We just got home from a VERY COLD trip to the Eagle River Chain of Lakes!
But I bundled up and got out in my W as much as possible between rain, sleet and a few snow flakes!
You can see that Darby really hangs in there and loves to go kayaking!
I’m thinking that my kayaking will be limited until next spring as winter is surely in the air here!
Sharon
Read Sharon’s Review of Her W500 Fishing Kayak
Sharon and Jim Bramm, from Wisconsin, got a W500 early this year. Since they couldn’t decide who’s going to paddle it, they ordered a W500, in yellow. Here is Sharon’s review of her yellow W500 kayak:
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my yellow W500 kayak, and really see a difference between the new and old model (that Jim has). It’s MUCH easier to balance and to turn…you can actually see the hulls flex in the water when you get in heavy waves. I’m turning it just like a regular kayak now and sitting in all different positions…as my legs get stiff in one position, I just straighten them out or sit sideway on it.
Greater cockpit area and leg-width room is really nice. Since I’m disabled it’s really a joy to just step in from the shore with my walking stick on the side of the hull to balance me and then I just sit down and slide to the back to get it to float and we’re on our way! It’s also easier to handle in the wind. I’m still working on those pictures! My husband works as a Forest Ranger on the weekends so it’s hard to get him free to take pics when I do my fishing/kayaking on the weekends! But I promise I’ll get them to you.
Darby (my Service Dog) just got a new vest that is bright yellow (to match my kayak?). I use a fold-up soft canoe seat in it so I have some back support if I want it and when Darby comes along I just unfold that seat and lay it flat on the seat in front of me and that give him something to dig his claws into and is also softer for him to lay on. He really pouts if it’s too hot and I can’t take him kayaking!!! I use a drop/stop anchor rigging in the back with a 5# downrigger weight as an anchor. The round shape catches less weeds when you pull it up. I let Jim try mine and he really noticed the difference too. When are you going to come up with a cockpit cover for it? I’m too busy kayaking to sit down at my sewing machine and make one!
Sharon
Midnight Star Farm, Wisconsin
NEW: Sharon and Darby Paddling The Eagle River
I finally took my new W500 to test up in the Michigan’s upper peninsula. Perfect weather awaited me as temps hit mid seventies and sunshine abounded for the three day trip. I logged plenty of fishing and paddling hours on the W500. I thought my original W300 was comfortable and stable, but for a guy my size the W500 is the perfect fit.
As always no yak-back was noticed. Tracking was great and paddling seemed even easier then the W300.
With the longer length it took a little more effort to turn in the river current but was well worth it do to the large amount of space to stretch out in and the added storage. I have not had the W500 out in rough water yet but if it handles similar to the 300 it should do great.
I am convinced that this is another winner. Great job Wavewalk, you have done it again.
I would suggest the W500 for anyone who is larger framed than the average.
The trip was great, however the rock bass moved in to the areas where I was catching walleye in June. I was never able to locate the walleye, however the small bass provided entertainment.
Friday I took a trip to a local lake. I decided to go through a channel that connects two lakes. I have been down the channel before with a regular boat but it would have been difficult to fish with the type of craft I was in. However I did see plenty of fish and I took notes of where the fish were holding in case I ever returned.
The W500 allowed me to sneak up and anchor just upstream from my first target with out being noticed. The first target was a boat dock on a bend in the channel which had a five to seven foot deep hole under it.
I started by fan casting one of my favorite lures a floating minnow. Three fan casts produced nothing. Then I decided to drift a leech into the hole. Bam, a nice largemouth broke the water and put up a tremendous fight in the current. Two more casts, two more fish. I got complacent, after all how many fish could this little hole hold?. My bad, I cast my forth cast and turned to adjust my anchor when a huge bucket mouth jumped and shed my hook into the air. I know what your thinking, yea the biggest fish of the day always gets away! Well it did.
One hour later and over twenty fish later I realized what a honey hole I had discovered, and thanks to the W500 I was able to stay stealthy and present the bait precisely where it had to go. It was obvious that these fish haven’t had a lot of pressure on them, they had no hook marks on their lips.
I proceeded down the channel which only averaged a foot deep, but I anchored before every bend and had success all day. I ran out of my three dozen leeches and called it a day after three exciting hours.
Who would of thought this little channel could hold all those fish and even some quality fish.
Light gear and current made the action fun. These are fish I would have not been able to catch with out the W500. Large mouth, small mouth bass, and pike were all caught and released. I want to be able to repeat this day again next year.
One photo shows some add-ons. Drink holder, rod holder, and paddle holder to hold net in front and easy to grab, this seemed to work out really well.
Thanks again for a great boat,
John
Read previous blog posts by John Fabina:
-”Jeanne and I had a chance to take a trip down a stretch of the Wisconsin river. Fishing was slow but the scenery was beautiful. The weather was perfect and we had a great time with the W kayaks.
