To Flag, or not to Flag

I like the idea of flag on my yak.  I would like to be more visible for boats.  What your thoughts on flags?  Is there any drawbacks to having a flag.  It appears that most yaks do not have flags.  Shelter Cove is my primary fishing ground.

I can't see any drawback in having a flag on the yak except it takes up 1 spot in your rod holder.

I tend to shy away from having anything passive on my boat that might make me feel like I'm visible to everybody else and don't have to be as cautious as I am when I'm absolutely positive that no one can see me unless I actively make it very clear that I'm here and PLEASE STAY AWAY!

This includes lights on poles at night.

I prefer to make a lot of noise and wave my paddle like a madman in the daytime or shine a powerful light directly at boaters at night whenever I think danger might be approaching.

Yeah it might be safer but it sucks when pb's spot you & then cruise by closer as a result. Then you either get an unwanted pb fishing on top of you or waked. I can't make myself fly one & will rely on the methods that Steamer47 stated to prevent getting run over. At night you gotta have a light most of the time though.

What your thoughts on flags?  Is there any drawbacks to having a flag. Shelter Cove is my primary fishing ground.

I thought he specifically asking about fishing in Shelter Cove.

I'm all for safety, but I agree with Steamer47 to some extent.  There was a discussion on Humboldt Tuna Club about this - a few Big Boy powerboaters were making like it's so difficult to see us Little Guy kayaks.  I pointed out that we tend to come out on flat days where you can see a 14.5' boat from pretty far off, and, if it's not flat enough to see a 14.5' boat (with brightly colored paddle going up and down, which seems more effective than a flag) then they should be traveling slowly enough to avoid a 14.5' boat.  The example of a crab float came up - how many crab floats do they run over accidentally?  If it's a significant number at all (which I don't think it is) then they need to slow down!  A crab float is, what?, up to a foot wide, or less, much less.  Time to put flags on crab floats?...

Damn I want to be at the Cove right now, but it's likely blown out or going to be blown out before long this morning.  It would've been one of those days out there where no one's going to be going so fast that they'd miss a 14.5' boat in their path.

I only use a flag when fishing past the kelp in foggy weather.  It can come in so fast and thick that the shore line disappears.  Then I use a large bright orange bandana and fasten it to my spare rod with 2 clothes pins.  I keep the bandana and clothes pins in my dry bag.

Nearly everyone on NWKA flys one, especially out in the salt. We often get thanked by the charter captains. It also makes it far easier to locate a buddy, especially if the swell is in the  6-7 foot range. Even in the busier rivers we always fly them. I like to be as visible as possible.

I plan to rock a flag my yak is desert cammo my paddle is black and brown my pfd is brown so I want something to help me be little more visible on the water I'm thinking I'm going to get the  YakAttack VisiCarbon Pro Light

This is my new flag

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Mesh-Outback-Hats/product/97777/

This is my new flag

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Mesh-Outback-Hats/product/97777/

Might have to pick up one of those for the summer

I made a flag with Metal type of reflective tape. I worry more about the boats in the fog. I want the guys with Radar to see me.

I use a section of bright colored pool noodle on my 'bigass' net. But I also have a flag w/light that I use if it's really foggy or if it's dark out.

I tend to shy away from having anything passive on my boat that might make me feel like I'm visible to everybody else and don't have to be as cautious as I am when I'm absolutely positive that no one can see me unless I actively make it very clear that I'm here and PLEASE STAY AWAY!

This includes lights on poles at night.

I prefer to make a lot of noise and wave my paddle like a madman in the daytime or shine a powerful light directly at boaters at night whenever I think danger might be approaching.

Hmmm ... I kind of think flags and lights have the potential to make you visible at a farther distance.  Therefore an approaching boat has a lot more time to take notice of you.

As far as worrying about possibly being less cautious, I find it best to be consistently cautious on kayaks at all times, flag or not.

-Allen