TKAA Meeting Summary by Bill Whitley

February 23, 2013

I attended the Tidewater Kayak Angler Association (TKAA), February meeting. The meeting was attended by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Virginia Wildlife, both the USCG and the wildlife people shared a lot of good information with the TKAA group. They covered topics including proper personal flotation devices,(pfd’s) and signaling devices to rules of the road for navigation. 

The main topic of discussion was safety, so we talked a lot about pfd’s being in good working condition and making sure that you and your kayak are visible to other boaters. We went over the requirements for safety gear on the kayaks and discussed some good ideas to stay safe, (vhf radios and reflective tape placement). The Coast Guard also gave us the big four to report if you are in distress: location, number of people, if you have lifejacket and nature of distress these are the things they need to know so they can find you. The expectation for the meeting was 30 people but it turned out to be more like 50 people,  great turn out . 

We had quite a few inquiries about the NuCanoe Frontier 12, most people have not seen this boat yet but they are starting to hear about it and most think it is an awesome platform for fishing. 

Thanks to Wild River Outfitters for sponsoring the meeting.

Meet William Whitley

Hometown:  Hampton, VA

NuCanoe Owner Since: February 2013

Model: Frontier 12 Hunter Brown

Contact: williamwhitley69 @ yahoo.com


Dealer Sponsor: Wild River Outfitters


Why I Chose NuCanoe
A friend recommended it.  I watched all the videos and read all the reviews online...then I drove 3 hours each way to pick it up.

What I Like Best
The versatility and stability.  I have owned several other kayaks and none are as versatile as this one, nor are they as stable.  In my opinion, this is the best fishing kayak on the market.

Getting Out There
I am an avid kayaker and fisherman, I have been kayak fishing for about 4 years.  I enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge with others.  In fact, within a week of buying my Frontier, I took a friend to see it at WRO and sure enough, he ordered one!

Where to Find Me

• Williamsburg Kayak Fishing Association
• Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association
• Heroes on the Water

Team NuCanoe Blog Posts


Photo & Video Gallery

El Cheapo Sheepshead Fishing Tournament by Arun Ramalingam

El Cheapo is the world’s largest sheepshead fishing Tournament. This year Kayaks were allowed to participate too. Kayaks were competing against the boats and there were special prizes for kayak division winner. I won the kayak division with my 8.8 pound sheepshead and placed 17th overall among 558 boats!!! I fished out of my NuCanoe 10. Here are some details for you to read if Interested. At first light, Caught about three 4 pounders back in the creeks. The wind started to pickup and left there to try some bridge pilings that I know I need to do only a short paddle with the wind blowing at 1000 miles/hr. Threw my anchor at the bottom of a piling and got it hooked (I have a quick release setup). Knocked some barnacles off with a machte and Started fishing with whole clams where the chum might endup in the current. Lost a couple of bites and hooked on this monster. With a quick tug of war, netted him. Left after that fish as I didn't want to battle the wind anymore... was really living on the edge there! Thanks to the very stable NuCanoe! Pictures: Rigging: For back water sheeps, I used 30 lb braid FG knotted to 30 lb flouro leader finished with a sureset Jig and (hmmm.. hmmmm bait . ) For deepwater bridge sheeps, my custom cut sheep rod (offshore jigging rod with the butt cut and finished with a nerf ball butt cap). Having a short butt makes it easier to manuver the fish in a yak. I use AVET MXL with 65 lb braid FG knot to 80 lb mono to a 3 way swivel that is then connected to 50 lb flouro leader snood knotted to a 6/0 daiichi bleeding bait circle hook (perfect for threading whole clams). I use a loop knot to the three way swiwel for bank sinkers so I can adjust the weight. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Arun R. _________________ Fishing isn’t a matter of life and death. It’s much more important!

Capital City Kayak Fishing Tournament Report by Brett Humphries

Capital City Kayak Fishing Tournament Series stop #2 was held this past Saturday, Feb. 16.  The destination was "Lady BirdLake", aka "Town Lake".  A cold front had blown through the night before, which added to the challenge.  I was fishing the "fly" division, so I knew I had my work cut out for me to catch a fish, much less multiple fish.

After checking in, I headed to Red Bud Island, hoping LCRA was releasing water from Tom Miller Dam.  They were, and I thought that would help stimulate the bite.  Not so much!  Three hours and a 1/2 dozen lost flies later, it was time to change tactics.  I headed over to shallower water, hoping to find some bass on "beds".  The beds were there, but the cold front the night before had driven most of the fish off.  The day was warming quickly, so I figured the bass might return to resume their mating ritual.

My hunch was correct, and slowly more bass started filtering back in.  I spotted one bed in about 4 feet of water, and started working it over.  I spent at least an hour casting and re-positioning my NuCanoe Frontier before I got the bass to eat my fly.  Finally!  Not huge, but a legal fish at 151/2 inches.  A few quick pics and back in the water it went.  On the board!

I moved upstream a ways, and spotted more beds.  A couple were in shallow water, and the fish were really spooky!  By a complete stroke of luck, my Frontier drifted over another bed in about five feet of water, and this fish was pretty good sized.  I was using a heavily weighted black jig fly on a sink tip line, so I was able to get the fly on the bed quickly.  After three missed chances, I got a solid hook set and bam, fish number two on the board.  The bass was a solid 17 incher, so 32.5" in the bag.  More quick pics and back it went.  Feeling pretty good!

It was getting late, so a few more casts and off I went to the weigh in.  Joe's Crab Shack hosted us, and they did a great job.  Fish were tallied, a few beers consumed, and time for awards.  My 32 1/2 bag was good enough for first place, and I walked away with $312!  Not too shabby!  Adam Hansen caught the only other fish in the fly division, and won second place.  Congrats!  I also won a guided trip with "Living Waters Fly Fishing" in the raffle.

I would like to thank Dan Walker at "MOC Kayaks", and Beau Reed with "Papa Chops Rod & Reel Repair" for putting on a first class  tournament series.  The next 2 stops at Lake Bastop and the lower Colorado River should be pretty competitive.  I think full "stringers"  (5 fish, 70" +) will be mandatory to get into the winner's circle.  Also, thanks to Blake and NUCANOE for their great boat, and for helping make this new tournament series a great success!  See you all next time!