Posted June 16, 2011

By Art Lander Jr.

OutdoorsKentucky.Com

                                         Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 -- A New Boat For Small Waters

    Kayaks have long been identified with whitewater adventure, but there’s a new boat making waves.

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 is a shallow draft, open boat ideal for fishing slow-moving streams, wetlands, and small lakes, where anglers in big boats cannot, or dare not go.

    “Fishing kayaks are all about accessibility to remote waters, maneuverability in tight quarters, and affordability of cost,” said Woody Callaway, marketing director for Legacy Paddlesports, the parent company of Native Watercraft. “They’re a different animal (from whitewater kayaks). They’re designed to catch fish.”

    Kayaks have been modified for fishing since the 1990s, but this hybrid kayak, a patented design and industry leader, first came out on the market about 2003. This open boat is a cross between a canoe and a kayak, with one big difference – stability.

    “They’re so stable you can stand up and cast with a fly rod,” said Nathan Depenbrock, co-owner of Canoe Kentucky, in Frankfort, Ky., who has years of experience with the best-selling brands of fishing kayaks. “The stability comes from a unique hull design where the paddler’s feet are below the water line.”

    Hybrid kayaks also have the advantage of high sides, for a dry ride, and huge cargo capacities There’s room for a small cooler, minnow bucket, even camping gear. Optional accessories include an anchoring system, spray skirt, and tackle bag.

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 has a comfortable, adjustable seat, lots of leg room, and the angler sits slightly elevated. There’s a rail on the gunwale where rod holders and electronics can be attached.

    The open design of Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 enables anglers to customize how they stow gear, and organize their boats for fishing. Kayakers seem to agree that a plastic milk crate, positioned within arm’s reach behind the angler, works great for storing gear, such as a small tackle box, digital camera, sun screen, snacks, water bottle, wallet, and cell phone.

    Secure the crate to the boat with the handy elastic shock cord already attached to the boat. Place your wallet, cell phone and other items that can’t get wet in snap top plastic boxes, which will not only keep your stuff dry, but will float. A 10-inch length of PVC pipe (1 ½-inch diameter), secured to the crate with 8-inch plastic electrical tie, is an inexpensive alternative for securing an extra rod and reel.  Stored in the vertical position, your backup fishing pole will be out of the way, and ready in an instant if you need it.

    The ability to anchor comes in handy when fishing in current or wind. Anchoring gives the angler time to systematically cast to shoreline cover, over a wide area, or be perfectly positioned over a channel dropoff when bottom-fishing live bait.

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 has an optional anchor trolley system, which is basically a loop of rope attached to pulleys at the bow and stern of the boat, that enables the angler to position the anchor at the bow, stern or anywhere in between.

    Small grapple anchors, weighing between 1 ½ pounds and three pounds are most commonly used with kayaks, but a mesh bag filled with rocks picked up from where you fish, is a weight-conscious alternative. For convenience, the anchor trolley system has a ring on the mainline so that the anchor rope can be quickly clipped on with a carabiner or swivel bolt snap.

    Anglers aren’t limited in their presentations when fishing from a kayak. While seated forward, it’s easy to cast to cover on the banks for bass or crappie, or bounce a live bait rig off the bottom for walleye or catfish. On large impoundments or rivers, kayak anglers can even troll live bait for striped bass on a planer board, or balloon rig. For hands-free convenience, place your rod in a rod holder while paddling.

    Kayaks are also used extensively on some tailwaters when fly fishing for trout. Drift through pools, casting streamers to fish-holding structure on the banks, then pull up on a shoal, and wade for a while, casting a nymph on a strike indicator through swift water chutes.

    The lightweight, portable boats not only allow anglers to fish shallow waters where big boats can’t go, but navigate deadfalls and other obstructions that block streams from access in larger boats. Fishing kayaks also offer the advantage of being launched in waters that anglers in big boats have to travel miles to reach. Any feeder creek, or highway, offers potential access. Be sure to ask the landowner’s permission if you launch from private property.

