Retired, Bored, Love to Sell, Love to Fish.. -Fly Fisherman Becomes W Kayaks Dealer in Los Angeles Area

Posted on May 6, 2012 by

I’m retired, bored, love to sell, love to fish – hunt – camp and be outdoors. I float tube fly fish and love and hate it. Love to fish, hate the so low in water –too cold — no speed of locomotion. Thought this W kayak should solve both problems.
I also played Professional football for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. Tight end, 1974 – 75 – 76. My jersey # was 84. George Allen was the coach.
So, I’m a 6’4″ 265 lbs , ex NFL Player, and  here is how I stood up for the 1st time is in a W Fishing Kayak:

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!

kayak fisherman at Castaic lake California

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!

fisherman paddling his kayak at Castaic lake California

view from a fishing kayak Castaic lake California

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.

fisherman standing in twin hull kayak

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

Posted in age, cold weather, ergonomics, exercise, fishing kayak review, fishing kayaks, fishing trip, fly fishing, kayak angler, kayak dealers, kayak fishing, Kayak Fishing, kayak fishing standing, kayak safety, kayak sale, kayak stores, old, old age, paddling, safety, senior, shallow water, stand up, stand up kayak fishing, standing, yak back | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Yack Back Kayak Fishing, Now Down Under

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Back Pain Free Kayak Fishing – Now in Australia.

Some people mistakenly think that older people are the only ones who suffer from back pain as a result of paddling conventional kayaks and fishing from them. This notion is false, of course, and young people suffer from yack back and kayaking injuries as well.

Kayak anglers down under! -Here is some good new for your lower back:

Aussie Kayaks is the name of a newly founded company that distributes W fishing kayaks in Australia.

The founder of Aussie kayaks suffered from kayaking back injuries, which brought him to look for a solution, as told on his website:
-”Steve has a love for water and paddling but after experiencing 2 months of pain and subsequent treatment as a direct result of using a S.O.T Sit On Top) Kayak, Steve thought there must be a better way. After spending many hours researching different options, Steve was convinced with out doubt that the Wavewalk was the way to go. Steve purchased a Wavewalk direct from the US in December of 2011 and has not looked back since. NO more PAIN or INJURIES.”

At last, Australians can purchase the back pain free fishing kayak locally, in their country, and this comes not a moment too soon.

Posted in age, back injury, back pain, ergonomics, fish, fishing kayak, fishing kayak design, fishing kayaks, kayak dealers, kayak design, kayak fishing, Kayak Fishing, kayak sale, kayak stores, kayaking, lower back, lumbar spine, lumbar support, old, old age, paddling, physical limitations, posture, senior, sit on top, sit-on-top kayak, SOT | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sensible Kayak Angler – New Kayak Fishing Magazine

Posted on April 13, 2012 by

‘Sensible’ isn’t exactly what most people who practice fishing think about fishing out of a kayak. After all, not too many anglers practice kayak fishing, since it’s considered by most to be an extreme form of fishing, in the sense that fishing out of one of those SOT, sit-in, and hybrid kayaks just isn’t stable, comfortable or dry enough for most anglers to consider as being acceptable – or sensible.
But there’s also a type of kayak fishing that is safer, feels better, and it is also more practical. Sensible Kayak Angler is a magazine about fishing from kayaks that are more stable, don’t cause back pain, whose handling and use does not involve the hassle and discomfort commonly associated with with this sport.

Stability, ergonomics, and other problems are among the subjects discussed in the new kayak fishing magazine, and the more light shed on these subjects, the better, especially when elderly anglers are concerned, since they are both less capable of enjoying inadequate kayaks, and less willing to do so than the average kayak angler is.

Posted in age, back pain, ergonomics, fatigue, fish, fishing kayak, fishing kayak design, fishing kayak review, fishing kayaks, fishing trip, kayak angler, kayak design, kayak fishing, Kayak Fishing, kayak fishing magazine, Kayak Fishing Media, Kayak Fishing Tips, kayak safety, kayak sale, leg numbness, leg pain, long trips, lower back, magazine, mobility problems, muscle ache, old, old age, physical limitations, posture, sciatica, senior, sit on top, sit-on-top kayak, SOT, yak back | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Future of Kayak Fishing is Painless

Posted on March 13, 2012 by

Have you ever wondered where the sport of kayak fishing was headed?

Well, one thing is for sure – If kayak fishing is to keep growing as far as participation is concerned, something must be done to make fishing out of a kayak less a pain in butt, literally, and less of a pain in the back, more specifically.

People aren’t stupid, and most of them think a long fishing trip must also be one that won’t involve being wet, uncomfortable, and unstable, such as you’re going to be if you choose a conventional kayak as your fishing platform.

Most people also want to be able to go places while they’re fishing, and they don’t appreciate the limited range of travel that conventional fishing kayaks offer.

In other words, there’s more than one good reason explaining why only one out a thousand anglers in North America fishes out of a kayak, while the rest fish from other boats (mostly motorized), or from shore.

Ergonomics is key in many products, as well as sports. People don’t like to feel sore, get bruised, or injured. Pain and discomfort are counter productive when your goal is to have fun.

Whatever the future of kayak fishing will look like, we can be sure it will be free of diaper rash, yack back, numb legs, and other unpleasant phenomena that afflict those who fish out of conventional kayaks.
Arguably, the W is the fishing kayak of the future, and it is already here.

Posted in back challenges, back injury, back limitations, back pain, butt pain, ergonomics, fatigue, fish, fishing kayak, fishing kayak design, fishing kayaks, fishing trip, kayak angler, kayak design, kayak fishing, Kayak Fishing, kayak safety, leg numbness, leg pain, long trips, lower back, old, old age, paddling, physical limitations, yak ass, yak back | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

70 Year Old Fly Kayak Angler: My Experience With The W Fishing Kayak

Posted on March 13, 2012 by

A fishing kayak review from an experienced angler who’s tried various fishing styles and fishing boats often tell a lot. Glynn Gantenbein recently became a fishing kayak dealer in Texas, and this is his account of his experience with the W fishing kayak:

I have been flyfishing around the world for 20 years, much of it in a kayak.
I found only two things were missing: a comfortable seating position and the ability to stand up for sighting fish.
After studying videos at Wavewalk, I ordered an inventory of Wavewalk kayaks without even seeing one.
Upon receipt I tested the Wavewalk… -I am 70 years old, weigh 230, have a bad back, need a knee replacement, and have constant vertigo from a chronic ear condition.
During my initial test I was able to stand up and paddle and really enjoyed the seating position called Riding.
IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN!!
The Wavewalk 500 is fast and runs straight.
Everything you read is correct.
One of my customers put a $100 trolling motor on his and said he was “going water skiing”… which was his way of saying its fast.

Glynn

big redfish caught in a kayak fishing trip Texas

My first red fish, caught on a fly

DIY motor mount for fishing kayak. Texas

Posted in age, back challenges, back limitations, back pain, disabled, Electric Trolling Motors For Fishing Kayaks, ergonomics, fish, fishing kayak, fishing kayak review, fishing kayaks, fly fishing, infection, kayak angler, kayak dealers, kayak fishing, Kayak Fishing, kayak fishing standing, kayak fly fishing, kayak sale, kayak stores, knee, leg pain, lower back, lumbar support, mobility problems, motorized fishing kayaks, old, old age, paddling, physical limitations, senior, stand up, stand up kayak fishing, standing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment