Bought a dry-suit yesterday.

[Darth-Baiter]

Local fishing forum had a story.  Member got his down rigger snagged while fishing a lake.  He said it turned his kayak hard, and then he flipped instantly. The cold (and other factors) kept him in the water. He said 45 minutes.   I bet he had minutes left. 
 

another kayaker saw him and waved down a boat.  They saved him!  
 

I had heard enough.  I read the story to my wife, and then ordered a close out NRS dry suit.  It felt like buying abrasion proof motorcycle gear. Expensive but worth it.  I’m a rookie kayak fisherman.  I bought my kayak in June when the water was soupy warm around here.  I could only guess how slowly the waters will warm.  Early spring; I expect frigid waters. 
 

when I get my suit, I’m gonna self flip my kayak in a friends unseated swimming pool.  See what’s up. 
 

what is your cold water immersion clothing?  

[bulldog1935]

Kokatat dry pants and a good Gortex top shell do it for me.  

 

[fishwizzard]

I bought an NRS semi-dry suit years ago when I got into yak fishing.  I think I used it 3-4 times and then admitted to myself that I don't enjoy fishing when the temps are cold enough to demand that level of protection.  It was an expensive lesson.  

 

I did test it out by walking into the water up my arm pits, it kept me dry and warm.

[TnRiver46]

Safety first! Also if you put a downrigger on a kayak, you weren’t thinking “safety first” 

 

I don’t have any cold water immersion clothing, I just don’t paddle very far from the bank and wear PFD

[Siebert Outdoors]

Is this a diving dry suit?  I've got a DUI I've dove a lot in.  You wont get cold in the water if you have good insulation under it.  I've dove down about 100ft in 45 deg water.   One thing to remember wear good head gear if you are possibly going to get wet.  You will lose a lot of heat if you go all the way under through your head.  submerging in 45ish deg water burns on exposed skin its so cold.  I'm not talking poking a finger in cold water. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I can’t catch fish along the bank in the winter.  They are much deeper. 

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

I can’t catch fish along the bank in the winter.  They are much deeper. 

Gotcha. I’m not brave enough to paddle open waters unless the water is up close to 60 degrees or higher. 
 

someone drowned flipping a canoe on chickamauga Saturday. Granted 3 people in it and zero life jackets, but I still just stay near the bank. 

[Darth-Baiter]

44 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gotcha. I’m not brave enough to paddle open waters unless the water is up close to 60 degrees or higher. 
 

someone drowned flipping a canoe on chickamauga Saturday. Granted 3 people in it and zero life jackets, but I still just stay near the bank. 

It’s a good good rule. I would love to fish chickamauga!  And lake st Clair:)

[Whatever]

"If the mind can't lead, the body can't follow"--

I attended a Swift Water Rescue class, on the Lochsa River (Northern Idaho), in March (this was the mid 90's). One of the first things we did was get out on the river and purposely flip the boat, and dump all of us into the frigid river. And we did this repeatedly. The purpose was to "acclimate" you to the idea of instant, unexpected immersion. After a few times, you will  mentally accept the idea of sudden, frigid shock, and this allows you to react, think and function in that situation. When I fished commercially in AK, the USCG would conduct classes for donning a survival suit. Starting in a warm swim pool, we would graduate to the 45 degree  North Pacific, in heavy seas, to completely assimilate the understanding of "I have been here before, and I can deal with this".

The concept goal is to eliminate the usual panic reaction. Consequently skills like self rescue and recovery need to be practiced for worst case scenarios, as well as warm water and sunny days. Take all due safety precautions (like a partner in another boat, with a sat phone), and adequate clothing, and safety gear, but some thoughtful, realistic training goes a long way towards  ensuring your survival when something goes wrong. It might not be enjoyable, but it could save your life.