WAVEWALK KAYAKS

When you’re 6’3″ tall and weigh 245 lbs, like Jeff McGovern, you can speak softly (he usually does) and carry a big stick, or a small one – in this case an Emmrod fishing rod.

But you can’t stand up in a fishing kayak unless it’s the real deal, that is a kayak that works in real life, and not just in the mind of some kayak manufacturers, and in their marketing hype…

So Jeff, who likes to feel comfortable anywhere and anytime (he usually does), especially when he’s kayak fishing, uses only a W500 fishing kayak – and he won’t use anything else.
He calls his W kayak “a therapeutic yak”, since last year he had sciatica problems after a long drive from Florida to Chicago and back, and his W kayak helped him relax and stretch.

This photo was shot by Jim Green, Jeff’s son in law, and a promising kayak angler himself.

Just look how Jeff is perfectly relaxed while casting…

The first unofficial Wavewalk group fishing outing in Florida was held December 14, 2009 at Crystal River, Florida.  Gary Rankel, Ed Wheeler and I participated, fishing out of the new 2009 W500 fishing kayaks.  Ed and I were in our bright yellow boats and Gary was in his green “Packer Yaker” (the name of which I understood only after asking him about it–seems he is a life long Green Bay Packer fan with as much passion for the team as he has for fishing.)

We started the day at our usual breakfast place right on highway 19 in Crystal River the day with a hearty meal for the task ahead.  We hit the road in heavy fog, heading over to the Ozello area for launch from the parking area of a local seafood restaurant.   They have a great kayak and canoe launch directly off the lot and, as long as you park well away from the patron spaces, you are fine.  Besides, nothing beats a fried grouper sandwich at the end of a day of fishing and, since you are already there, why not partake?

We launched into water that was as smooth as a sheet of glass in the fog.  It was wonderful.  The temperature was ideal and only a few of the flying teeth (sand gnats) were bothering us.  We headed out on a falling tide using a large culvert to take us through to the other side of the bridge.  That saved us at least a mile of extra paddling while heading to Gary’s favorite fishing spots that he was anxious to share.  Our trip out was aided by the tidal flow, so each stroke was easy and effortless.

We began casting as soon as Gary indicated we had reached his spots.  I started right off with a small sea trout and soon after, Gary landed a really nice one.  I also managed to land a number of lizard fish on my lures.  These fish are not considered a game fish and serve only to keep the fish I really wanted from getting to my baits.

Our rigging was standard inshore Florida style.  We used both bait casting and spinning gear.  Ed and Gary used superlines, while I relied on mono for my bait casters and reserved the superline for my spinning tackle.  We used both fluorocarbon and mono leaders as the presentations dictated.  For lures, top waters are always a good choice in the Crystal river area.  Gary preferred the IMA Skimmer, a very thin pencil style top water from the Japanese bass fishing market, while Ed and I stayed with our proven Spook Jr’s and Mirrolures.  The baits all managed to produce hits, but the actual hookup percentage was low that day.  That’s why we call it fishing and not catching.

The entire day was memorable– both for the company and the adventure.  We saw lots of new water in a different way and enjoyed the antics of both birds and dolphins.  At one point, while we relaxed wading near a small island, two dolphins decided to share our fishing spot.  They were in a deeper cut a few feet from us, just ripping into schools of mullet.  Times like this show who the really talented anglers are– the ones that swim with the fish, to be exact.  Sure they ran off our quarry, but watching them is always fun.  Besides, who knows, maybe we can pick up a thing or two from the real experts in these waters?

We ended our day around 2PM and headed in back through the same culvert we used first thing in the morning.  With a slightly stronger incoming tide, that short ride was fun with the W500 shooting right through the center, using the paddle only to keep from hitting the sides.  A really remarkable thing that struck me about this whole day was the comfort we had fishing from these boats.  None of us are young men –I am the youngest at 55, both Ed and Gary are the 70 year old range.  Between us there have been back issues ranging from simple sciatic problems to major surgeries.  To a man, the W500 is a boat we could use easily and comfortable.  In any other fishing kayaks, our range would not have been as great and there would have been many more stops to get out for unkinking.  This trip was only the start.  There will be many more to come, fishing the waters off  Florida’s west coast in the world’s most comfortable and fishable paddle craft.

