What do you wear for the salt/freshwater?

[ConeHeadMuddler]

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OK, i had to go elsewhere to find reviews, but I found some good ones. You know how it is... seek and ye shall find. I'm going to get the NRS ultra john and the NRS HydroSkin longsleeve top.

This should be a better paddling wetsuit combo than my surfing wetsuits have been, since it has the front zip and the design offers better freedom of movement.

Viva Cyber Monday Sales! Going to give OutdoorPlay a call.

[ConeHeadMuddler]

Here's a quick review on the above wetsuit gear. I finally made a couple of go-outs along the South Jetty at the entrance to Grays Harbor recently. Water temp both times was in the 52-53 F range, and the air temp was also in the low 50's.
I layered up with polyester wrestling shorts, a short sleeve O'Neill surfing rashguard, the NRS longsleeve Hydroskin top, and the NRS 3mm Ultra John. Over that, I wore my Stohlquist splash jacket to fend off the wind-chill and drizzle.
 I wear merino wool or synthetic thermal socks under my booties.  I wore 5mm surf booties the first time, but the soles are too thin for the poor angle of the hard-edged footrests, so the next time I wore my 3mm side-zip yak booties with the hard soles (they were plenty warm enough).

Fortunately for me, all this stuff fits me well, and was very comfortable to paddle in. It was warm enough for air and water in the low 50's, although on the first go-out, after 4 hours paddling and fishing with only sips of water and no snacks in the wind and drizzle, I started running low on energy and feeling a bit cool. The other go-out was only 3 hours, and I was comfortable the whole time.

I waded out to waist deep, and didn't feel any sudden coldwater intrusion. Next time I might bring along a wetsuit hood so that I can submerge myself for a better test. I don't like to dunk my head without earplugs or a wetsuit hood, especially not until the water temp hits the upper 50's.

It all goes on and strips off easier than my surfing wetsuit, and was more comfortable to paddle in. I'm lucky that its all a good fit, since that's important with wetsuits. You want a snug fit, but don't want it to be restrictive in any way. On the other hand, you never want a wetsuit to be too loose a fit, since they don't work as well if they let a flood of water in.

[ConeHeadMuddler]

For lake fishing in my Ultimate 12, since I'm NOT going to fall out of it, I'll wear jeans or shorts and longjohns, with cheap rain pants and yak booties. A light thermal top under med fleece (or just a longsleeve UPF T-shirt on a warm day), and either a windbreaker or rain jacket.

Sometimes I'll wear my breathable waders (belted) and a splash jacket or wading jacket, like I do when I wade rivers. This is when paddling the slower rivers, estuaries and tidal creeks, when I sometimes stand to cast or paddle, or park the yak and get out and wade or hike upstream.

When its really warm out, just shorts under rain pants (for sun and bug protection), and a longsleeve UPF top. Yak booties to protect my feet if I have to get out and wade.

Salt or Fresh, I always wear my wide-brimmed yakker's hat when its not cold enough for a wool or poly stocking cap.

[donz144]

I purchased a Kokatat GFER from KayakPro.com at a reasonble price for the 2011 version.

[sherminator]

Stohlquist Trekker PFD, OS Systems Pecos semi-dry top, Frogg Togg breathable waders, off-brand river shoes, wide brim hat (ventilated for warm, breathable boonie hat for wet/cold), polypro liner gloves if needed.