Leashing yourself to your yak

I've heard of solo sailors trailing a long line, the idea being having something to grab should you fall overboard before the boat sails off into the sunset without you.

Dont go out alone when the conditions you worry about are present. The slightest current and wind will sweep your kayak far away from you.(and visa versa) Imagine your yak anchored up and you fall out due to fighting a fish that you were leveraging to one side. Trying to swim back against the current is gonna be one tough task. I look back at some days spent in the bay, on the anchor, and if i knew then what i should have known then, i wouldn't be going solo in the bay at all. RicciFishworks got VERY lucky once upon a time.
Be Safe and make the right choice, no fish is worth that chance.(andDONTfishINsharkINFESTEDwatersEITHER! )

Well said Adam.  Fishing alone in the "Big Blue" just doesn't make any sense to me.  I've only been tossed from my yak once and the help provided by HobieDave turned what could have been a very bad situation into a non-event.  "Self rescue" is a whole lot easier when somebody is steadying your yak.

It's a tough call to me. I've never personally done it before but I have considered it and I always always leash my paddle even though I never let it go.

My biggest fear outside of my boat sinking or an uncomfortable encounter with the landlord is losing my paddle. I've had days where the wind kicked up so much that it tried to blow the paddle out of my lap. 

The times that I have fallen out of the boat I've had the automatic hand to the yak thing and done the quick scramble back in.


-Eliot

i have always leashed my paddle.When outside the surfzone, it gets reattached. Detached whenever surf landing.
I forgot to reattach it once on the ocean. I caught a good fish and was preoccupied with pics, trough and celebration. Released the beast and then noticed my paddle floating away. Had to call on the VHF for a paddle rescue. It can get away from you when your not paying close attention.
*Both my poles get leashed ALWAYS in the ocean.
*VHF & knife are attached to my PFD.

Guys ...first I am only a few weeks into kayak fishing !!! I have attached a surfing leash inside my yak, the end that attaches to surf board is connected just behind my seat,  when stretched out from connection point  the other end   clears my boat by 2-3  feet...I am using a KNEE leash for long boards not the standard ankle leash... ,it is run  beside seat then rolled up and stowed close to my knee....The Velcro part that goes around you knee will keep it organised...((I also thought you could attach leg end to yak and board end to life jacket but this will not disconnect quickly)).Surfing leashes are very quick and easy to release or put on in a pinch....If I think I might need it I just reach down and attach to my leg , it has made me feel safer going in and out of  harbor   ....once I am out of the  channel I can just unhook or leave it on , if you are in the water  and need to get away from boat just pull yellow tab and you are free....It has made me feel safer , I am just  learning and getting the feel of thing ...my 2 cents worth..

SurfingDude that's making plenty of sense to me!    Like I said before, there are times where I could see being leashed would give me some comfort besides relying on my paddle leash.  I'd like to see some pics of this knee leash if you can point to some on the web.   

I'd like to see some pics of this knee leash if you can point to some on the web.   

Stand Up Paddle shops have leashes of different lengths.

That looks pretty comfortable, like you could jump off and go for a swim anytime!

Love that photo Mooch, think I'll print that one out and hang it on my wall

Love that photo Mooch, think I'll print that one out and hang it on my wall

Wish I wore my speedos that day   

Wish I wore my speedos that day   

Then I would've had to photoshop in a pair of pants