Suiting up for Ocean Kayak Fishing

IMO the worst part about waders is that your ability to cover distance swimming is greatly reduced when your flooded even half way up your calves.

It seems like it should flood w/ water but interesting thing about this setup is that w/ all the outside water pressure it's actually really hard for water to get in.  You feel like a raisin in the water. If you have a dry top and a PFD on it not only cinches down pretty tightly enough to keep the water out but also keeps the waterline lower on your body meaning less chance for water intrusion. I had this setup for a few years and even after crashing in the surf was still dry.

Z

i'm with Zee on this one. i Huli'd repeatedly my first time at ORC Pac City with this set up and only had a wet neclkline. everything sealed up as soon as the water pressure hit. bobbed right up like a big fat cork too.

now the topper. i swam the yak back to shore 3 times and still, all i had was a wet neckline. so, unless you're headed out several miles and intend to go swimming for fun in this rig, or are going to be doing a real lot of heavy seas fishing, i really wouldnt sweat it.

So there, the gauntlet is throw down. But I ain't the stuntman this time as the water is too warm here.

East coaster Ric Burnley already accepted that challenge.

http://www.kayakanglermag.com/features/915-video-kayak-angler-cold-water-outerwear-test-.html

Yeah, the water was calm and that last time Ric was in and out of the water in a flash. Otherwise this is the best kayak fishing clothing test I've seen to date. Little did I know Ric was going to film his polar plunge when I assigned the story.

I know water pressure causes waders to cling tightly to the wearer once you go into the drink. There's still reason for concern if you can't get out of the water fast. Neoprene waders don't fit as tightly as the breathables, making seepage and leakage more likely. That stuff is heavy when you're trying to lift it above water level.

Very cool vid PAL. Another good illustration of outerwear for kayakfishing. Since I never got that much water intrusion w/ a drytop and wader combo falling in the surf I guess it's safe to say that doing a cannon ball into a lake is worse.  I think it really says something about getting a good drytop that fits yourself right. But that's a whole other discussion.

Z

That is a very informative video! I have waders that I use for warmer months but I think I will look into a dry top. I couldn't help but tighten up watching him jump in the water on the third jump.

Great vid----he certainly had the re-entry down cold (no pun intended) but if he had to swim for his boat the 3rd time like he did with the dry suit,
different outcome I bet.   It's a no-brainer if you have the $500 or so for a dry suit, but  a dry top with a fold-over tunnel and waders (unless you already have the waders) is not really inexpensive.  THe anorak paddling jacket can be as much as $400  http://www.potomacpaddlesports.com/kayak-gear-sales/p-1084-kokatat-gore-tex-tectour-anorak-semi-dry-paddling-jacket.aspx  or as little as $135 for base model without waist cinch or pockets.  Or $190 for jacket with skirt that mates with pants or bibs  http://www.altrec.com/kokatat/kokatat-tempest-paddling-jacket
   I have a Kokatat tropos Tempest  jacket that has a roll-up mating system  to my Koke bibs, tests  dry, it has fold-over neck that will vent when it's hot, I like the versatility of that system, but it was more than $500.  If I had it to do over, would probably go for the $500 Koke Supernova  angler suit with neoprene collar.

gotta give the man serious credit for doing this. my only disagreement with what he did is where he put the wader belt. normally i wear mine about mid chest, not under the rib cage. maybe having it higher would have helped keep a bit more water out?

and, Paul, thanx for sharing this. it's almost perfect timing for those starting the wind up to spring fishing...

I hate to be the safety nerd here but that video made me a firm believer waders & dry top are not adequate for the ocean. What happens when it's not a physically fit guy who can just hop back on the boat and that "little seepage" he got from being in the water for 8 seconds turned into an hour or two? He's going to lose heat and have problems. What happens when it's a breaking ocean wave that swirls him in 10 directions? I just don't think that's adequate for preparing for the worst...i.e kayaking on the ocean.

I hate to be the safety nerd here but that video made me a firm believer waders & dry top are not adequate for the ocean. What happens when it's not a physically fit guy who can just hop back on the boat and that "little seepage" he got from being in the water for 8 seconds turned into an hour or two? He's going to lose heat and have problems. What happens when it's a breaking ocean wave that swirls him in 10 directions? I just don't think that's adequate for preparing for the worst...i.e kayaking on the ocean.

Great point, but I'll add:  Should someone who isn't physcially fit enough to do what he did, be out there in the first place?

I don't even remember what I did to get the a$$hat, I've had it so long, but I'll give renewed reason for it:  Sh!t happens on the water.  You could spend a grand on a one-piece drysuit and meet your end just the same as someone else in a two-piece; use what you can afford.  This argument is like listening to hikers debate internal v. external frame packs.  Although both get the job done quite well, the former does it with more elegance and expense than the latter.  I would love to have a one-piece drysuit someday, but I don't believe it is superior enough over our budget alternative to impress upon new people a "one-piece drysuit or bust" mentality.

Seepage through a weep hole in a drysuit would be significantly more catastrophic than in a neoprene wader setup.  If anything, a neoprene setup would be far more survivable than a failed Gore-tex drysuit due to to the insulating properties of neoprene.

YJ ... I do hereby free you from the bounds of Asshattery.  Please do update your avatar!!!

-Allen

I wouldn't get too overconfident with the wetsuit alternative I see many using.  I'm talking about the farmer johns that leave your arms and armpits (heat drain) exposed.

-Allen

I don't even remember what I did to get the a$$hat, I've had it so long, but I'll give renewed reason for it:  Sh!t happens on the water.  You could spend a grand on a one-piece drysuit and meet your end just the same as someone else in a two-piece; use what you can afford.  This argument is like listening to hikers debate internal v. external frame packs.  Although both get the job done quite well, the former does it with more elegance and expense than the latter.  I would love to have a one-piece drysuit someday, but I don't believe it is superior enough over our budget alternative to impress upon new people a "one-piece drysuit or bust" mentality.

Seepage through a weep hole in a drysuit would be significantly more catastrophic than in a neoprene wader setup.  If anything, a neoprene setup would be far more survivable than a failed Gore-tex drysuit due to to the insulating properties of neoprene.

Great to see you back Yar!

Z

I don't even remember what I did to get the a$$hat, I've had it so long, but I'll give renewed reason for it:  Sh!t happens on the water.  You could spend a grand on a one-piece drysuit and meet your end just the same as someone else in a two-piece; use what you can afford.  This argument is like listening to hikers debate internal v. external frame packs.  Although both get the job done quite well, the former does it with more elegance and expense than the latter.  I would love to have a one-piece drysuit someday, but I don't believe it is superior enough over our budget alternative to impress upon new people a "one-piece drysuit or bust" mentality.

Seepage through a weep hole in a drysuit would be significantly more catastrophic than in a neoprene wader setup.  If anything, a neoprene setup would be far more survivable than a failed Gore-tex drysuit due to to the insulating properties of neoprene.

dude I hear you and I agree. I have to be careful what I recommend as safe from a liability standpoint. I used to assume that people were competent and fit, and most are.....but time after time I read and hear stories of incompetence and poor judgment, so now I always err on the side of "safest"....you know what they say "when you assume you make an ass out of u & me."

it doesn't have to be g-tex. It's not about spending lots of money. There are adequate dry suits on the market for less than you'd pay for a mid level set of breathable waders.

A heavy neo full suit is really the safest, but who's going to wear that? Neo is just not comfortable to spend a wet day in IMO, so a dry suit is the best blend of comfort and safety. That's all.