don't know how many saw this but I don't think I've seen it on this forum...
article
be careful out there!

Thanks Mike. Good article.

Great read.

thanks! yes, with the missing paddler in Galveston and all these cold weather tournaments it just seemed timely.
My take away was the "dress for immersion" thing. never gamble and assume you won't turtle - better to be prepared and ok to survive if you do.
safe trips and tight lines!

The Coasties called off the search for the guy in Galveston at 4:45 PM Monday, after searching all weekend. The water was 53 degrees, lending some credence to the article on cold water safety.

Dress for cold water, wear a PFD, and boat with another boating partner in cold weather!

IslandJim

So are you guys wearing wet suits under your regular clothes?

I've turtled in 45 degree water while fishing a river before and it was a real shock. I dressed as usually do in the winter with my waders and a rain coat. It took just a little over a minute for me to get to the bank and out of the water. Thanks to the waders and coat I only got wet from my chest up and a little ran down my sides to my feet but that little bit took the breath from me and drained me of energy. If I hadn't just started out and was only a hundred yards from my truck I would have been in big trouble. Cold water fishing if no joke! Thanks for sharing Mike.

Yes sir Jeff, I do. Don�t know about others. I spent most of my youthful on-the-water time on moving water and the best moving water is often cold water. Still get out there sometimes. Still end up swimming sometimes. So you could say I grew up cautious. Since I kayak fish alone mostly, and since I�ve aged to the point where I am seldom invincible, I always wear neoprene, poly, wool, base layers when it is cold; dry pants, spray jacket or rain coat, neoprene cap, good gloves. Just makes sense to me and besides my wife needs me.

Great article, Mike. Something I never really considered. Like Todd, my winter paddling attire is multiple poly layers, breathable chest waders and gortex. But I primarily fish rivers, so the risk to me is less than those paddling big lakes and salt water in the wintertime here in Texas. If that's where you are paddling then it behooves you to take all the precautions listed in this thread.

On a side note, I think the sit-inside folks go in head first when they turtle, which makes this more a SINK issue than a SOT issue. We sit-on-tops, I think, go in kind of...not head first. That's not scientifically proven (for all you Philadelphia lawyers), but its my opinion based on witnessing multiple SOT turtlings.

Good info guys, I will probably buy some more gear so I can fish next winter. I skipped the Fork tournament last week because I didn't have the equipment/clothing to survive a turtle in those conditions.

hey guys! Glad we are heading out of the depths of this winter weather and really looking forward to some Texas warm weather kayaking and fishing where swimming is desireable. No I don't always wear my farmer-john wet suit when wintertime paddling and heck yes, layers of ploy and wool, etc. will work just fine to trap and stop the flow water against the skin which is the primary cause of heat loss and hypothermia. Waders, gortex, rain gear, anything that restricts the flow of water across the skin especially at the entry points, the wrists, ankles, neck; these all will go a long way to easing the effects of cold water emersion. just be as prepared and safe as you can. Don't think I've ever rolled and not submerged my head but some say I have a big one so maybe that's a factor be safe. hope to see y'all on the water sometime soon I hope. keep the open side up and the fishing lines tight! Mike

At a minimun, just make sure you aren't wearing cotton.