Waders of death?

I'll wear wader in the bay or freshwater, never out on the ocean

With the ripping current in the bay I have to say the bay is way worse than the ocean.
I think your kayak would get away from you a lot sooner in the bay.

I would have to add wind to that equasion. If you and the kayak are drifting the same speed then it should't be that tough even with the current. It's the wind that would blow it away faster than you can swim. If you're paddling alone it could be the worst case scenario.

Even in this very controlled test situation he was getting water in the waders within the first ten seconds.....and that was with a wader belt and splash jacket in FAC water. Over the last couple of years I have seen plenty of people fall in and either self rescue or be assisted to re-board. It always takes a lot longer than ten seconds. I wish these 'kayak pros' would have the guts to stand up and say definitively that waders do not have a place aboard a kayak on the Bay, Ocean, or even cold water Lakes and that those people that decide to go out so ill-equipped are putting not only themselves but their fellow kayak fishermen at risk. jim

We wear waders at work everyday because that's what we have...  and people who know me know that I dump the kayak all that time both fishing and at work.  In fact, I flipped a pontoon boat yesterday (everybody at work thought that was impossible... ) but I got back on literally within 10 sec.  I was wearing a life jacket, splash jacket, & belt.  I only got wet a little bit on my left chest area. My pants and socks were completely dry.  It was early in the morning and I just work through it all day...  I am also guilty of wearing wader on the ocean (even at bean) because it's more comfortable than my wet suit.   I did do some rescue practice wearing waders at my boating safety course and swift water rescue course.   I wish I had the money to buy a dry suit or my company would provide us one but it's not gonna happen for a long time...
I'm not here to recommended anyone to wear waders or change anybody's mind but I'm not gonna change my mind either...
so I'll apologize in advance when you see me on the water and you don't need to save me because I'm wearing waders at my own risk...

I don't have a dry suit myself. Just kokatat pants over my wetsuit plus other gear. I had to save my money for those kokatat pants but they were worth every penny. I am considering getting a dry suit and it will probably be a Kokatat because I am so impressed with these pants.
No apology needed from anyone that has already knowingly made the decision to wear waders and understands the risks. These people probably have the knowledge to judge water conditions better than someone new and therefore minimize the risk to themselves by not going out unless the risk is small.
That being said new kayak fishermen in the market to buy gear should have the facts that some gear works better and is safer than others. These guys may not have the knowledge to judge conditions as well.
Testimonials from people that have, so far, gotten away with wearing waders only promote more people to spend their money on waders. New kayak anglers might think that waders are safe for every imaginable condition if they see a Kayakfishing Stud like Naoaki wearing them!    I will never get tired of saying this.....Waders are for wading and not for kayakfishing on the Ocean or Bay. That being said I will always assist anyone I can.....even if they're wearing waders. jim

Ric Burnley is a cool dude though. I sent him some info about Albion for an article.

 Uminchu Naoaki , you said it though you still wear a splash jacket that would make all the difference

OK. I'll admit to it. I wear waders almost all of the time when I fish the salt. Otherwise it's boardshorts. I do have nice surfing wetsuits but I really came to accept that the itchiness associated with the neoprene is not tolerable. 
So I guess the real question is: Have I been swimming yet? Yep I have. One cold morning surf launching a “new” spot in Carmel I was initiated. During said idiotic launch I ditched my yak and ended up diving through a wave, head first, and swimming a short distance back to the beach. I was wearing breathable stocking foot waders, an extrasport semi dry top, and an extrasport pfd. I thought I double checked all my various water proofing seals but I forgot the neoprene neck seal on my semi dry top that unfortunately leaked. I took on about a cup of water due to my head being below the water line. I was definitely cold for the rest of the day but I am confident that if my neck seal was proper I would have stayed dry.
Please don't take this post as a recommendation for waders. I DO NOT recommend wearing waders while kayak fishing. I understand that there is certainly risk associated with the practice. From my previous episode I know that, so long as I don't spend a whole lot of time underwater I should be fairly dry just “floating” wearing the semi dry top plus pfd. I do recognize that waders have serious issues and when I can afford the dry suit I will buy it like any sane person.
-Tim

I'll wear wader in the bay or freshwater, never out on the ocean

With the ripping current in the bay I have to say the bay is way worse than the ocean.
I think your kayak would get away from you a lot sooner in the bay.

