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Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold #14480458 09/17/22 05:38 PM
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kirbydog Offline OP
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I kayak as long as there is open water (here in CO). Will even kayak when the lake or pond is partially iced over. I'm 73
and have never fallen out of my kayak but I know if I did I might be in serious trouble. Should I just put my kayak away
and fish from my boat only during the colder months?

I consider myself a decent kayaker when it comes to skills on the water and I have a healthy respect for kayaking in extreme
water temps, shifting ice, etc.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480612 09/17/22 10:25 PM
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jippedgenes Offline
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I fish year round. Obviously a PFD. I also carry a few mylar space blankets and some of those hot hands warmers and I never get too far from the shore.

Cold water is no joke. I would love to hear other peoples ideas "just in case" cold water tumping preparation.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480809 09/18/22 03:30 AM
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So water my whole life has been one of my worst fears. That said, I fish all water year round. I wear the cheapest breathable waiders and layer under. I don't typically keep extra clothes, although not a bad idea. I just focus on in the summer months to practice in rougher water when possible. Winter time is generally windy and the waves tend to be more cumbersome. It's a good idea to always go with another person if you can. Winter time is trophy catfish season so I'm not missing that. Also pfd should be something you always wear summer or winter. I have a cheep frog tongs rain coat for my upper area.


Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480810 09/18/22 03:32 AM
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It's harder to pee with waiders on so maybe a bottle is good to bring. The suspenders on waiders usually can clip together and you can roll the front down.


Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480826 09/18/22 04:05 AM
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porta Offline
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[quote=kirbydog]I kayak as long as there is open water (here in CO). Will even kayak when the lake or pond is partially iced over. I'm 73
and have never fallen out of my kayak but I know if I did I might be in serious trouble. Should I just put my kayak away
and fish from my boat only during the colder months?

I consider myself a decent kayaker when it comes to skills on the water and I have a healthy respect for kayaking in extreme
water temps, shifting ice, etc.[/


You might consider reading up on shock hypothermia which can occur in seconds or minutes if you're not accustomed to cold water. During cold weather I only fish in Rivers or creeks which don't freeze up in Texas, where I'm never more than 40 ft or so from the stand-up point. Probably not a good idea to wear cotton (cotton kills) as it doesn't dry out fast enough, better to stay warm with layers of synthetics, should you get wet.

Ps. You might test out your possible kayak dump modes which send you into water, and your pfd (especially the inflatable kind) during the warm days of summer and before the coming winter. I did that a few weeks ago in a swimming pool, and I found out my PFD rides up when it inflates so I have to top it off with the mouth tube and then I have to swim on my back. A regular boat might give you a false sense of safety and tempt you take more risks, but if something happens when you're further out and in rough conditions, might be even more dangerous.

Last edited by porta; 09/18/22 05:21 AM. Reason: Ps.
Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480832 09/18/22 04:26 AM
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If being sensible, I think there’s a better chance of falling off a boat (trolling motor hitting a stump, etc) than from an appropriately sized quality kayak.


[Linked Image]
Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480841 09/18/22 05:32 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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layer, chest waders with zippered fly, belt, lots of chemical warmers for feet, hands, and neck, dry top that seals at waist... good to below freezing, dry bag with towel and dry clothes, fire making stuff

[Linked Image]


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14480965 09/18/22 03:00 PM
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Very good information by other posters above. Wet and dry suits and neoprene waders can help if they don't cause someone overheating while paddling. Wool is a good layering material because it insulates against cold air, breathes enough to help with overheating, and stays warm even underwater When Wet.

https://www.rya.org.uk/blog/cold-shock-and-hypothermia

Hope this helps.

Ps. Fun Polar bear Club immersions into cold water are usually done under very controlled conditions where there is very little element of surprise, people can walk out easily, or people can be quickly rescued by others close my.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14481228 09/18/22 08:45 PM
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I kayak all year long and use waders during the cooler months. Always have the PFD on because I actually turtled last Feb in West Galveston Bay. I was landing and nice spec and made the mistake of reaching for my net that was drifting away from me. Water got in my waders but it could have been worst without the PFD.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14484433 09/21/22 10:34 PM
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So if you wear waders and tump do you not fear them filling with water and using precious energy getting shed of the,?

Just asking as I do not know.

If the wind is blowing and it is cold I wear my PVC rainsuit over my clothes and will not waterlog. Totally cuts the wind but it a bit stiff even though mine is a higher $ set..

FIY Merino wool socks are the BEST!

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14484505 09/21/22 11:46 PM
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Wondered that myself-would a wet or dry suit fill with water over time.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: jippedgenes] #14484700 09/22/22 04:27 AM
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Originally Posted by jippedgenes
So if you wear waders and tump do you not fear them filling with water and using precious energy getting shed of the,?

Just asking as I do not know.

If the wind is blowing and it is cold I wear my PVC rainsuit over my clothes and will not waterlog. Totally cuts the wind but it a bit stiff even though mine is a higher $ set..

FIY Merino wool socks are the BEST!


I've experimented with falling in with waders on and don't worry about them filling up with water. I'm going to be right back on that kayak in a few seconds. I wouldn't want to fish afterwards as you will get your butt wet, but wouldn't be concerned with not being able to get back in from too much water. Getting back to shore and changing into dry clothes would be my only concern. The water pressure at your feet and legs will cause waders to press tight against your skin. When a belt is used, it helps trap air in the waders as well.


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14484944 09/22/22 02:43 PM
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Define cold water. Fall and Winter is by far my favorite time to fish from the kayak , but I’m at 29° north latitude and summers here are hot! Fall and winter is the most pleasant weather of the year for kayaking. Spring is nice too, but I’m generally into other activities in the spring.

The water temperatures here generally get around 50° in the winter, what’s that 10° C. It can get below that, but my M/O is to fish a couple of days after cold frontal passages when the fish are concentrated in low water conditions and the incipient warming trend has stimulated a good feeding period for the fish. Maybe the air temperature will be around 60°, 15° or so, sun is out and the fish are looking for shallow mud and shell to forage. I don’t bother going out when the arctic fronts are blowing through. I’m not that mad at the fish.

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14485457 09/23/22 12:16 AM
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butch sanders Online Content
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wear a life jacket
wear layers
dont turtle
i fish Lake Arlington
in below freezing
for the challenge
& the chance for
a really big bass

Re: Do Kayak When The Water Gets Cold [Re: kirbydog] #14486682 09/24/22 01:01 PM
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jippedgenes Offline
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Butch, "don't turtle...what is this. Never heard the term unless talking about Jiu Jitsu.

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