At what point in the season do you guys (who fish during the Winter months) start wearing waders and other cold water gear? Is it at certain water/air temps or just when you figure it is too cold for you?
I have not kayak fished much past November but want to do so this year so I wanted some input from you veterans.
Thanks
A good rule of thumb is when Air + water temp < 120 degrees…
I would have had waders and a splash jacket on this past weekend.
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
Now!
For what it is worth, I wore a pair of waders on Sunday for my first and LAST time in a kayak. Too much restricted movement, pain in the arse to take a pisss or get something out of a pocket. I am going back to splash top and pants, and tall, softer soled neoprene boots!
DD
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!
The boot foot waders ( the ones wiht the boots built in) suck… if you get a good fitting breathables with sock feet and wear a better pair of more comfortable boots, you can even wear your Chotas, waders are nice… I like them because when I wear like goretex pants water always drips down and goes up my leg… with waders I stay a lot drier… I usually will put waders on in Novermber and stop wearing them in the begining of March…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
I had been planning on getting some waders and actually found a killer deal on a nice pair of breathable stocking foot waders. I’ll probably try them out the next time I am able to bring the yak down. DolphinD has me worrying about taking a leak now though. Ha Ha
Yeah that is a PITA in ANY wader 
As soon as ya get them home get them on and see how comfy you are in them in your kayak. Stand up, sit down, twist around and the all important figure out how to drain the lizard I have actually done it while still sitting down at Bushy Park in a castaway 116 kayak… it CAN be done but it’s MUCH easier if you can paddle over and hop out on solid land… hahahahaha
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
AND, be sure to wear a belt over the waders at waist level to keep them from flooding full in the unlikely event of a water landing! Makes it awful tough to try and re enter a yak with full waders. Up in the PNW we used to call em Scupperskins!
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Dry suit, pants and jacket made for yaking is the way to go for warmth, safety and freedom of movement.
quote:
Originally posted by paddlemanDry suit, pants and jacket made for yaking is the way to go for warmth, safety and freedom of movement.
+10
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!
I’ll add to that +10…
Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc
Waders are great
Today it was 43 degrees out launching the kayak
Warm + Dry all the way
Capt Dave
waders are perfect for winter use with a Sit on Top.
Layer as you like with a light splash jacket works. When I wear my pfd I will wear it outside of my jacket to lock everything in place. I know you guys are going to fuss but I typically stow my pfd in the rear behind my milk crate. (I learned to paddle on whitewater so I just don’t see the need on flat water)… and yes, I have seen the concerned looks when I paddle by without my pfd on.
Whatever
…if safety were the first concern with kayak fishing, most of you folks would sign up for paddling class at the county park. Learn to paddle first…then add fishing. Kayak anglers typically limit thier fishing range with your/tyheir bad paddling technique.
Winter time for kayak fishing is about the shallows and flats…
So… if you tend to roll out of your boat on occasion(you should find another hobbie)don’t worry about your waders filling up…they will be punctured by the oyster shells…your wader belt will not be an issue.
I have full boot waders. I bought them back in 2001 to kayak fish the Raritan bay(NJ) during the winter. No problems with the boots cause my trusy old T120 has big fat foot wells… I appreciate the boot protection when I hop out on the old oyster banks to stretch the legs and have a beer…yep, I said it… I like to drink a couple of beers when I kayak fish… again… whatever.
So bundle up ladies and enjoy winter kayak fishing in the Wando. One solice is that most of you will not participate in the cold water fun. For those of you who do… I am the dude in the yellow t120 paddling away from you… at a remarkable pace.
el pescador
tarpon120
El, you are pretty cocky for a new member. Hopefully a powerboat doesn’t run your ass over and laugh that your pfd is in your kayak and you and your waders are at the bottom of the river. But I’m sure there are many that will take your recommendation to use waders. I’ll make an effort to try and keep up with your remarkable pace and other skills I’m sure.
Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
Maybe El Pescador can have a clinic and show us all how to improve our skills. Do you recommend bottles or cans on the water?
Man, I had no idea that I have been paddling completely wrong. Ya’ll let me know when the clinic is held so I can get taught correctly. Thanks for the input there Fisherman.
participation in a forum demonstrates your skill level? I don’t see the logic. My comments were meant to be helpful. My appologies to those “intermediate members” who feel that a “new member” has nothing to offer? I guess I should take a typing class so I can increase my expierience level in this forum.
THIS NEW MEMBER began to fishing from a kayak in the 90s…I could not afford a power boat. I had lots of time in small whitewater boats but no expierience in distance paddling. I was fortunate that a seasoned seakayaker helped me early on by correcting my stroke. After research and correct practice I was able to dramatically expand my fishing range so that near shore reefs became accessable…
No worries… don’t increase your skills… I have seen two legged turtles in the wild that have reached maturity…they probably don’t venture far from home.
When I returned home to Charleston in 2004 there were very few folks fishing from kayaks. I would get the occasional laugh from the power boaters and lots of questions at the landing from curious anglers.
Now however, lots of folks are involved in the sport with lots of “learned” opinions voiced on this forum and a couple of others.
My previous (cocky) statements do not apply to every paddler… just the majority of kayak fisherman. It is not necessarily ignorance… just a desire to get on the water and fish with the assumptions that there is nothing to it…just move your arms.
RESPONSES
-Be happy to help anyone as I have helped my friends become more efficient paddlers.
-run me and over…really? …headline…KAYAKER THREE FEET FROM SHORE RUN DOWN BY BOSTON WHALER… I must have missed that breaking news
-I prefer cans… crush them and toss them in the cooler with the fish…
el pescador
tarpon120
Maybe your input would have been better received if the tone had been different. Remember the old saying. “it’s not what you say but how you say it”? The experts here offer input/advise all the time and as a new kayak fisherman, I am happy to get it but, when it comes with such a condescending tone, you naturally want to ignore or dispute the info.
Just saying.
el pescador, You have to admit the tone was a little gruff to say the least. Please share these paddling techniques. I’m willing to bet that a shorter paddle with deeper downstrokes is what you are refering to. I never understood the trend toward these much longer touring paddles.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.
Hope to see you on the water, I will be the old fat guy catching fish in WS Ride as you paddle by at a remarkabLe pace 
I say we meet up some time for a wader vs non wader re-entry practice. I’ll bring the beer, you bring the tough guy ego!
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!