Jeff

I have back pain and  and have to say my w-500 is the most comfortable boat I’ve ever paddled. I had an unfortunate encounter with a bad chiropractor and have issues with L5 and sciatica now, and had tried SOT kayaks with bad results… but I could see the w kayak is entirely a different story after only one outing!

After I’ve had my w500 out for only 4 times and I could see that once you get your technique down it’s FAST, easily as fast as a 13′ kayak (if you’re in the aggressive mounted position)… and the leaning into a turn works really well, especially if you’re seated near the stern. I have gotten used to a milder cruising stroke in the seated position that allows me to paddle for literally hours with no problems or back pain (holding the paddle closer towards the center and letting the paddle and gravity do some of the work).

Last night I took it out into some choppier, high traffic areas and got a lot of inquiries from some sea-kayakers who were very impressed with a boat you can stand up in.

I am loving my w-500… After I’d been out about 6 times, took it out with a 230lb friend… I am an intermediate paddler and my friend had minor experience. After several failed attempts to paddle together I had him try it solo. He had a good sense of humor, and I’m not deterred!  Good times indeed!

I am very comfortable paddling it by myself now and spend 1/3 of the time paddling it standing, and get tons of inquiries. I’m getting questions from Salmon fishers and sailboats (mostly because I row near a fishing/sailing boat moorage now).

I did not try my W500 first before I ordered it, I simply did TONS of research and asked many people I know who are experienced. I am one of the very satisfied customers who’s incredibly happy with his decision, it was not hasty.
I was asked last night by some kayaker where he could try a w-kayak… i said “right here, right now… pull up to that dock and I’ll let you give her a spin”

The last 3 times I’ve been out on my w-500 was to lurk outside the fish ladder and watch the salmon return to spawn, kind of fun watching 24″ fish jumping all around you, oh but I have a better view than everyone else!

I have still yet to try my w-500 for fishing, but will soon once I find a few good nearby spots, and will be sure to take more pics.

Thanks again and happy paddling!

-=John




Kayaking, Leg Numbness, Leg Pain and Sciatica is the latest blog post on the new Painless Kayak Fishing blog.

Something tells me that it’s going to make some people angry, but it’s also going to give food for thought to a lot more people – paddlers and fishermen who are either considering kayaks, using them, or have already given up because of back problems, which are at the root of most leg problems.

Tim Kerr is a kayaker, and member of a kayaking club in Buffalo, New York. He came to West Newton, Massachusetts, tested the W500, and ordered one right away. Here is his review:

Buffalo, New York. June 29, 2009
The Wavewalk W500 has allowed me to return to the water!

After suffering from sciatica that developed after using my single hull kayak earlier this year, I searched for a more comfortable boat. Not only did I find the Wavewalk, I was immediately taken with its unique design that allows people like me with degenerative disk disease (I’m fifty-one) to lay back and rest, sit up straight or even stand and stretch out.

Kayaking is not for everyone but the Wavewalk opens the door for so many people that may have tried the sport and then gave it up because it just plain hurts their back. I’ve got a crushed disk that hates it when I stick my legs forward and then try to paddle as in a single hulled boat. The “saddle” combined with the twin hulls in the Wavewalk is a great invention.

I took the boat into the inner harbor in Buffalo. I didn’t try to lift it myself, I’ve got to be careful about such things. I brought along two extra items, a little waterproof pad to sit on, and a camera box on a leash. Attached are some pictures taken on my second day out. I spent the entire morning in the boat without back pain. The next day I was fine–no sciatica.

PS, I drove nine hundred miles in two days to try this boat, to be sure it was right. I’m glad I bought it. I’m “back” in the water again…

Tim Kerr

Tim beaching and getting out the W way: From the front, and without getting his feet wet

Added June 27, 2009:

-”Crossed the Niagara River last week. Was I the first in a Wavewalk? Paddling is going well. Going out to Lake Erie to play in some waves for the first time today…. Getting used to carrying it on the car and made a shelf in my garage for winter storage.”

Update from August 2009: Tim’s first movie W kayaking on Lake Erie, Pennsylvania

November 2009: Watch Tim’s Kayak Reentry Movie From Niagara River, NY