I am new to Kayak fishing, so please help me on this. Can I wear wader during the cold winter? Is it safe? Thanks.

Waders to keep you dry and warm. Either neoprene or breathable, either of which will float you like a cork contrary to popular myth as long as they are worn properly.
Layer up on top because the temperature will probably change and you will want to peel down.
Any chance of precipitation you need something waterproof.
Warm headgear. Keep your head (and feet) warm and the rest of you will probably be OK.
Solar protection.

February 22 Fairfield. Cold, wind, waves, fog and lots of fish.

waders or wet suite if your die hard. both if you want to be laughed at. On fairfield you wont suffer from hypothermia when you fall in. only when you get out. Hotub Time Machine!!!

I would be careful wearing waders in deep cold water. Wear your pfd too, just in case you get them filled with water. Do you want to risk your life because someone told you that you will float? I usually dress in layers and deal with it. If the fish are hitting then you won't even notice the cold. Try to go on chilly days not freezing.

I don't look as good in my wetsuit as did the last few years...belt buckle getting harder to see I think...

Layers, layers, layers.

Start with a moisture wicking material as a base layer, then a layer or two of insulating (fleece, wool), then a outer, waterproof shell.

If fishing in deep water and wearing waders I highly recommend wearing your pfd. Make sure you tighten down on the waders belt to prevent water from getting down.

Speedo and some arm floaties if you are a real man!

I wear waders or goretex depending on where I am, always layered like Neumie suggests.

I assume yall are referring to the the waders making you sink if they get full of water making them heavier? If that is the case it is a common assumption but an incorrect one. If your waders fill with water it will weigh you down a lot on land, but in the water the weight of the water in your waders is the exact same as the weight of the water outside your waders, therefore cause no additional downward weight to sink you. On the other hand if worn properly the waders should keep out most if not all of the water, this in turn means that air is trapped inside of the waders causing you to bob like a cork. Now back to the first, if they are full of water you lose no buoyancy but your swimming ability is greatly impaired due to mobility restrictions and the unfamiliarly of swimming in your waders and possibly fear of drowning causing panic. So if you believe anything I said then by all mean wear your waders and stay warm and dry but also wear a dang PFD even though you hate it.

Exactly.

Waders full of water make it difficult to swim and perform deep water re-entry back onto the kayak. This should be what everyone should consider when falling into the water.

I was out on Texoma last December in 20 degree weather. Every wave that came over, froze within minutes on the front of the boat. I dressed really well except for my foot wear. It doesn't matter how comfortable the rest of your body is, if your feet get cold, you will be miserable.

Whatever you do, don't wear cotton.

I was at a sporting goods store going out of business last year and found some great bargains. I bought a full case of the small packet type warmers for feet and hands that you bend and shake for 120 seconds before they slowly start generating heat.


Lessons learned.

1.If you shake anything vigorously for 120 seconds, you will get warm from the exertion in the upper torso where you have layered up so well..

2.Just because they don't warm up fast does not mean they are not going to eventually get quite hot.

3. If you drop several down your wader legs to back up the first wrong assumption that they are not getting hot, you WILL be taking the waders down in a few minutes to air out the "hot parts".

4. don't bring a camera man in a power boat when you really want ( and need ) to kill him. ( film at 10 )

I wasn't saying your'e wrong about floating in waders, just better to be as safe as possible in cold water. Sounds like he may be kinda new to yak fishing. Plus a pfd adds a little warmth.

You can but you'll like these better:


They are so bouyant that they will float you and three other people hanging on to you.

Many different materials & styles to choose from. Some w/boots & without. IMO you should look for ones with the belt if tight neoprene is not your thing:

Neoprene waders are more warm in the Winter. One real draw back is, they are too Hot in the Fall & Spring. When I took them off i was soaked in sweat. Neoprene does not allow you body to breath. I currently am using #2 in the 1st pic.

and if you want to skip across the water, I believe these are the fastest waders on the market!


DO YOU GUYS WEAR GLOVES?

For Gloves I have the Texas Slam 3.5mm
What do you wear for shoes on those neopreme foot waders?

my 1st pair of crocs were purchased to go over the neoprene booties. ended up wearing em all the time. crocs are great IMO! i like to also were socks with my waders with or without crocs. provides a little more cushionn & insulation while my toes breath more.

I wear neoprean with overly large rubber steel toed boots. It kinda sucks though because they get full of water and get heavy when you leave the water but in most cases its to get back into the kayak so they just pour out and your good. I usually remove them once in the kayak again though. Could of went a size bigger to because they kinda constrict on my ankles. Cant wear them more than 30 mins or it gets painful. I might just buy some crocs for it though. But i was thinking the boots would give more protection in the case of a stingray

You should just paddle a Wavewalk500 and stay dry. Not to mention you can paddle 20 mph and turn in a 5 inch radius. Did I mention that you can also lay down in it, turn sideways, perform backflips? This is a must for my disability (can only drink beer with my left hand).

