Post by 3spots on Dec 15, 2012 11:14:59 GMT -5
Now that the water has cooled off, how do you prepare differently for fishing cooler waters (in relation to safety)?
As always, I wear my PFD at all times. I wear paddling pants (which are waterproof), they have feet on them. I'll wear sweat pants and warm socks under the pants. I layer my clothing due to the fact that I usually launch early and as the sun warms things up I end up doing a little yak strip tease act on the water. I will usually keep the paddling pants on, but may opt to take the sweat pants off and have shorts underneath.
If it's going to be really cold, you need to plan "in case" you have to enter the water scenario. Are you waterproof? If not, can you make it to shore get out of the wet clothes, dry off and then get some dry clothes on. Hypothermia is not something to play with whether you're paddling alone or with someone else.
Pack some dry clothes and a towel in a dry bag and store in the yak just in case, if you aren't wearing waterproof clothing.
Our winters seldom get that cold, but it's not the air temps that will get you it's the cold water temps that will drive you into hypothermia if you enter the water. Just like the extreme heat, the cold water is not something to play with.
As always, I wear my PFD at all times. I wear paddling pants (which are waterproof), they have feet on them. I'll wear sweat pants and warm socks under the pants. I layer my clothing due to the fact that I usually launch early and as the sun warms things up I end up doing a little yak strip tease act on the water. I will usually keep the paddling pants on, but may opt to take the sweat pants off and have shorts underneath.
If it's going to be really cold, you need to plan "in case" you have to enter the water scenario. Are you waterproof? If not, can you make it to shore get out of the wet clothes, dry off and then get some dry clothes on. Hypothermia is not something to play with whether you're paddling alone or with someone else.
Pack some dry clothes and a towel in a dry bag and store in the yak just in case, if you aren't wearing waterproof clothing.
Our winters seldom get that cold, but it's not the air temps that will get you it's the cold water temps that will drive you into hypothermia if you enter the water. Just like the extreme heat, the cold water is not something to play with.
