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By John "Toast" Oast
While many anglers put away their kayaks and canoes for the winter, as long as there is water which is not frozen there will always be those who brave the elements to paddle to their favorite fishing spot. For those who choose to paddle in the frigid winter waters, remember that safety must come first. And even on those occasional warm winter days, while the air temperature may be quite comfortable, the water can cause one to become hypothermic in a matter of seconds.
I am not only a kayak angler, I am also an American Red Cross instructor, and for years have taught first responders how to care for those who have been unfortunate enough to be severely injured by extremely low temperatures. When it comes to kayaks and canoes, I always emphasize that no matter how stable these crafts may be, or how skilled the paddler is, paddling them is still a “water sport”. Each year we hear stories of paddlers who have gone out on an unseasonably warm winter day, wearing typical spring clothing, and upon tipping their boat become hypothermic and die. If heading out on the water during the winter, dressing properly is a necessity.
First, no matter what the season and water temperature, ALWAYS wear a personal floatation device (PFD). Even the best swimmer can drown, and if there are low head dams or submerged structure such as on the Susquehanna River, the risk is even more pronounced. And don’t think that having it tucked in the hatch will help… Ever seen how fast a kayak can drift away from you when you become separated from it? Just wear it! Otherwise, get a really nice life insurance policy, and list me as a beneficiary. Moving on…
Keith Hamlin fishing for cold water stripers.
There are several ways to help protect from frigid water temperatures. In my opinion the best for paddling in the winter is a full length dry suit. The idea behind a dry suit is to keep the body just that, “dry”. If one wearing a dry suit falls into the water, the suit keeps the cold water from getting to the majority of the body by way of waterproof gaskets around the neck, wrists, and ankles. You can even layer under the suit if the air temps are really low. Paddlers can also use a combination of a dry top and dry pants to achieve a similar attire. The top is basically a waterproof jacket, and the pants are also waterproof, each incorporating gaskets like the dry suit.
While a dry suit obviously keeps you dry, a wetsuit does the opposite. Wetsuits are not designed to keep you dry, but actually allow water to enter the suit around your body, and insulates the water, keeping the body warm. Wetsuits work, but feel a bit restrictive, allowing less body movement, and are not nearly as comfortable as dry suits. The positive of wetsuits over dry suits is that they are considerably less expensive.
Another popular method among the kayak fishing community is to utilize a pair of chest waders and a dry top in combination. If one uses a pair of waders, preferably breathable waders with a wading belt, and a dry top over it, in essence it creates a “poor man’s” dry suit. This is a more affordable option, but is not 100% reliable. The top must be gasketed around the neck, wrists, and waist, and use the wading belt with the waders to help in keeping the system watertight. The problem is that there still is the potential for water to get into the waders, and unlike a wetsuit, it lacks the insulation properties. On the other hand, you can layer under the dry top – wader combo.
No matter what cold water attire you wear, make sure that you do so matching the elements you are about to enter. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Just because you have never fallen out of your kayak or canoe before doesn’t mean it will never happen. And you need to keep yourself warm from the air temperatures also, so these cold water safety techniques also can help keep you warm out of the water. It is also a good idea to always tell someone where you are going, and what time you plan to return. Keeping a cell phone or VHF radio onboard is a great idea too. The buddy system is always the safest, so try to find a partner to paddle with you, just in case.
John “Toast” Oast is the publisher of Susquehanna Fishing Magazine and a member of the Johnson Outdoors Pro Staff and Ocean Kayak Fishing Team. His kayak rigging videos have received thousands of views, and been linked to websites around the world. For more information, visit http://fishyaker.com/ and his Youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/fishyaker.
