Mistakes? We all make them now and then. But picking the wrong movie on a Saturday night or making a mistake while out kayak fishing are two very different things. Picking the wrong movie may get you banned from choosing the next few and you’ll get stuck watching romcoms. But a wrong move while out casting on that prized fishery may cost you your life. Listed below are the top five biggest kayak fishing mistakes that I have seen while out on the water.
- The number one mistake I see is when a kayaker is out paddling along without wearing their PFD (life jacket). Each year you hear of a kayaker who has fallen overboard or capsized and as a result died. Be smart, don’t drown, wear your PFD.
- The second mistake I see is being unprepared for capsizing. Whether you believe me or not, you will at some point turn over or fall off your kayak. You need to understand your kayak and how to get back on board. Practicing with a buddy on a warm summer day in a controlled situation can save your life. A side note here, never wear waders while on your kayak. I had a friend who went overboard at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and he knew how to get back on board because he had practiced in the event. But this time he was wearing waders and once they were full of water, he was unable to get back on board. His fishing partner on that day came to his rescue by cutting holes in the waders so the water could drain and he could climb back on board.
- Falling overboard brings me to the third mistake a lot of people make, which is not being prepared for hypothermia. Winter fishing is a hazard on its own, and not wearing a dry suit is practically suicidal. But don’t think that only cold water can kill. Hypothermia will still kill you even with water temperatures in the 70s. Your body can’t regulate its normal temperature of 98.6 degrees when submerged in water. With a drop in your core body temperature you can experience drowsiness, confusion, or loss of consciousness.
- The fourth mistake would be not having a float plan. My float plan is made up of my trip for the day, where I’ll be fishing, and when I’ll be back. Once I decide where and when I’ll be fishing I will inform my wife or, if she is traveling, one of my adult children. I’ll tell them my float plan and let them know when I’m off the water.
- Failing to stay on top of the weather is the fifth common mistake I see. I don’t go out if the wind is over 13 mph. For me it becomes too uncomfortable having to adjust the placement of the kayak and casting in the wind. When the wind gets up over 20 mph I feel it’s hazardous; water can come over the gunnels, waves can swamp you, and when you consider any current that may be present it adds additional danger. Check the weather before you venture out, and check it again periodically during the day—storms can blow in in an instant.
Being prepared before you take that next cast is an essential part of every outing while out on the water. Safety always comes first, and that includes avoiding these five kayak fishing mistakes.
-By Eric Packard