Safety Flags

Hello all,

I'm relatively new to this board, but have met many of you through my friend ride123.

I have lurked this board for quite sometime and find it a great source of information and on occassion a good laugh.

I recently read about frankfishing's incident near the jaws of pillar point and saw a post mentioning safety flags.

I didn't think too much about it, but on 4/13, I was fishing on a pb out of oyster point and it got me thinking.

As we headed towards hunters point at over 30mph we had to maneuver around many pbs as well as a few kayaks.

I knew that there were kayaks out there, I think mooch  and a few others were drifting, so I made a point to keep an eye out.  But, I noticed, even when looking for kayaks, they can be very hard to see.

The bright colored kayaks are definetly easier to spot, but even then, it was fairly difficult at speed with the wind in my eyes.

I've noticed on this board that there are many kayaks in earth tones, either green, or tan and even blue that might be very difficult if not impossible to spot.

Which brings me to safety flags. 

Have any of you run flags before?

I think that having a bright color that sticks above the waterline would greatly increase the visibility.  Height being the most important factor.

I did see 3 kayaks, again I believe mooch's group, in a tight formation.  Having 3 kayaks together definetly increased the visibility.  I think when in the bay that this is a great idea.

Anyway just looking for some feedback.  I really want to find some color for ride123's kayak, as his is a bay brown.

Thanks,

Craig

I have used a bike flag in the past while fishing at Moss. I had a hard time getting it to stay in place. Someone with more skills than I could hack a good flag for sure.

That sounds like an excellent suggestion.  I'd be interested in flying a flag.  Currently I usually have my huge salmon net in a rod holder behind my seat, and that helps the visibility a lot, but a flag sounds like a good idea.  Inventor-yakker's among us should work up a flag pole that's easy to add to our ensembles...  I'll buy one.   

Both of my fishing kayaks have safety flags rigged on them.  I decided to get them after nearly getting run over by a sailboat. After installing one, a friend told me that she could see my kayak nearly a half mile away with the flag. If you want to get one, along with the bracket, here is where I got mine:

http://kayakfishingstuff.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FAC-sflag&Category_Code=

Flags are a good idea and I've looked for one a couple of times when I was out and about, but haven't found the right one yet.  If you use a crate, mounting one there seems like the best way to go.  Carrying a horn is also a good idea, especially when visibility is limited.  I keep one of the mini air horns in my side pocket ready to grab when I hear a pb approaching.

ganodrama,  can you post a good pic of how the flag is mounted? The picture on the site doesn't show much detail.

Bike flags can be bought for about $5.00 at sportmart / sports authority....they already come with a metal mounting bracket which can be easily secured to your milk crate or dry box. And the poles are almost as long as your kayak - which makes it more visible in high seas  I keep mine inside my hatch just in case....but getting feedback from TOK makes me wanna use 'em more often. Thanks for the insight Craig  Safety comes before fishing.

Good to have - especially when the swells are up 

Welcome to the madness Craig  See you on the water soon!

I did see 3 kayaks, again I believe mooch's group, in a tight formation.

yup, that was me, Paul and Dave....trying to put our shiners close together to form a "bait ball"  ...and hoping to attract gamefish 

 Maybe a flag with the NCKA logo?

Maybe a flag with the NCKA logo?

I just slapped an NCKA sticker on the orange flag But I doubt it wll stay on there. Great idea though

Maybe a flag with the NCKA logo?

Dang, beat me to it...    A NCKA flag would be cool.

For you Hobie owners out there: I've read on several forums where people have recommended using the hole for the speedo tube to mount a flagpole.  Haven't gotten around to that mod myself but I can see how it would be convenient.

An NCKA stencil and some spray paint might work well on a bike flag.  But I guess that will depend on what the final logo looks like.

Brian

For Hobie owners the mast hole for the sail would work well too, but I don't think I want one in front of me.

Here's the bike flag we use - from Sportmart / sports authority....

Make sure to seccure the flag well and away from your rod holders.  I was borrowing Mooch'es and when I pulled my rod out of the holder the flag followed and then took a trip to the deep bottom.  I guess I owe you a flag Mooch, along with a better way of mounting it.    .

Make sure to seccure the flag well and away from your rod holders.  I was borrowing Mooch'es and when I pulled my rod out of the holder the flag followed and then took a trip to the deep bottom.  I guess I owe you a flag Mooch, along with a better way of mounting it.    .

Etienne - that was my fault, I did not secure the bracket at the time - lesson learned that day - no big deal. I'll get another one. let me know if you need one as well.