    Consider a recent trip Callaway took with several kayakers to fish a remote stretch of a coastal estuary. “We met some guys in a big boat, and they were amazed that we made it this far,” said Callaway. “They told us it was an hour’s run to the nearest boat launching ramp. I told them we had put in over there, and pointed to a highway levee.”

    Learning to paddle a fishing kayak is easy, but Depenbrock advises first-timers not skimp on their paddle. “The paddle is the motor of your boat. You want it to fit you well.”

    He recommends a double-bladed paddle that’s a little longer than a conventional kayak paddle. “Fishing kayakers use the paddle to position the boat for a cast,” said Depenbrock. “They take low angle strokes, for quiet paddling. They’re not concerned with making aggressive turns.” 

    When my son John and I took our first test drive of the kayak we both immediately noticed their high level of maneuverability. Fishing kayaks are so light and responsive it’s easy to over compensate on strokes.

    “You don’t have to paddle much to keep the boat in position as you fish an area,” said John Lander. “When the boat is slowly drifting you can put the paddle blade in the water to help steer the boat’s direction, or make a very subtle reverse stroke to slow its forward momentum.” 

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 is ideal for fishing big stands of flooded timber in lakes and natural sloughs, shallow, weedy flats, and narrow, tree canopied streams. Kayaks are low profile, and can be quietly paddled, so it’s easy to sneak up on fish. They make ideal platforms for wildlife viewing and nature photography, too.

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 weighs about 50 pounds, is 30 inches wide, and has a 350-pound weight capacity. Launching on flat or slightly inclined terrain is easy, but you may need help on steep terrain. Some models of fishing kayaks have paddled carry handles on the bow and stern.

    This fishing kayak can be transported in the bed of a pickup truck with the tailgate down, secured with two tie-down ratchet straps. We tie two spinning rods, our kayak paddle and life vest to the frame of the boat with braided cord.

    Transporting a fishing kayak doesn’t take a V8 full-size pickup truck.

    “There are kayak trailers on the market,” said Depenbrock. “They are so light you can tow them behind a 4-cylinder car, and if you have trouble backing up, you can just unhook the trailer and move it around easily.” One advantage of trailers is that they can transport several kayaks at a time.

    One of the most appealing aspects of fishing from kayaks is the relatively low cost, compared to other fishing boats. A tricked out fishing kayak can be purchased for under $1,500, and in Kentucky boats powered by paddling don’t need to be licensed.

    For information on the entire line of Native Watercraft fishing kayaks visit their website at: www.nativewatercraft.com

    The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 is ideal for fishing small lakes and ponds. It has a comfortable seat, lots of leg room, and plenty of storage for gear.                                                                                                                                                                         Photo by Art Lander Jr.

Posted September 28, 2011

By Art Lander Jr.

OutdoorsKentucky.Com

 

                                           CavPro KPA Series

   Lightweight, Value-Price Paddle Excellent Choice for Kayak Fishing

 

          Caviness Paddles, of Calhoun City, Mississippi, the largest producer of wooden paddles and oars in the U.S., recently expanded their line to include premium kayak paddles

          Their synthetic CavPro KPA Series is ideal for the serious kayak angler. The lightweight paddle (about 21 ounces) has a 1 5/8-inch oval shaft dimension and asymmetrical spoon blade that’s seven inches wide.

          The CavPro KPA feels good in your hands, is well balanced, and the blade design makes both power strokes and subtle turns easy to execute. One convenient feature of the aluminum shaft is with one snap of a spring-loaded button, the paddle can be pulled apart for easy storage.

          Available in three lengths (220, 230 and 240 cm) and three colors (black, yellow and white), the CavPro KPA Series is value-priced at about $67, and can be purchased directly for the manufacturer, with free shipping.

          To buy the paddle online visit their website at: www.cavinesspaddles.net