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


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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!

Meet Bob Ackerman

Hometown:  Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ

NuCanoe Owner Since: March 2012

Model: Frontier 12 - Lime

Contact: bayrunt @ netscape.net

Dealer Sponsor:  West Creek Kayak & Canoe

About Me
I'm a retired Union Cabinetmaker, Wood-shop teacher, and I served in the US Navy during Vietnam as a Navy Musician. I've fished my entire life, fresh, salt, and surf. From boats, kayaks, & now this portable air-craft carrier called a Frontier 12. Did I mention it's very stable?? lol

Why I Chose NuCanoe
Boat ownership became very costly, with slips, rentals, insurance, etc. Kayaking helped out a little, but wasn't really working completely for me. Getting older sure had a lot to do with that. The Frontier was the answer. It was inexpensive, safe, comfortable, and extremely flexible. Perfect solution for me.

What I Like Best
Safety, comfort, and versatility sold me on the Frontier 12. Being able to stand-up and stretch these legs is fantastic. I couldn't do that on my sit-on-top. Now I can virtually arrange tackle and gear any way that I need. I can re-arrange stuff one way today and different tomorrow. Everything becomes reachable.

I'd Rather Be...
I really do love fishing out of the Frontier. Trolling is easy both with & without an electric motor. Standing up and fly fishing a small cork popper is great, but one of my favorite trips are when I go crabbing. I get out in the salt marshes away from boat traffic and anchor up to a bank and start using hand lines for our blue claw crabs. There is no comparison to a SOT, I can stand up, walk from one end to the other and carry large coolers or baskets. It's great!!

My Favorite NuCanoe Story
On an earlier trip this year, we went White Perch fishing in West Creek, NJ. We trolled the entire length, all the way to the bay. (saltwater trip). Well, yours truly needed a pit stop!! There were people fishing the bulkhead, so I decided to beach it and make the pit stop. Too shallow for the electric motor, needed to raise it up. Remember it's choppy, I swiveled around, slide onto the battery box (right next to seat), scooted to the transom and pulled the motor up. I never took a drop of water over the transom!!! I made a successful pit stop and paddled out to deeper water and re-lived the same procedure in reverse. TRY THAT IN YOUR SIT-ON-TOP!!.

Where to Find Me

• NuCanoe Forum
• Smalljaw Forum
• SJKBFC Forum

Team NuCanoe Blog Posts


Photo & Video Gallery

Meet David Cheung

Hometown:  Boston, MA

NuCanoe Owner Since: August 2012

Model: Frontier 12 - Mango

Contact: dave8570 @ hotmail.com


Dealer Sponsor:  New England Smallcraft

Why I Chose NuCanoe
I chose the NuCanoe because of the width, stability, flat transom, modular abilities, and the fact it was designed to be used for fishing.

What I Like Best
The best part about the Frontier is that I can stand up while others people are sitting all day fishing. I can also take my dog who moves around a lot and not feel like I am going to capsize because it is so stable. I did not get this feeling with my old sit on top kayak.

I'd Rather Be...
Fishing for stripers in the Boston Harbor and taking my dog out to chase ducks. He's not a very good swimmer so when he's on the Frontier he thinks in his mind that he can catch ducks because he's in their territory.

My Favorite NuCanoe Story
I first discovered the NuCanoe about 2 weeks after buying my first Sit On Top kayak. I was in a pond where I saw another person with a registered kayak. The only reason why you would have any vessel registered is because it was motorized. I met this other person and they told me how great of a boat it is and perfect it is for fishing. After doing lots of research and a year later I waited and bought the new redesigned Frontier 12. This boat has been one of my best purchases.

Where to Find Me

• NewEnglandKayakFishing.com (NEKF) - "digitalh3lix"
• Stripersonline.com - "digitalh3lix"

Team NuCanoe Blog Posts


Photo & Video Gallery

Meet Chuck Conder

Hometown:  Smithfield, KY

NuCanoe Owner Since: August 2012

Model: Frontier 12 - OD Green

Contact: chuckconder @ gmail.com


Why I Chose NuCanoe
I chose the frontier for a few reasons. The first reason is the biggest and that’s me. I wanted a boat that would hold my weight easily, allow me to stand up, turn around and handle rough water with ease. The second reason is I have twin boys that like to kayak as well. The Frontier allows one of them to ride with me if he chooses not to use his kayak. Another reason is that I can stand and throw a cast net...
I could go on all day but lastly, I needed a reliable kayak -  a NuCanoe, a boat that would stand up against all seasons and all conditions keeping my boys and me safe.

