And a nice tight wading belt will help with that a lot if you wear the rubber waders. I prefer the neopream breathable ones myself.

Drop all the high-tech [censored] and buy the $50 Walmart coveralls they have on the rack year-round. The cheap knit long underwear and blue jeans with a fleece top and you're set. You'll be sweating for sure. Anyone with a blue collar job who works outdoors will be wearing their coveralls in the winter. Best part is when you're done, just strip them off and you are perfectly clean underneath. I keep them in my truck during the winter so when I get the itch I can throw them on and get fishing. Only wash it once or twice a season. Also, some old-school Scotch-Guard goes a long way with these.

There's nothing high tech about wool and fleece. Like anything, there are cheaper options than Under Armor. I can't stress enough how bad an idea it is to wear cotton when you're participating in a water sport during winter (like fishing, duck hunting, etc.)

I'm with neumie here... I used the Cabelas three fork waders, which are not breathable per se, but are MUCH lighter than the neoprenes. Had a waterproof shell jacket and pfd obviously. I'm not a pfd nazi, but man, you are really asking for it if you don't wear one in the winter. I have some of those academy fleece 'under wader' suits and quality synthetic underwear under that. Sock liners and quality wool hunting socks. I prefer the fingerless wool gloves you can get at any army surplus store, but I do have some of those neoprene fishing gloves that are made for winter. Wading belt is a must imo! Never got cold last year even on days when it dipped into the thirties.

Air temp is not your problem, though. You can be plenty warm in all manner of garments if the air temps are even into the low 20s. What you should be trying to plan for is the possibility of getting fully soaked. You should be going with a set up that will give you some time to get back into your yak, to the ramp, and possibly to the closest medical facility if you go over into water that is down in the 40s and below. If you have to paddle for half an hour in the wind in a bunch of wet cotton, you could be in serious trouble.

If I had the money, I'd get one of those dry suits. Some of them cost as much as a new hobie though!

More than anything, just be smart. Going miles from the ramp is not a good idea. Personally, if it's a real cold day, I'm pretty much fishing within sight of my truck most of the time. And if it's crazy windy or stormy, well fuggetaboutit!

If you fall in, you may have to go Bear Grylls and get naked and build a fire on your kayak, so just be ready for that eventuality.

Hopefully I'll have enough bottled water on hand so that I don't have to drink my own piss.

My previous outdoor addiction was cycling, and although its the wrong time of the year to do this but the big online bike gear providers run killer sales on their winter gear come spring time although it's still a viable option to save some money.

www.performancebike.com comes to mind first and foremost. They sell tons of various base layer gear, shell/wind/convertible jackets.

Here's a bottom base layer for under 10 bucks!

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1007994_-1_1555500_20000_400068

Here is another little tip for you guys who are afeared of turtling in the winter: carry a couple of tubes of liquid nails and some waterproofed matches.
In the event that you turtle, once you get you and your kayak to the nearest shore you can take the liquid nails and squirt some on the ground and stick the tube in it. Set the whole thing on fire. It will ignite quickly and burn very hot. Pull whatever fuel you can gather into the fire to sustain it.

A farmer John wetsuit, fleece top, with a drytop over it, will let ya comfortably swim in freezing temps. Probably overkill for fishing, but its what we use when paddling whitewater in winter. You certainly wouldn't have to fear a winter dunking that way...anymore than you would a summertime swim, anyway.

I don't care what you're wearing, if you think there is even a slight chance you might turtle in the winter, then pick-up a set of outriggers. Or make your own for cheap. There are plans for these all over the net. I primarily kayak/canoe in the winter, prefer banking it in the summer. Self-restraint and preparation are a big part of staying dry in the winter.

THINGS NOT WORTH FREEZING FOR:
1) A $.25 jig.
2) Any fish, no matter how big.
3) Standing to pee.
4) A $5.00 lure in some branches.
5) etc...

The problem with your 4 examples is that they all allow the fisherman time to think through the situation to make the best decision in regards to their safety.

Better Examples:
#1 Most new kayak anglers fall in the water when they reach for something in the tankwell. They forget how much mass their head has, they break the centerline plane and before they realize it they're in the drink. Experienced kayakers usually don't have this problem, but you never know.

#2 Even in the winter time we're out early to get our destination. Bass boats go fast and the driver sits low to the water. The boat comes dangerously close and throws a wake which flips your kayak.

#3 Your crappie fishing up in the tree stumps and paddling to a new location and you high center your kayak on a tree limb you didn't see. The limb is up in a scupper and it's impossible to lean the kayak over enough to float it off. I've had this happen twice now in the three years I've lived up here. I've had to jump out of the yak in the water, float the yak off, and do a deep water re-entry. Fortunately these have happened in the spring and summer.

#4 Weather man says a cold front is going to blow through this evening, so you head out to do a couple of hours of fishing before it arrives. Surprise, the weatherman is wrong and the front arrives much sooner than it "should" have. The lake now has 3-4 foot chop and you're consistently taking water over the bow. Yup, been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

No matter how much you prepare for a day of fishing, you can't account for everything. Proper preparation starts before you step out your door and that means wearing the right clothing for a water sport. Cotton is a no-no in this situation.

Do you really standup in your kayak/canoe to pee instead of paddling to the shore?

I don't stand up to pee in my kayak. I just flop it over the side. But I'm blessed.

I've read many more,"I was doing something dumb" turtling posts on this forum than I've read,"Damn boater swamped me!" posts.

In regards to power boats; I was trained early when you hear that outboard screaming you turn and look. God knows you can hear them for miles in the morning. It doesn't take long to point your yak into a wake and ride out a big one. But like I posted previously, if you have even a slight fear of falling in, get some outriggers.

Here is a video showing the killer waders myth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYwG52p4yjs

I wear my duck hunting waders, long johns underneath and a long serve shirt, maybe a jacket if it's real cold or windy. Life jacket and paddling will keep you pretty warm, and not getting wet. When I had my pelican I'd use a Gatorade bottle, now I stand.

I sure wish dry suits were cheaper. There was a huge difference between the three set ups there.

Thnx Ted