I would have to add wind to that equasion. If you and the kayak are drifting the same speed then it should't be that tough even with the current. It's the wind that would blow it away faster than you can swim. If you're paddling alone it could be the worst case scenario.

I wrote that because the majority of the time spent in the bay is spent sturgeon fishing and the majority of that time is spent on anchor. I have seen a lot of people lose their balance while their kayak is stationary. Usually it's because they were trying to reach something behind them. Fall out of your kayak on anchor in the bay and you will be 100 feet from your kayak before you even knew you fell out.

To me, waders are almost as bad as jeans

Sean -

I wear waders OVER jeans for freshwater fishing.  I only fish lakes and usually no more than 15-20 minutes of paddling to my car so if I did fall in, which has never happened in the last 7 years, I would paddle back to the car and drive home with the heater on high. Molly has fallen in and wears a wet suit.    On the ocean, bays or rivers - FJ and dry top or full 4/3 is what I use.

Scott

I wish they would try these tests with extended stays in rough water. I would reccomend warm water.IMO Waders suck, cotton sucks and dry suits are very expensive and less than perfect. With time their seams leak and must be re-sealed. Furthermore, when handling spiny rockfish,hooks,knives,crabpots and walking on sharp slippery rocks, there is alot of ways to put holes in them.However, it sure is nice to step right out of my drysuit and into cantina without having to get naked and cold in the parking lot.

I wish they would try these tests with extended stays in rough water.

Me too! Are you volunteering? 

Eventually someone with superior skills and adequate safety overwatch will do it. Until then we'll have to live with flawed versions such as this video, or the accounts of people whose testing was unintentional. 

I guess part of the nightmare I in vision is with the type of waiters I have specific to duck hunting 7mm with insulated big boots. There is no way I could swim in those and I was shocked how much water came in when I tried to cross a canal with 10 ft +of water depth. With out a dry top wearing camo sweat shirt and jacket . I was trying to use a stick to find the bottom but the clay sides were slippery. Thought well I'm here in the water might as well cross . Even with a belt on at first 10 sec. I was dry but by the time I got to the other side fighting slippery mud and weeds , I was soaked all the way through.Maybe 2-3 min. in the water , No way in Hell would I want to do that in the middle of a lake or river. Too many times you fall out of your kayak and it rockets away. I'm sure breathable s are light and easier to maneuver but with out the dry top , not sure I would be comfortable to try it. To avoid the itches I wear Lycra pants under my wet suit.

I wish they would try these tests with extended stays in rough water.

Me too! Are you volunteering? 

Eventually someone with superior skills and adequate safety overwatch will do it. Until then we'll have to live with flawed versions such as this video, or the accounts of people whose testing was unintentional.

I can't claim any superior skills but I am a very strong swimmer and would be happy to jump in to some 'real' life test waters. Hell we can make some donations for Mooch if we charge people to flip me in to cold water.

-Brian G

Ric Burnley is a cool dude though. I sent him some info about Albion for an article.

Speaking of Albion, last year's contest out North of the buoy would have been an excellent place to test waders. Oh wow another person posted up their experience with waders. Despite the disclaimers this = another new angler thinking he or she can also 'get away with' wearing them. 
 PLEASE STOP THE TESTIMONIALS. YOU WANNA WEAR WADERS FINE. BUT LETTING EVERYONE KNOW YOU WEAR THEM IN THE OCEAN? WHY? "I shoot heroin and it hasn't killed me yet!"  Same foking thing IMO. jim

  

Great job Dustin! Five more new kayak anglers just ran out and bought waders. Thanks a bunch!  Are you also volunteering for the special Albion Waders Test Swim?