Leashing kayak to yourself? pros/cons?

It seems like the general consensus is to NOT leash yourself to your kayak to avoid entanglement if you turtle.  However, I'm thinking that a bigger danger would be turtling and having your kayak get swept away from you in the current.  At worst, if I'm leashed and tangled, I have a chance to work my way free of the leash.  And I'll likely be floating and not entangled underneath the kayak.  If my kayak gets away from me in the current, I'm not sure how easily I could swim fast enough to catch it.

Whoops, forgot to mention that I have a sit-on-top.  I think entanglement could be much greater risk for a sit-in.

Am I off base here and missing something? 

Bad idea in most cases, 

First in the case of current sweeping you and your yak apart,  remember you and the yak are in the same current so you will be swept along together, not apart.  Now wind is a different story, it can blow your yak away from you if you're in the water. 

Second, on current if you're talking river, then your yak will be going uncontrolled with the current and you'll be dragged with it, into whatever kind of issues the yak gets into you will too.  Not a good time to be tied together.

The one time I think tethering might be a good idea is if you're anchored in a significant current far from shore like sturgeon fishing. If you fall out you may be swept away from your boat before you can get a hold on it, might make for a really bad day.   Still not sure even then if tethering is a good idea.  I've never done it but have considered it.

I'm sure others will chime in on this one.

Leash your paddle to your kayak, you don't have to worry about either one drifting away in different directions.  Always wear your PFD.

I've seen how things can go wrong.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=58103.0

i wouldn't do it......fishing in heavy current is VERY, VERY high on my list of NOT DOING IT ANYMORE.

Strong winds will push your kayak away from you very fast. Catching a large fish in those conditions will test your every skill. So be up on what you think you know and can do.

Be Safe 

the only condition I can think of where I might tie myself to the kayak would be paddling solo in large seas coupled with high winds.

A paddle leash is not as bad an idea, some folks quite like them, and I've used them in the surf zone to keep control of my boat in a wipeout.

98% of the time I think a paddler-to-kayak leash would be a bad idea.
Better to skip the tether and go with a buddy instead. Or if the conditions are really that poor, stay ashore and wait for better weather.

I do not tether myself to my kayak, but my paddle is always tethered. If I fail to brace in time and I go in the drink, I would still have my paddle in my hands. Never let go of your paddle unless it is tethered, and you are holding on to your kayak. You never want to be separated from your kayak and paddle. In high winds, you and your kayak can be separated very quickly. A kayak without a paddle is useless, unless your kayak is a Hobie.

I'm with the leashing your paddle to your kayak crowd, but I disconnect on launch and landings.  The times that i've gone overboard, I never let go of the paddle, and was still connected to my kayak by the paddle leash. My leash has a quick disconnect where it connects to my paddle, and it has a sort of weak point where it connects to the kayak.  In a dangerous situation a hard yank should break it free, if for some reason I cant get the buckle disconnected.  I have both the Surf to Summit leash, and a Hobie leash.  Pretty much like them both.  But I also carry a Scotty Throw Bag, which if for some reason I decided to jump out of the yak I could grab it and my ditch bag quickly.

Good to know.  There's a lot of good info here. I didn't realize that wind is a bigger factor in taking your kayak away from you than current.  High winds (not high current) sweeping my kayak away are the more likely scenario I'm looking to avoid.

I use a paddle leash, but don't want to have to count on consciously grabbing it if I'm tipping with a rod in one hand, and a net in the other.  I like that quick disconnect on the Surf to Summit leash, and will use that idea with my homemade string trimmer leash.

I'm not looking to push my luck in bad weather/conditions, more of looking to avoid these worst case scenarios, like you guys are describing.  I would think that a good idea in solo offshore scenarios would translate into a good practice closer to shore, even fishing alongside buddies. 

I'm thinking that a webbing tether with a quick disconnect buckle might reduce chances of entanglement?  Sorry for coming off as being stubborn on this idea, but I just want to make sure I've thought it out.  What else am I going to do when I'm at the office instead of on the water?   I spend way more time thinking about kayaking and fishing than actually being on the water. 

I use a paddle leash, but don't want to have to count on consciously grabbing it if I'm tipping with a rod in one hand, and a net in the other.  I like that quick disconnect on the Surf to Summit leash, and will use that idea with my homemade string trimmer leash.

If you are going over, drop everything and grab your paddle or your kayak's side handle. No point holding on to your fishing gear while your kayak and paddle are drifting away from you. That is your life line! If you put floats on your fishing rod and net, you can always recover them after you get back on your kayak.

 A bowline gives you the option to do all of the above.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=59548.0
Make a good decision and leash to your paddle or person or nothing at all, depending on conditions and abilities.

In the scenarios your mentioning, unless your in some moving water, catching a fish shouldn't ever tip you over. Unless your doing it in some rough weather? You are more likely too flip after hooking up on the bottom trying to free a snag.  Seen that many times. Or reaching behind you to get something out of the back of your yak, that sort of thing.  But when your fishing in rough conditions, usually I'd throw my legs over both the sides to stabilize myself.  Or also while fishing in rough weather, it's in my lap, ready to grab at a moments notice.  Even be ready to ditch that rod if the need arises. But if you are underway and in rough weather, I would definitely have my paddle leashed and in my hands. 

My paddle is always leashed and in my hands or lap while fishing. The only time its not is entering a surf zone during launch or landing. I see sometimes guys cutting away the safety lines on the perimeter of the kayaks as to not get fouled on a hook. Those lines are for grabbing onto. I like the idea of a bowline and am going to incorporate one on my boats.

Ive thought about that same thing Dale on a smokin' outgo in the bay. Never alone. That's for sure. Ever.

I never leash my paddle landing or launching.
The idea of eating it in the surf, then having the leash wrap around my neck as the kayak is hurled back towards the beach is enough of a reason not to leash the paddle in the surf. Plus I don't want the kayak anywhere near me while it's being tossed by the surf.
Something that stuck with me a long long time ago was a movie on PBS about white water rafting.
Long story short:
A guide figured he would tether himself to the raft so he would not get separated from it.
He carried a knife on his PFD so if he was in trouble he could cut the tether.
Well that exact scenario played out.
The only problem was that the water was so violent and the way the tether wrapped around him he could not get to his knife. Even if he could get to the knife he would cut himself before the tether because of all the movement in the water.
He thought for sure he was a goner; on the verge of drowning, but by some miracle the tether broke free of the raft and he was able to get himself out of the jam.
He didn't realize how difficult getting away from the tether would be.
A lot of people have great ideas of what they can do while sitting in front of their computer, but to actually be in the situation is a different story.

I always keep my safety gear on me just in case i go in : Always PFD , knife,Vhf, Hand held GPS, basic comps and my whistle. Only thing i haven't got yet is a flair gun. 

sound like a lot of stuff to Carry on your person but have you tried calling for help while trying to keep your head above water.

Leashing yourself to your kayak is definitely a no no. Never heard of anyone on here doing that.

I always used to leash my paddle to the kayak but stopped doing that a couple years ago. That way I can't forget to unleash it for launching & landing.
Although I've dropped it in the water it never seems to get away from the kayak right away & I've always been able to grab it. Of course I'm rocking a Mirage Drive Hobie so I have the drive as my primary propulsion anyways. I think a spare paddle stored in the hull would be way safer than leashing a single paddle for guys rocking paddle only kayaks. That way whether your primary paddle is lost or somehow breaks your bases are all covered.