Sorry, I couldn't resist.....

Pretty sweet jacket. Might try to talk my boss into buying me one (I work on oil rigs as a field repair technician). But if I cannot then I guess I'll just go to walmart and buy a cheap PVC jacket to put over a regular fleece jacket for a lot less cost.

Not enough protection in my opinion, bro. Either one of two things will protect you from sting rays. Shuffle your feet and never step down or these:



I have a pair of those. Never go to the coast w/o them.

haahhhhhhaaahhaahha GOOD ONE YAKBONZ

Eh but they are steel toed so at least my toes are protected. But i think the rubber boot/waders/socks would at least fend off a glancing blow. Better than went i used to go barefoot with swim trunks anyhow

Your toes aren't going to get hit. The top of the foot, your ankle, and your shin are what is in danger. My ray guards were only $20 bucks at academy. Well worth the price of admission, bro.

Oh and by the way. Do your fellow waders a favor and cut off the barb if you catch one. They grow back but always a nice suvenier

I've never caught one. The first one I catch tho, I'm cutting the wings off and icing them. I've been told that properly prepared they taste like whale hockers (scallops).
I like to try new things...

New!!! Bikini Bottom Cold Weather Gear

One of my boys & myself playing around at WallyWorld.
Thought this one looked fun & matches the Yak!

too funny, i bought two of those....of course they wee for my grandkids.

sure they were!
would you talk to me if i paddled up to ya
wearing one of these this winter?
click-> http://tokyobling.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/taiyaki_headwear_3.jpg

zombie, i will forever picture you out in your kayak fishing with a spongebob mask on.

if someone paddles up to me wearing spongebob i will know who it is, and yes i will talk to you haha I saw a spiderman one there too, thought about that one for me

Hmm well scratch that idea. The cheapest raincoat walmart has is 50$. Guess ill just have to make do with waders alone cause academy wont be open till after im on the water

Good luck today, bro. Hope you kill'em!

I think I would buy myslf a wet suit. It gives you better boyancy should you fall out.

More info on: Artic Armor - http://www.idigear.com/video3.php

now
i guess i will wear a lifejacket

Most of the important points have been covered. My .02 cents worth: Agree that if your feet are cold, you will be miserable, so I double up on wool socks when it's really cold. Which reminds me, make sure your footwear is big enough to fit over the wader's booties, which are usually neopreme (even on breathable waders). Your outer footwear needs to be at least a size or two bigger than your normal shoe size, especially when you start layering socks.

Also, when paddling in cold weather, we usually have a dry-sealed set of clothing in case the unthinkble happens and you get wet. This is more important if you're not within easy access to civilization.

I have both breathable and neoprene waders and have never had any problems. Then again, I've never fallen in. While the waders of death scenario has been disproven, it seems that they still could fill up and might impede your ability to swim. Sometimes I think that for really cold water a 4+ mm farmer john wetsuit underneath everything else might be the best option. Yes you'll be cold if you go in, but there probably isn't any better/more foolproof way to keep your core temp from dropping in case you do have to make a long swim.

Anyone have any input on gloves?

saw some aT wallyworld. "Berkley" neoprene type material. the finger tips fold back and stay with velco :~o anyone have these?

Those type of gloves are pretty good. I have a pair, and I like them. When I can stand it, I don't wear gloves and warm my hands up every ten casts. However, when I can't make ten casts without warming my hands, I wear these gloves.

My hands werent to cold saturday but it was only 47 when i hit the water. They were only cold when i was paddleing and getting wet from the water running down the handle and when i washed them after rebaiting. Oh and when castnetting

Question... my friend and I had a discussion about this...

Lets say you've got neoprene waders on - and they're extra big, including the attached boots which are a size larger than you'd normally use. For some reason, if you do fall in - or become submerged - would it be possible to get out of the waders? Or would the water pressure clamping the neoprene around you make this impossible?

Extenuating circumstances aside (lifejackets, etx, etx...) basically, would it be possible to squirm out of the waders or not - within a minute at most?

Why wear waders in a boat anyway? I thought waders were for wading. There are many other choices of clothes with with which to stay warm in a boat. And avoid cotton clothing.

You wear waders in a kayak because about half the time you are indeed wading. I have no idea if you could swim out of them, i doubt it, but why would you need to? Your waders should trap air if you waer your wading belt tight which would give you added bouyancy. If they do fill with water it will not make you heavier just make it harder to swim. You would probaly be able to get out of too big breathable waders though

Except of course for the Arctic Armour I post a link to in every freakin' one of these type threads....

The Arctic Armor definitely looks like some good stuff. I do wonder about it though. I mean, is it watertight at the sleeves, cuffs, waist, zippers etc...? In the video that was posted the reporter says that his armpits were wet, which tells me that while the material won't absorb water, the suit itself isn't actually watertight. If you're in 45 degree water for twenty plus minutes, swimming maybe, how much water gets in then? When you enter the water, you might not be able to do so on your back like the reporter does.