The day after we arrived home my new W500 arrived. I sent some pictures from our trip to the river and my new paint scheme for the 500. I figured the tiger scheme will look good if we take it to Africa…
My plan is to use the 300 for streams, rivers, and ponds. I will use the new 500 for larger bodies of water and lake Michigan and be a little more visible.
I hope to test it out soon after I add a few fishing accessories.
John”
Read John Fabina’s first W fishing kayak review
-”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”
John Fabina from Wisconsin sent this great two-day kayak fishing report:
-”I had a chance to slip up to Northern Wisconsin and try river fishing. It was still a little chilly and the fish didn’t seem very aggressive yet. We did manage to catch a few but no trophies.”
“It was a great trip down the remote river. Again the W300 opened up new opportunities. It was the most comfortable four hour float trip I ever took. ”
“It was very easy to get out on the bank of the river, spots that I wouldn’t have had a chance to get out with my old kayak.”
“Spending more time standing and fishing is becoming more second nature for me. The second day was spent on a nearby flowage. Again hours of comfortable fishing thanks to the W300! Can’t wait till my next trip. John F.”
John Fabina from Wisconsin used Krylon Fusion spray paint for this superb camo paint job he did on his new W fishing kayak.
Says John:
-”I didn’t have time to go fishing today because we are going to the ball game tonight to watch the Brewers beat the Cubs. However I did do a little painting, and I like the way it turned out. When I head up north this summer to the rivers and backwaters maybe this will help me sneak up on the big ones. Check out the new color scheme. Talk to you soon, John”
John Fabina, from Wisconsin, got his W kayak a short time ago. He sent us this picture of this good looking bass, and wrote:
-”Today I landed my first fish on the W. It was a small bass but nevertheless, it broke the ice. I was after trout today but all I caught was five bass. Had a good time and I was able to practice in the wind and waves. The W performed well. I might be able to try again tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. See ya, John”
John Fabina recently got his new W fishing kayak, and this is his first report from a fishing expedition, with the kayak rigged for fishing:
-”I ventured out today to try to find crappies or blue gills. I tried two lakes, water temps were in the low 40’s. I found fish but I couldn’t coax them to bite. It may be a little early yet. More importantly it was my first time out on the W with fishing gear. Out for six hours on two lakes and no back fatigue!
My fish finder mount is a portable unit that came with a plastic base and battery holder. It also came with a nylon soft case which I removed and will use for ice fishing.
Sometimes the best set up is the easiest. I simply used the W’s bungee to secure plastic base and added a safety cable. It is very secure. I mounted the transducer sideways on the bracket and attached it with the suction cup on the side of the W. It worked great. Now we just need the water to warm up.
John”
John is one of those W kayak fishermen who live in northern states (Wisconsin, in his case), and for whom every opportunity to get out and hit the water in spring (or autumn, for this matter) is a cause for celebration:
-”It was only in the forties today and cloudy but I had the day off am really getting the itch to get out and practice in the “W”.
I decided to go to a spot on a river close by which offers a safe paddling route.
The cold temperatures made me take all the safety precautions very seriously. I have been a professional firefighter for 16 years and served 11 years on the dive rescue team for the city of Milwaukee, and have seen the results of cold water tragedies.
The current was somewhat strong but the wind was calm. After spending three hours today on the river I am feeling very comfortable maneuvering around in the “W”.
It is comforting to know that I can now paddle during cold weather periods and feel safe.
Looks like it is going to be cool all week.
Hope it will warm up soon so I can take more Photos. I am also looking into waterproof video cameras.
Talk to you soon.
John Fabina”
Read John’s recent first-impression review of his new W fishing kayak
John Fabina, a kayak fisherman from Wisconsin, sent us a review of his new W fishing kayak.
It’s the third W fishing kayak review we get from Wisconsin, which strengthens the notion that while northern fishermen have never fully adopted traditional kayaks (sit-in and SOT) as fishing platforms, they can see the advantages offered by the W kayak over other popular fishing crafts, such as canoes, dinghies and Jon boats.
When you read John’s review, please notice that he remembered Wavewalk’s instructions for first timers, and that made his learning curve short and effortless.
John Fabina got his new W fsihing kayak a short time ago, and he already rigged it for the fishing trips he’s planning once the ice is gone…
Says John:
-”I have not been able to access open water yet, but I have been rigging my new “w” kayak for fishing. Using ideas from other owners I have added a crate in the back that includes three rod holders and a net holder. Two [catalog brand] quick draw rod holers have been mounted in front. Also added on the side a hook that is used with the bungee to quickly hold rod on side of the “w”.
-”Finally, I riveted two pieces of aluminum that were fashioned into a paddle holder.”
-”I am still exploring my best options for mounting my portable eagle fish finder. I sure am looking forward to getting on the water and learning about the “w”. I will keep you posted and hopefully have some photos of spring crappies.”
