Winter is coming. Any experiences taking a dunk in cold water?

[DonV]

Winters is coming.

Just wondering if anyone has taken a spill in the cold weather? I'm not much of a cold weather fisherman but would like to get out late fall and early spring. Do have to say the cold water scares me a bit and my skinny @ss gets cold quick. I don't plan on going in but the possibility is always there and it would be nice if anyone can share some of there personal stories or knowledge on the subject.

Waders do they fill or not? I did see a video with a guy testing them and his pool and it seems the water pressure squeezing on the waders kept most of the the water out. I did take a little dip wading in my older pair of waders, with no belt attached and I got pretty wet.

The 100 degree rule true? Water temp + Air Temp < 100 Stay out or have a wet or dry suit.

Any an all input extremely welcome.

[missedshed]

I haven't taken a spill kayak fishing, but I did swim once in November whitewater kayaking. I was dressed in a wet suit and had fleece on and everything. I ended up having to swim as I couldn't roll back over at one point. The rest of the day i was freezing cold, the wet suit did its job and so did the fleece. However, I sure don't want to do that again...I actually thought i wasn't going to be able to finish the remaining paddle out b/c I was so cold. It doesn't take much time to drain your body once your in that water. When the water temp drops I wouldn't recommend waders. Once your wet your going to freeze. If you don't fall in they should work keeping you dry as long as you are dressed correctly, but if you fall in they aren't going to provide much protection from the cold. However i would look into cold weather gear...dry suit, tops/pants fleece etc. Fleece once wet still helps keep you body warm unlike cotton. But I'm sure there is better stuff out there today.

[Moschedmi]

I turtles in 45 degree water in April just up river from Fletcher's boat house which is located on the Potomac. I had long john and sweatpants base layer and kokatat splash top married with the kokatat pants with booties. I had neoprene kayaking shoes on as well. I was in the water from between 10-15 seconds ended up with about a cup of water inside my pants my top stayed dry. I was able to fish for numerous after that in relative comfort. At one point I stood up to relieve myself and the water that collected in the seat are of my paints ran down my legs. Other than having the s$&t scared out of me I had a pretty good day on the water. The kokatat pants and top are a less expensive alternative to a dry suit.

[reel-em-in]

Like missedshed said ... avoid cotton it has no thermal properties when wet.

[Mmacro]

In Alaska we have the expression: cotton kills & wool warms.

Wet or damp cotton clothing actually cools your skin temperature while wool does the opposite. Of course so does of the new synthetics do as good of a job... But spun polyester microfiber does not rhym as well.

[dhawk]

You can wear waders but always wear a wading belt it helps keep most of the water out I havent fell off the kayak in waders but have gotten wet duck hunting and waders without a belt will get more water in them than without either way they dont keep you completely dry if you submerge them.

[MetroMan]

Some good technical info I saw that was recently posted on another board, with vids

http://beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/4...ock%20Response

[Southerly]

the cold water is potentially lethal and unforgiving. year before last, a young man in DE died in september. i think WT was still in 60's. not sure if there was some other medical emergency or he got separated from his yak or what happened. i can say from experience that flat 60* water in a bathing suit is surprisingly colder than you might assume. WT in 40's and 50's should be taken seriously.

i think now is the time to practice some turtle/recovery near shore so you have confidence in your ability if it happens unexpected later. i would also suggest that you take a little swim in whatever gear you plan on wearing to familiarize yourself with its capabilities in a non-life threatening scenario.

wearing my regular cold weather gear, i did 10 mins treading water in mid january last year as 'practice'. i didn't measure WT but there had been a skim freeze the night before. as a general policy, i avoid open waters, choopy conditions etc when it's cold.

[Raptor]

If you are serious about fishing from a kayak in cold, water - my opinion - buy, beg, borrow, or steal a one piece dry suit, or a two piece dry jacket and pants. The one piece is best for staying completely dry when immersed in water; the two piece is cheaper and more versatile. Yes, they are expensive but it is your life you are gambling with. You can troll around various provider's sites and find a sale from time to time and save some $$. You would be amazed how fast you lose your faculties (mental and physical) in cold water. Most suits are not warm by themselves, so you still have to wear warm clothes underneath - 2X on on wool . . . it is warm even when wet. From the research I did Kokatat makes the best dry gear. I know lots of guys do it, but I don't think I would go out in cold water with waders.

T.

T.

[On the fly]

A dry or splash top and waders are ok for splash protection but very limited for immersion.

[ComeOnFish]

Resuming Fishing After Dunked

I have some self-imposed rules in the cold water. I am one of those who fish 12 months a year and get dunked often

0. Wear PFD
For example, The water wasn't cold at all during my first Tog fishing at the first Island. I was peeing very close to the rock pile of the first Island (CBBT). A Damm boat suddenly appeared gave me good wakes. Not a big -deal I thought. But I wasn't watching the waves bouncing back off the rock pile. I got turtled. My wader was a half way down. I was glad that I was wearing a waist-high wader. For that I didn't take off PFD. I was floating comfortably. I pulled the wader up and buckled the belt with full of water inside the wader. After cursing and crawling back up on the kayak, I drained the water out whiling lying on my back and lifting legs up for 10 minutes. Without the PFD, under waves close to the rock piles, I would have a hard time.


