Winter Kayak wear?

[rgharris83]

I'm looking for an outfit that maybe you guys have put to the test in a SOT kayak on a cold day. Obviously waterproof is the key... Any suggestions on something that works for you guys? I'm planning on fishing the Panacea area this weekend and don't want weather to hold me back.

[Charles]

Not a kayak, but in the canoe I'm partial to polypro, polar fleece and wool socks when it's cold. It's normal for me to get a little wet, even if it's not raining. With these materials I stay warm enough even if I do get wet and they dry fast.

[Littoral]

I think the answer is a wetsuit.
That's why I bought a sit in (Pungo) to fish in the winter. I've been damn happy ever since.

[jsuber]

Up here (Virginia) our water is 42 Deg and I was down your way before Christmas. As you head to Panacea, you turn left and go down that point to that boat ramp at the end. I had some pretty good luck back in there and I wore my breathable waders. I put my scupper plugs in, and wore my polypro longjohns and top. You don't want to put on so many clothes you can't maneuver though. I mean something as simple as grabbing a rod behind you can be difficult with too much on.

[rgharris83]

Are you speaking of the dirt road that ends at the boat ramp or was it a paved road with pot holes. I think I know where you are talking about. Which breathable waders do you suggest for good movement? I thought about a wetsuit but that still requires to get wet and the cost really put me off.

[rgharris83]

If that is the Tarpon 140, that is the same color and model I have. I love it.

[jsuber]

Thats a 120. It was a paved road, and it went out on a nice flat, there was a little lauch that people party at on the left as you go out to the boatramp on the end of the road. WADERS I use the ones sold at Bass-Pro Shops and they are 99 bucks. I wear flats booties and wear my PFD so that my waders don't fill up with water if I turtle. The botties are $19 which is pretty cheap. We like the breathable for the freedom of movement. If you don't have one, you might want to get a hotseat that will keep the chill of the hind sides.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog. ... get=browse

[wevans]

He went out of Bottoms I know that description any way ya describe it

[jsuber]

Bottoms, that was it. Your right.

[Nathan]

Breathable waders are definitely the way to go here in North Florida. Wetsuits are great when you're in the water, but they don't stop the wind very well and aren't very warm when sitting in a kayak. I typically just wear a pair of nylon pants and a long sleeve t-shirt underneath.

Nathan

[BlueDrifter]

I bought one of those $24.00 PVC? rain suits at Wally World. I pair of waterproof ankle high boots from sports authority. I wear a sweat suit under the rain suit. While not totally water proof they keep me warm and dry from the inch or so of water that still collects in my SOT.Total immersion well you probably would get totally wet but if you got back on board you would warm up pretty fast. Next time i go i will get totally wet right before I come home.

[jsuber]

Unless that sweatsuit is poly-pro then you will most likely be wet for a very long time. Cotton is one of the worst things you can wear when it comes down to getting wet. Poly pro- or some derivative of it will dry faster and absorb less water when soaked. The more water you absorb in your clothing will make you heavier and lead to exhaustion.

[BlueDrifter]

Well as promised I wore the borroms of my sweatsuit under the pvc rainsuit. After my fishless excursion I waded out to waste deep and floated on my back. The only spot that was wet after aqbout ten minuts was around the ankles. I did feel the cold through everything but as soomn as I left the water it got warm again. I would have been better off without the sweatsuit if I had fallen overboard and thrashed around a bit. I agree with the gentleman who suggested that a wet suit is the way to go. But for shallow water stuff I will stick with the rainsuit which I believe would be just as warm as a wet suit, even against bare legs.