wearing waders for kayak fishing / facts

Stu - i'm not trying to be a badass - just trying to find out other ways to stay warm and dry on the yak. Unlike many of you, I've fished with waders and a farmer john wetsuit and I feel more comfortable with the waders. I'm warm and dry with the waders - even when I side saddle the yak, I'm still dry. The wetsuit still gets me shivering when there is rain and wind. Ken / Loomy was fully dressed with a wetsuit last Saturday - he even had knee high boots and gloves in addition to his outfit  but he still froze his butt off (but like a trooper - he stayed to the very end   ) I think Chuck and I were the only ones who stayed completely dry and warm despite the conditions.

I think if I can survive a fall of the yak with my waders on - I may switch to waders and leave the wetsuit home.(I'll save the wetsuit for the warmer days on the ocean). The wetsuit will keep you warm when your in the water.....but how often are we in the water - besides the puddle we sit on? Besides, when we are out there - there is always the choice of paddling back when the conditions are not worth fishing.

I will try to test the waders in all possible conditions before I decide what's best for me. To each his own I guess.

Bottom line: staying dry and warm will keep you fishing longer....which is what we all dream off  

Hey Joel,

Even if you have a belt tie so tight you can not breath.  The problem is once you get water inside the waders.  There is noway to climb back into the Yak.  Unless, you take off the waders.

The bay, San Luis (main lake) or any other big water can and will get just as bad as the Ocean.

I would just find outer wear to fit over you wetsuit.  Still working on this.

Ken

Even if you have a belt tie so tight you can not breath. The problem is once you get water inside the waders. There is noway to climb back into the Yak. Unless, you take off the waders.

Is this from a previous experience? I'm not trying to be a smartass - I just want to know if these are based on actual experience.

And the belt should never be tight enough - just snug and comfortable.

Maybe a trip to Stevens Creek this weekend can be the first phase of the test. I will keep you guys posted on the results.....if you don't hear from me.....then I failed send a search party....and stick to the wetsuit   and forget about the waders...

Ken, I'll leave you my kayak...Stuart....you can inherit my Culcutta TE.......Chuck.....you can have my fishfinder..... Bill, you can have my net and my anchor..... and just bury me with my paddle ....

Thanks for being the guinea pig Joel!

I think my big issue comes from the fact that I "know" I will be "safe" in my wetsuit. I grew up surfing and I have had some very weird stuff happen to me when I got sucked over the falls and caught in the impact zone for to long. I know we all say that we won't go out in bad conditions but conditions change all the time, if you go out in good you might come back in bad. The biggest wave I ever rode was due to the fact I went out in mellow conditions then bigger and bigger sets started rolling in. I had no choice but to ride a big one in.

Bottom line is I want to have the best chance of surviving if I get detached from my yak. Personally I think I have the best chance of doing that in a wetsuit.

Wow... what a fricking controversy  .... see what winter cabin fever can do to a bunch of hard-up kayak fisherman

I don't think Joel's being a bad-ass.  He's just looking for a balance of comfort and safety like me.  As you can see, there's enough information out there to argue both sides, but everyone just needs to keep an open mind.  As our sport grows, I'm sure wetsuit and bootie makers will be designing more high tech wetsuits for cold weather kayaking.... and wader manufacturers will be designing waders safer for immersion.

Right now, all I know is that I probably would have went home early (or stayed home) last Saturday like Chris CPyak if all I had was a wetsuit.

Hey Erik... BTW... where did you get that Kayak Fisherman Magazine?

Bill...I know I'm always safe when your around...."you can be my wing man anytime".........

reply: "Bull shit...you can be mine"  

thanks Chuck....I'll leave you my ALL my fishing tackle (you'll need a garage for storage)   ....and all my "girls gone wild videos"  

anyone else want to   ? I'll take you all out  

Oh I forgot to add that Saturday I was really warm using this setup:

LS Lycra rash guard
4/3 mil full wetsuit (way to tight to paddle in!!)
Rubber rain gear
5mil booties
Sweat fleece hat from REI

I think the secret is the rain gear on top, it keeps most if not all of the mositure off the wetsuit but if some does get in you are good. Wetsuits are not really made to work well out of the water so you have to treat them a bit differently.

One day when I am brave I am going to try the same setup with my .5 mil farmer john as see if I stay just as warm. The way I see it is the thicker the suit the more time you have in the water (survival wise that is). I wonder if there is a formula like "for ever mil thick a wetsuit is you get X additional minutes in the water."

Hi Joel,

I have been in the surf perch fishing and had a sneaker wave hit me and drag into the surf.  I had to craw back to safety and had a hard time because of the water in the boots of my waders.  

You do not need to get into the Kayak.  Just try walking into the lake with the waders on.  Let it fill up with water and try to walk out.  I think you will re-think it after that.

Also, if you see or heard a sniper taking shots at you.  Don't think of me.  I think there are a lot more friends with more of a motive.

Ken

As long as you've got someone to pull you out of the drink you can wear a leopard print speedo and probably survive.  

But seriously, I was swamped once half a mile offshore of lots of rocks and surf.  It's no fun being in that position and trying to calculate your odds of surviving.  IMO the wetsuit is better than the lifejacket or VHF radio in that situation.  Wetsuits and waders are similar in price, and I can surf and dive with the wetsuit as well.

I wear it rolled down to my waist, I can put it on all the way onboard if I think I'll do something risky, or in the water in the event of an unforseen dumping.  It's pretty comfy that way...  I've never been cold in the 7mil farmer john either.  Saturday my feet got cold, probably because the suit is too tight for me now and cut off the blood flow to my tootsies.

Joel,

Ever since you and GTO19 went out in the surf and Linda Mar, YOU BOTH acheived "BAD ASS" status in my book.  No disrespect intended.  

One other noteworthy "bad ass" would be Fred, for always wearing shorts not matter how cold the weather conditions.  I'll buy you a six pack of coke if you ever see him in anything other than shorts, on the water or off!!

Stu

Fred is a "sleeper" badass...you'll never know what that guy can pull off...he just does it and walks away with a smirk on his face....like it was no big deal  

...my hero   I really think he's half Jap - half eskimo!


Kickfish Ken...looks like I'll invest in a bullet proof vest to go with my waders...thanks for the warning pal  

I'm not going kayaking with anyone wearing "a leopard print speedo", so don't count on me to pull you out if you do so.  OUCH!  I did NOT need the mental image of Joel in a leopard print speedo.  I'm going to go get a drink now.  

-Allen

Allen - you are sooo quick to judge......don't visualize, just keep an open mind an you will truly see the beauty within me and my "aqua man print super hero speedo"

 

He'll be chasing you with his unlucky banana while wearing it too...