecting clients as well as new owners of W fishing kayaks read it.

Doug had already contributed a short review of his W300 fishing kayak:

-”Just came in from a couple hours in the inlet after work — 1 14# bass.  Got a 30 and a 16 last Sat night.  I don’t fish from it too often; I might throw a swimmer out on my way to and fro.  For the season so far I have around 75 bass over 10#/30″.  I’m running second place in the season long New York Surf Fishing contest.  I’m totally satisfied with the Wavewalk.  If I wreck this one somehow I’ll order another within a week.  It gets me access to good fishing areas and it gets me away from the crowds.  Only ‘problem’ is I put a couple pretty deep gouges on the bottom while fishing in mussel beds and around rock jetties –
Doug”

Now Doug sent us some pictures of a special kayak trolley he got for it:

Says Doug:

-”Here are some photos of a cart special made by paddlecart.com   I use it all the time. Works over rough terrain, rocks, down embankments,etc”

-”Attached is the drawing I sent to Paddlecart in case users inquire” :

Jeff McGovern to conduct kid’s inshore fishing clinic at Genung’s Fish Camp, Crescent Beach, January 23

Palatka, FL 1/4/10—Come spend an exciting, fun day with Jeff McGovern at Genung’s Fish Camp from 9 AM to Noon on January 23, 2010. Learn how to choose lures, bait, line and rigging to catch more fish in fresh and saltwater.
Emmrods will be featured and there will be a drawing for an Emmrod Packer Combo donated by Jeff’s Tackle Box at the end of the program. This free event is open to youth and youth groups of all ages and their parents and chaperones.
Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Registration is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Genung’s Fish Camp is located at 291 Cubbedge Road (just below the 206 bridge at US 1), Crescent Beach, FL. For more information or to register, please contact Johnny at (904) 471-4144.

For more information about Jeff McGovern or Emmrod, go to www.jeffstacklebox.com

Gary Rankel from Hernando, Florida, and his friends founded a new, local kayak fishing club called the Nature Coast Kayak Fishing Club.
Congratulations Gary - We wish you and your friends success, and hope you’ll have a lot of fun!

Gary has already contributed great reviews, stories and pictures to our website and to this blog, and today he sent us some more pictures of his W500 kayak fully rigged for fishing:

Gary’s unique and ingenious way of mounting a compass between the hulls of his W kayak:

And this is already a classic: A doormat attached underneath the hull tips, enabling Gary to drag his fishing kayak on asphalt and concrete pavement for long distances. When Gary reaches the water he simply folds the mat inside one of the hull tips.

Gary’s tackle box:

Jeff did it again: Now he takes us on a video tour of his new W500 that’s fully rigged for saltwater fishing, yet features no milk crate!

And if you happen to wonder what fish are inside that blue bag at the bottom of the kayak’s hull, here’s, one of them - a nice, tasty looking sea trout:

Rigging the kayak with a transducer:

This is the plumber’s putty I used for fixing the transducer in the hull. It cost $1.99

First I made a ring of putty in the bottom of the hull. The ring is big enough to put my transducer in.

Then I put the transducer in and added a little water for good contact with the hull.

I then covered the transducer with more putty and sealed it up.

The putty sealed really well with the kayak’s hull. There was no water leakage.
I got a good signal through the hull, and it was cheap and fast to do. I can also peel it off real fast with no residue left behind.

And this is how I improved comfort:

I picked up a yoga mat from my local Good Will store for $2.00.

I used double faced carpet tape on the bench.

I cut the mat to fit the bench seat and laid it down.

It made for a nice soft seat and it’s not slippery.

Here’s my “W” at the lake ready to go:

I live in one of those houses that are on the hillside in the background.

The “W” is a great boat to sneak up on wildlife.

This is a beautiful lake just to be on. (Willow Lake Prescott Arizona.)

Bob