Looks like a great product. Would love to have one myself, but I just wonder: if it's long-term cold water survival we're talking about, wouldn't a 5/3 wetsuit be better since it's designed for such situations? Of course, the best option would be one of those super-cold-water drysuits, but if I had that kind of money to spend, I'd be buying another kayak at retail. Those things do get leaks too, which renders them kinda pointless. With the wetsuit, the chances of suit failure are pretty much nil.

I like the looks of the Arctic Armor. I'm just a little skeptical that if water's getting in would it keep your core temp up for as long as a wetsuit? I don't know the answer and am really just speculating at this point.

It will keep your core temp up much much longer because it is far better insulation. It is also so bouyant you don't even need the life jacket. It is not 100% water proof but even if you are fall in, swim to shore, and hike to your car you will get there w/o so much as chattering teeth much less hypothermia.
I've tried them out and after the demo they went to the top of christmas list I gave the wife. If for some reason she doesn't get them for me (which I doubt will happen because she worries about me) I am getting them for myself. Trying them made me a believer. I don't wanna get all foldcatone about them so I'll shut up now unless somebody starts a new thread asking about cold weather gear.

Iv used simliar stuff for cold water survival training (i work on oilrigs) and they are not 100% waterproof but if water gets in it is when you enter the water and are completly submerged and then it traps that water and your body warms it up so you lose a little heat but after that your warm

You're right MR. I'm splitting hairs here. Wetsuit or Arctic Core are both probably equal. If you get separated from the yak a half mile from shore in 45 degree water, your chances are still probably the same. Plus the arctic core stuff looks like it would be a lot more comfortable and could be used for other purposes besides fishing. Wearing a wetsuit while sitting in a deer stand would be sorta ghey.

New siggy quote!!

Very nice quote lol. But sitting in a deer stand in artic armor would be pretty ghey too

How do you figure:

well i stand corrected, was unaware they come in camo

This thread is informative and funny.

We do our best to teach in an attention grabbing manner. Although wearing waders into walmart will get you quizical looks.

I PUT MY HEATER IN THE BOAT.

back to the kayak theme(where heaters are a bit bulky) ...warm when wet, cheap($17), and great for kayakfishing, They are thin neoprene palms(so as to retain proper paddle feel/stroke), and warm windproof backs. After they are wet for 4-5min it gets comfy, make my fingertips feel warmer too(IMO)!

I notice those are glacier gloves. They get real good reviews on other paddling sites. Did you buy them local or have to order them online?

I got them at BPS in the Flyfishing cave, my last pair(gloves, not glomitts) lasted two years(online for like $20), this time I melted the loose strings w/bic lighter in hopes of some longer life(I do this with all new soft-gear I buy...tackle bags,jackets,hats,.nylon straps,etc ). Only "paddling" gloves I've tried so I am a bit bias, but beats the BPSbrand neoprene fishing gloves HANDS down(get it...hands).

what heater? how?

Break a bunch of hand warmer packets and shove them down your waders, duh... Disclaimer, dont actually do this, its very painful

I've never once been kayaking without having to walk through water at some point. Especially when fishing a river. If you can't get out of your kayak, you are limiting yourself.

i believe he was not aware he was posting in the kayak forum and assumed we meant wearing waders in a boat.

Yeah, I had forgotten this was the kayak forum and I was picturing folks wearing waders in big boats. I fish out of a canoe and have to get into the water sometimes getting in and out and dragging through shallows. Rarely ever over the tops of my water proof insulated boots. If it's deep enough to be over my boots it's deep enough to float my boat. If it does get into my boots (and it almost always does at some point),I have smart wool socks that insulate even when wet and dry out quickly in camp.
I like to wear waders just to get out to where many people don't go, like walking up creeks IN the water instead of along the bank. Feel closer to nature that way.

i use em at san luis pass mainly for 2 reasons, long distances of ver shallow sand bars that i would rather walk that paddle, and the surf. makes it much easier to get launched in the surf if you walk out into at least knee deep water before hoping in with any sort of wave action going.

Yeah, when I went up to Lake Crockett a couple weeks ago, the water temp was in the low 60s with air temps in the mid 60s. Didn't wear waders because I didn't think it was cold enough. Thing is, when you retrieve an anchor at that lake, it's gonna have about 10 pounds of coontail on it. It gets heavy, and the process of removing all that stuff from it is easier if you bring it into the yak with you. This makes you wet! Then, the wind picks up and the temp drops. Friggin cold! Wouldn't have been a problem if I were wearing my breathable waders. If you're yak fishing and not getting wet at all, you're probably not doing it right!

So very true. Although there is a fine line between getting wet doing it right and getting wet doing it wrong.