What I Like Best
I like the design of the interior of the frontier. I can reconfigure the Frontier for any fishing or family scenario.

I'd Rather Be...
Fishing for bass.

My Favorite NuCanoe Story
The first time I was in the boat. I walked from the front to back. My fishing partner was amazed so I brought the boat in; he had to try it out. So, he paddled out a little ways and stood up, I yelled out “try jumping up and down". Ha-ha, he jumped so high with so much force he pushed the boat out from under himself. The look on his face...It was priceless!

Where to Find Me

• Yakangler.com
• fishin.com
• bassrumors.com
• bassresource.com
• yakin4bass.com

Team NuCanoe Blog Posts


Photo & Video Gallery

Meet Brett Humphries

Hometown:  Austin, TX

NuCanoe Owner Since: October 2012

Model: Desert Sand Frontier 12

Contact:  coolriverfishing @ gmail.com

Dealer Sponsor: MOC Kayaks

Why I Chose NuCanoe
The Frontier 12 completely changed my mind about "kayak" fishing.  It is very stable, tracks well, and is easy to paddle - what's not to like?

What I Like Best
See above!  I am looking forward to taking it to the coast and poling the flats.

Favorite NuCanoe Activity
Fly fishing and stand up paddling.

My Favorite NuCanoe Story
My best story is the first time I actually paddled and fished from one.  I was happily surprised about how stable it is, how shallow it floats, and how easy it paddles!  Great boat!

Where to Find Me

• My webiste - Hill Country Fly Fishing
• Fishing in the MOC Kayaks Capital City Kayak Fishing tournaments
• Austin Bass Fishing forum
• 2coolfishing
• Austin Kayak Fishing

Team NuCanoe Blog Posts


Photo & Video Gallery

Mud it Down- The Key for more Ducks

As written here in WisconsinOutdoorFun.com

One day I was talking to Paul Giese of Team NuCanoe. Since I was planning on doing a few photo shoots with area duck hunters, Paul was giving me some pointers on duck hunting, . “The key that very few people know about ducking hunting is mudding.” Paul said. “Ducks see UV, so whenever I get new duck hunting clothes, or in this instance a new duck blind for my Frontier; I mud it down.”

“Mud it down”? I asked. “Yep.” Paul explains “Your clothes from the manufacturer have UV (ultra violet light) reflecting off them.  You might as well shoot flairs up and yell HERE I AM to the ducks, which have amazing eye sight and can see you form a long distance away.  The first thing I do, is I cover my material with mud. I let it dry and then I brush it off with a broom or scrub brush.  The mud covers and kills the UV reflecting. Mudding is the difference between getting (or seeing) one or two ducks, or having a bunch.”

 “For my deer hunting clothes I leave them alone.  If they are too dark, I look like a giant black blob. Deer can make out patterns, so if you have a good spot and you’re looking like a dark blob, the deer will see your outline. For that purpose, I like brighter camo.”


 I watched Paul put mud all over his new Frontier duck blind and returned the next day.  When I showed up, Paul started to brush off the mud.  I have to admit, I was surprised.  The bottom photo shows a spot that didn’t get mudded in comparison to a spot that got mudded. You can see the obvious difference.




Note: Paul Giese is La Crosse area native and is on  Team NuCanoe, a group of NuCanoe owners and is on the ice fishing team “Stripes R Good”.

Chronicle of an Outing By Luke Clayton

As published in North Texas E-News on September 24, 2012

This past week’s outdoor adventure was a month in the planning. While setting around an aspen wood campfire at elk and bear camp in the mountains of northern Colorado earlier this month, my longtime friend and frequent hunting partner Mark Balette invited those present to his ranch in Trinity County for a teal hunt. The assemblage consisted of Larry Large, my partner in the elk hunting operation, Billy Kilpatrick, our camp manager and cook, Bob Hood, longtime Texas based outdoors writer, myself and of course Balette.

Mark’s invitation was instantly accepted by all and the date was set for last week. You would really have to spend a bit of time around my group of ‘running buddies’ to get the full impact of their vast experience in the outdoors. These old boys know how to do it all when it comes to hunting and fishing. For grins one evening, we did a rough estimate of how many years combined, that we all had enjoying the outdoors. Between the five of us, it tallied somewhere around 255 years! That equates to a great many sunrises, sunsets and short nights in hunting and fishing camps. When you do the math, you can readily ascertain that several of us have reached out sixtieth birthday!  We might not have quite the ‘go’ we had thirty years ago but what we lack in energy we more than make up in experience! 

