What to wear when the cold gets here

[Fish Taco]

Look... I grew up in SoCal... but spent 12 years on Long Island, NY recently (moved back to SoCal 2 yrs ago)... but took on kayak fishing for the first time while in NY. I belonged to the KFA-NY club (Kayak Fishing Association of New York). They stress safety in our sport, and rightly so. PFDs and Cold Weather Gear are serious considerations for your safety back there... we're talking c-c-c-cold water temps in the fall, winter, and spring. Enough so that to turtle in those conditions unprepared could lead easily to death... hypothermia is no joking matter. Read up on it, seriously.

I know that the water temps here are currently very warm. But yes, even in the winter here in SoCal... hypothermia is a concern... especially if things go badly quickly.

My Immersion Research drysuit may be an expensive investment.... but as they say... how expensive is your funeral? I have two teenage kids, and a wife... I take my safety seriously when on the water in my kayak. Staying warm and dry should something go awry is my first concern. $600 bucks. Ask yourself. Is it worth your life? I know this is SoCal... and temps aren't quite the same as New York... but hey... if you're in the water for an extended time... hypothermia is a real threat to your safety. Kokatat, IR, and many others out there offer protection from the elements. Ask yourself... do I want to come home in a body bag, or prepared for the worst case in a drysuit? You never know. I had a hard time pulling the trigger spending so much on a safety device as a drysuit, but I also have peace of mind that if sh*t happens, I'm prepared to stay in the water if need be until rescued.

I may rarely use it out here in SoCal, compared to what I would've used it in New York, but I'm glad I own it... and when water temps drop... you can count I'll have it on. Food for thought.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by Fish Taco

Look... I grew up in SoCal... but spent 12 years on Long Island, NY recently (moved back to SoCal 2 yrs ago)... but took on kayak fishing for the first time while in NY. I belonged to the KFA-NY club (Kayak Fishing Association of New York). They stress safety in our sport, and rightly so. PFDs and Cold Weather Gear are serious considerations for your safety back there... we're talking c-c-c-cold water temps in the fall, winter, and spring. Enough so that to turtle in those conditions unprepared could lead easily to death... hypothermia is no joking matter. Read up on it, seriously.

I know that the water temps here are currently very warm. But yes, even in the winter here in SoCal... hypothermia is a concern... especially if things go badly quickly.

My Immersion Research drysuit may be an expensive investment.... but as they say... how expensive is your funeral? I have two teenage kids, and a wife... I take my safety seriously when on the water in my kayak. Staying warm and dry should something go awry is my first concern. $600 bucks. Ask yourself. Is it worth your life? I know this is SoCal... and temps aren't quite the same as New York... but hey... if you're in the water for an extended time... hypothermia is a real threat to your safety. Kokatat, IR, and many others out there offer protection from the elements. Ask yourself... do I want to come home in a body bag, or prepared for the worst case in a drysuit? You never know. I had a hard time pulling the trigger spending so much on a safety device as a drysuit, but I also have peace of mind that if sh*t happens, I'm prepared to stay in the water if need be until rescued.

I may rarely use it out here in SoCal, compared to what I would've used it in New York, but I'm glad I own it... and when water temps drop... you can count I'll have it on. Food for thought.

I grew up fishing Redondo Bch, Lived on Long Island for 5 yrs, and now in Florida. I can appreciate what you say regarding cold. Lost a friend off SoCal when his sea urchin boat sank -- 6 of his crew were rescued 17 hours later -- surviving because they had their wetsuits on. That was before Personal Location Beacons(PLB's) existed. For $250 a PLB is the best piece of safety equipment in areas where hyperthermia is not an immediate concern. For staying warm, I am surprised a light wetsuit is not more popular. I would think an oversized stock model with lots of zippers that could be left open most of the time to stay cool would be a consideration. Seems like chest wader boots would greatly compromise mobility if you ever flip. In South Florida, I do wear a neopreme jacket during winter.

[Ro12]

Thanks for the help guys
I'll look into the breathable ones
Now if I have layers under and it gets hot
How easy or hard are they to get off or back on
Is it possible in a yak
Or is it something you do only when you on dry land

[Mahigeer]

Depending on your balancing skills and having a place to put the wader, you could take them off.

I personally would not risk it.

If you take your top off and leave the waders on, you may not be too hot.

You should always have drinking water for hydration.

Pleas let us know what works. I found my clothing that I was talking about, but did not see any ID on them. I will try to find the paper work if I can.

Best wishes.


P.S. I just saw these:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/dry-pants-wa...item25aed93835

[makobob]

Sorry to butt in on this, but this is why I love to fish the SEA of Cortez, water was 88 degrees this week.

[Ro12]

Makobob I've been reading your threads
I can only dream of goin out there with you
I know it's an open invite
But the stars would have to line up perfectly for me to enjoy one of those trips

Those pants look doable mahigear
Saw something similar that was a set on kayakfishingsupplies.com
Also just got done reading their article on what to wear on the water
Lots of good info
But would still like some more first hand experience opinions from everyone

Looks like wetsuits are out for me
So I'm lookin into the waders and layers
Thanks for all the help guys
Maybe see you guys out there one day

[Harry Hill]

some waders are warm, others are just a dry layer between you and the water but are still warmer than nothing but pants. I have breathable waders I use with my belly boat and they will keep me warm in really cold water while fishing. If it's really warm out I don't wear them, they get to hot. Always wear a belt tightly around the outside of the waders so if you go in they don't fill up with water. They are really hard to get out of when you are trying to stay afloat.Find out what the pro bass fishermen are wearing, those guys don't like being uncomfortable.

[Goose1993]

Boardshorts year round. Just keep your shirt on and put a windbreaker on if you need it. This is San Diego. We don't know cold...

[Ro12]

Haha

[straightrod]

Thanks to the OP. I am glad this thread surfaced. I Tandem Island fish with my wife out of Dana Landing to La Jolla most weekends - we are in our 60's. It is roughly 10 -12 miles from the fishing grounds back to Dana Landing.

Three weeks ago we took on at least 70 gallons of water on a leak that does not come from the bottom. The stern and back seat were underwater when we hit the ramp.

Wife not to happy. I explained she could not pay an amusement park to have this much excitement.

I have been thinking of proper clothing for at least two hours of submersion.

[Ro12]

Wow
Now that doesn't sound any fun at all
Is your ride done
Repairable
How far were you when you noticed you were takin on water