Safety Gear For Fishing Kayaks
by: John Proch, Old Town Pro Staff
KAYAK FISHING SAFETY GEAR ESSENTIALS
I received a vessel safety inspection the other day as I was gearing up to fish Lake Erie in my Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132. I passed of course, as I take safety very seriously when fishing from my kayak. As non-motorized kayaks on federal waters such as Lake Erie, we are required to have the following safety gear:
- Registration Sticker
- Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
- Sound Signaling Device (Whistle)
- USCG Approved Signal For Night Use*
- A running light, or any light that may be shined to avoid a collision from another vessel*
*Sunset to sunrise only
ADDITIONAL FISHING KAYAK SAFETY EQUIPMENT
In addition to these minimal requirements, I also have a distress flag, I fly my chartreuse Jesse Yak Safety Flag to be more visible to other boaters. I carry a hand bilge pump to pump water out in an emergency. I keep handy my waterproof floating VHF radio with DSC (Digital Selective Calling), a standard for transmitting pre-canned messages on the water, essential for getting a distress signal out. I have GPS in my fish finder unit to always help me find my way back to my launch and also have a compass as backup. From the hours of sunset to sunrise I always keep a 360° viewable stern light on and I wear a headlamp that I turn on as needed and can use as a visual signaling device.
I wear my PFD at all times when fishing and I always dress accordingly based on the water temperatures. When the air and water temperatures combined equal less than 120° F, (The 120 Rule), I wear my full dry suit for any offshore kayak fishing. In the small rivers and inland lakes where I'm always close to shore, I will wear waders and a wading jacket, but I keep a drybag full of a complete change of clothes, towels, and fire starting materials should I fall in and need to get warm and dry quickly.
Everyone stay safe out there and have a great season!