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U.S. Patent #6871608
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Kayak
Fishing With Jeff McGovern
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My nickname in the pest control industry is
"Gadget" since I am always looking for the latest, greatest thing or
making improvements to what is already out there. My favorite
part of the job is speaking to large audiences across the country and I
always bring lots of "Show and Tell." I am no different when it
comes to my passion-fishing.
Long before kayaks hit the fishing world here in Florida, canoes ruled
the shallows in many areas. When I started canoe fishing here in
the 80's, there were a number of folks doing it, but it wasn't well
publicized. Then we discovered outriggers for canoes and things
started to change. I could stand up in my canoe and see the fish
I was stalking. Plus, I could go into water that was too shallow
for a motor or into zones that were designated "no motor zones" like
the ones near Kennedy Space Center. I love my canoe, but I wanted
something I could just toss in the back of the truck and go. So
we started shopping for kayaks.
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Photo: Kate McGovern
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We
looked at sit inside, sit on top, rudder, no
rudder, big, small, skinny, HEAVY. My wife, Kate, is small and
wanted something small and light. I am not small. I am
6'3", 245 lbs. and have size 15 feet. We started with two small
sit insides. I enjoyed fishing from them-even won a fully loaded
13' sit on top kayak catching a winning flounder during my club's
tournament-but I missed being able to fish standing up. My quest
for a stand up kayak began. Then one day, surfing the web, I
found a video clip of a guy jumping up and down in a kayak. I
knew that I had found my dreamboat-The W.
"I am not small. I am
6'3", 245 lbs.
and have size 15 feet."
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The
W has ruined me for other kayaks. My wife will tell you that
the fleet (did I mention we now have 5 kayaks?) stays on the porch and
the W goes fishing every Saturday morning. I do need to mention
that there is a learning curve similar to learning to ride a bike when
it comes to handling and fishing the W. I was discouraged the
first couple of outings-but then I got the feel of it. Now I use
it exclusively, even in tournaments.
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Photo: Kate McGovern
"When
other
yakkers stay home because of high winds, I'm out paddling around."
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The
W allows me to fish virtually all the time. When other
yakkers stay home because of high winds, I'm out paddling around.
In the W, your lower half is protected from the wind and the spray
shield keeps water off you as well. A set of Frog Togs
ensures that you stay dry and comfortable all day. I've spent as
much as 5 solid hours in the W in cool weather and lots of wind.
Padding is easier and requires less effort than in a regular
kayak. I use a long stroke at a slower pace and have no trouble
keeping up with longer kayaks that are using double the amount of short
strokes. The W's height allows that and helps me. Also, I
"push" the stroke rather than "pull" it. The high hand and arm
push the paddle through the water with the lower hand only pulling
enough for guidance. This allows you to paddle longer because
it's less tiring.
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The W also handles waves much better and far drier than other small
boats and kayaks. We have a number of large yachts on the
Intercoastal that kick up huge waves. Other kayaks and small
skiffs get spun around or tossed badly. The W rides it like my
CraigCat-up and down without a problem. Last week I found it also
slips up and down over the backs of very large and too curious
manatees. The boat tipped to one side, but remained upright and
we both went home with a story of the one that got away.
Fishing
is a sport of tactical knowledge and a feel for the area you are
fishing. I own hundreds of rods and reels and have designed a few
kayak/canoe rods. I also test new rods and reels for a number of
companies before they go onto the general market. The more you
fish,
the more specialized your gear gets. The most important thing is
to
understand the area you are trying to fish. I envision the travel
patterns the fish use to get from place to place. I think about
where
they can ambush a meal with the least effort or how the tidal patterns
affect where they rest and feed. I have to understand how the
light
hits the water and how I might be exposed or hidden by it. The W
allows me to move into their house and position myself to the best
advantage. I wish I could come up with a way to describe the feel
of
the W. Sitting down, it's like riding. Standing up-well,
until I
figure some way to put floats on my size 15 feet and walk on water,
standing up in the W is the next best thing.
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Photo: Jeff McGovern
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I
would venture to say the W offers improved casting with any gear.
From the riding position, I get more power with my casting and spinning
because I can put my whole body into the cast and use my legs.
The
solid feel of the boat gives you a great sense of security.
Netting
fish is also easier because you can bring the net handle up and across
the noodles and just hold in until you net the fish alongside.
This
allows you to compose yourself and arrange things to remove the hook
without tangling your gear or hurting the fish. WARNING: It
is very
important to fill the handle of your net with spray foam. This is
so
that when manatees and sundry aquatic creatures borrow your net, you
can get it back. I know from personal experience these critters
are
very inconsiderate and will leave it on the bottom where you can't find
it.
"I
would venture to say the W offers improved casting with any gear."
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Photo: Kate McGovern
"It's
a great exploration kayak and
there's a great sense of adventure for the user."
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My
favorite scouting position in the W is standing up. I can spot
fish
and then move in stealth mode with a push pole or paddle blade.
There
is a serious advantage to being able to stand and see over grass or
oyster beds. Being able to peak over cover is a big deal.
Sometimes,
like when I was working my way along the Ocklawaha River, I was moving
through snag (and gator) infested waters with logs, bed pads and deep,
dark places you might not want to get into. The W handled that
type of
paddling better than our other craft. You could stand quick to
see
ahead, duck and move around things. It's a great exploration
kayak and
there's a great sense of adventure for the user. No craft is
perfect
for all things, but sometimes I have so much fun with the boat, I
forget to fish.
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The biggest advantage of the W is its simplicity. Some people go
so
overboard with stuff, they spend more time fighting their gear than
fishing. I talk a lot about using the W in Florida, but northern
folks
would have a blast with this boat on lakes and streams. Head to
head,
this boat has serious advantages over many small boats. Aside
from
being able to just throw it in the back of my Ranger, launching by
myself is a breeze. If I'm in an area of long grass and sand
bottom, I
frequently will jump in the boat and just slide down the bank. To
debark, I scoot to the back of the seat until I have the bow up on
shore. Then I walk to the bow and step out on dry land. In
the boat,
the seat makes a great workstation and my gear is organized at hand and
easily reached. The upright position and lack of back fatigue
makes
this my favorite boat. It's so versatile, I feel like I'm in a
4-Wheeler. The W will go just about anywhere I point it.
Jeff
Copyright
(C) Jeff McGovern, 2007
Jeff is a member of the
Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Club www.jaxkayakfishing.com
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