1. Good weather or Protected areas - I don't pick the water/place if I will get wash over regularly on the day
2. Tether the paddle - No explanation needed, but no paddle no coming back on your own
3. Tether the rods - no rods no fishing again after getting dunked
4. Tether the bait bag and tackle box - No lures/baits means no fishing again after getting dunked
5. 3 miles rule - the nearest available house should be within in 3 miles in case I need help from the people of the house. I can reach the house within 3 miles easily if I need someone's help. BTW, The beach must be kayak beach-able.
6. Never invite a newbie if I fish 3 miles off the shore if the other side is just water
7. At least one has to be self-rescue-capable

I have 3 waist high waders, two 3mm neoprene, and one regular fabric (under $60 each). I prefer waist-high because I can pee (not beaching the kayak) without taking off the PFD (When I am off the beach by few miles)

I wear a 3-2mm wetsuit jacket (no leg parts) over a cold weather UnderArmor shirt. I wear a fleece shirt and a wind breaker. I also wear a fleece hood.

The coldest water was 38-39F. I was fine and calm for 2 minutes in the water. - I am fine for 7+ minutes in 43-48F water when wearing 3mm full wetsuit during my test

I carry 2 sets of everything. So After dunked, I wear the new set of wader and cloths and fish again.
Actually fleece shirt and fleece hood can be worn again after wrinkling the water out

I could dry the inside of the regular wader with a towel fairly quickly after I came back to my vehicle. But it wasn't that easy with the 3mm neoprene wader - So I carry two waders. I can wear wetsuit jacket again even though it is wet.

I wasn't cold in the water. I haven't noticed the cold waters last 3 times I got dunked (38-44F). But I felt cold 30 minutes after when heading back to the launch sites


What I am trying to say is this - Prepare for the fishing after getting dunked. What is the main purpose for the self rescue? Fishing again.

Joe

[Knot Working]

Very good info provided in this thread. The 100* rule is a good one, and keep in mind that the bay gets down to about 35-40 at its lowest in Jan/Feb. I too kayak and fish all year, but preparedness is key. I used to regularly go out in jeans, cotton flannel and workboots on open water...can't believe I thought that was ok. As mentioned before, a full one-piece dry suit with a hood is the best option, but often will run you a grand or more if bought new. I have a dry top and dry pants, which weave together since each has an inner "tunnel". Check for the fit of gaskets on the wrists and neck (these are uncomfortable and tight at first, but grow to fit you). This combo is very effective at keeping me dry during even a moderately paced self-rescue. Very little water penetrates the fortress of warmth (drips at most) when tested for a minute floating in the river. The dry top and dry pants will not provide any insulation, so wool underneath and a warm wool or fleece hat is key. It's to the point in the year now that I keep a dry bag with extra clothes, hat, and a towel in the truck that goes with me whenever I go out. This is an easy to pack insurance policy, and I know some guys that carry tinder and matches in their dry bag just in case. As Joe said, choose the venue wisely especially the first few times out while you're dialing in your tolerance to cold. As far as footwear goes, either wear neoprene kayaking or dive boots or wear some insulated shoes or boots with a neoprene "wet sock" underneath. Remember that more energy is required to keep you warm, so bring a snack and pay attention to your fuel level to avoid the bonk! If possible, head out with a buddy and respect the cold, but enjoy the uncrowded, open water!

[MetroMan]

How exactly do the dry pants & dry top combo form a seal? I've looked at plenty of pics, but without seeing them together in person, its hard for me to get a visual of the "tunnel" the two pieces form.

[Knot Working]

It's not a seal per se, but essentially there is a waterproof shell on the dry top, with an inner tunnel. I put the dry top on first, pulling the tunnel down as far as it will go (below my waist). Then I fold the bottom of the shell up to my chest and out of the way. Then the pants go on, which my particular pair come above my belly button and over the dry top tunnel like some swaggin mom jeans. Then I fold the shell part of the dry top back down over the pants and tighten the velcro around the waist of the top. The waist of the dry top shell is rubbery and clings to the pants pretty well, and the top of pants is the same deal and clings to the tunnel. This weave works surprisingly well, and I'd be happy to post some pics later of the process if that would help. Sounds like a lot to do just to get dressed, but it's not as much of a pain in the butt as it seems, and keeps me cozy. I guess an improvement would be to wear a wading belt around the whole assembly like fly fishing guys do, but I haven't found that to be necessary. Like I said, this system is not as dry as a full suit, but it's much less expensive, is more versatile when the seasons change, and keeps me dry for much longer than I need to hop back in the boat.

[MetroMan]

Thanks for the explanation KW, I understand fully now.