Thanks for the advice. I see the medium Ugly Stik Tiger has a 20-50# line rating. Would that be the line rating I should look for with other brands and not focus on the medium, medium light, etc. rating?

Quote from: JJQ on July 13, 2016, 03:27:32 PM

In the ocean we dress to survive without our boats.  What if they sink or are blown away by the wind?  Wetsuit or drysuit.  It's not only about staying warm while on the kayak. 

Josh

Josh, first I hear you and everyone needs to do what they feel is the right thing to do, for some that may be way over protected and prepared but it makes them feel safe.

What if it sinks? Well I'll question you, how is it going to sink unless you were attacked by a shark and it punctured the hull? I read about a guy that had that happen and he was still able to get back on and peddle in. I may not be thinking of every possible way but I'm only thinking of the most reasonable possibilities. If your hull is in good shape there is no reason that it could just sink. Second how is it going to blow away in the wind? I'll tell you what if I'm fishing and the wind comes up and I can't return to my launch area I'm going to look for the nearest area to come ashore. If I can't come ashore safely anywhere and feel stranded I'm getting on channel 16 on my VHF and calling the coasties! I'm not fishing when a small craft advisory is reported and I'm not fishing when weather might threaten my safety.

I'm not a novice boater and have been fishing on friends ocean boats for about 10 years and have been a boater for about 20 years owning 3 boats between 21 and 32 feet and have taken the USCG boaters safety classes and was a member of a yacht club in the Delta.

Form my point of view if I get in trouble and think it could be life threatening I'm calling channel 16 from the VHF attached to my uppers by a lanyard.