Large spent his early life hunting and fishing in the Pacific Northwest and for the past quarter century, guided bass trips on Lake Fork and for elk in Colorado and New Mexico. Balette grew up hunting and fishing on his family ranch and now hosts hunters from across the nations on hunts for hogs, deer and exotics. Kilpatrick grew up camping and fishing and for the past many years, guided crappie trips on Lake Lavon. He can kindle a fire and have supper ready by the time hunters have time to change out of their hunting clothes for the evening meal! Hood is a well known outdoors writer with more than 45 years spent writing about the outdoors and is one of the most well rounded outdoorsmen I know.  My group of buddies is never at a loss for hunting and fishing tales around the campfire; they all have plenty of past experiences to reflect upon!  

We arrived at Mark’s ranch in early afternoon with plenty of time to get a couple dozen decoys out and blinds brushed in. In a little over an hour Mark and Larry had the elk quartered and the meat chilling in the walk in cooler, the rest of us were busy bass fishing. I had thrown my little Frontier 12 boat by Nucanoe in the truck and as always, found the rugged little craft ideal for getting me into tight areas that were holding fish. We caught bass on everything from top water plugs to spinner baits to Texas rigged worms. The recent cool down of the water temperature had put the fish in the feeding mode. 
After a few hours of chunking baits and fighting bass, Mark asked if we thought it a good idea to break into two groups and go for a late afternoon teal hunt. 

“I know it will be a banner shoot in the morning but with all these birds present and two lakes to hunt them on, I don’t see why we can’t enjoy two hunts. What do you think?” asks Mark, knowing that we would be ready to go. 

We settled into our blinds an hour or so before sundown and after the first shot, teal were buzzing our decoys from every direction. Teal are suckers for decoys and they will readily decoy to anything from magnum mallard decoys to those made specifically for teal. Back at camp, we quickly turned the evening shoot into the makings of one very tasty duck dinner. Teal breasts, with a slice of jalapeno and wrapped in bacon are very tasty when grilled over hot coals. 

Teal hunting was great in East Texas for Luke and a few of his best friends but memories were made that will last a lifetime. photo by Luke Clayton

We debated on whether to enjoy grilled duck breasts for the evening meal or stick with the original plan of fried crappie. Billy had brought enough crappie fillets to feed the entire crew….twice! The teal breasts would freeze nicely for another meal. Teal are the tastiest of waterfowl but we all know how good those snow white crappie fillets are when fried crispy in hot oil!

The after dinner conservation went from recapping our recent hunt in the mountains for elk and bear to the upcoming white tail season. As we all joke, it doesn’t take long to spend the night at hunting or fishing camp but we managed to turn at a decent hour.
Morning’s first light found us back in the duck blinds, eagerly awaiting what we hoped would be a banner teal shoot. The birds took wing at first light and, as is usually the case, flew well for the first hour or so; long enough for us to add plenty of ‘new’ birds to the freezer bag of duck breasts back at camp. Bass again beckoned and we cased out shotguns and broke out the bass tackle. Fishing equaled that of the previous evening. 
By nine a.m. we headed back to camp, broke out Mark’s homemade wok made from a plow disk with two horse shoes welded on the side for handles. About 15 years ago, Mark made a couple of these very useful outdoor cooking utensils, one for himself and one for me. We’ve packed them along on many, many outdoor adventures. Our morning meal consisted of breakfast tacos made from elk sausage, eggs and potatoes, all cooked in the wok. 

Does it get any better than this? I think not, at least not for a bunch of outdoor types that have learned how to make the most of their “banker's holidays.”

DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUETS - Ducks Unlimited banquets are being held across the country. For a listing of events closest to you, go online to www.ducks.org and click “events.” 

For many years, I’ve been present at the annual Dallas Ducks Unlimited Banquet. If you have never attended, I strongly advise you go this year, even if you might have to do a bit of driving to get here. This huge even it well worth your time and thousands of dollars are raised to held to benefit waterfowl. This year’s event is the 75th Anniversary Banquet and will be held at the North Texas Banquet Center at 677 W. Campbell Rd in Richardson. For more information, go online to www.dallasducks.org. I’ll see you there! 

Listen to Outdoors with Luke Clayton and Campfire talk with Larry Weishuhn at www.catfishradio.com. Email Luke via the web site with outdoors news from your area.