or a paddling jacket and pants. Of course these items are very nice and if your budget is not a problem by all means get them--the more options the better. However, you don't have to have them. If you're only going to fish on slow moving rivers and smooth lakes, and not take advantage of all the possibilities of fishing or simply paddling from a kayak, they are not necessary.
With a few precautions, a pair of good quality waders can do the job, neoprene or breathable. Most all serious fly fishermen already have a good pair of waders (vice versa), and they'll more than do the job, of keeping you dry and warm.
My first pair of waders were made of neoprene. For chasing stripers in the cold winter waters, they were great, in warm weather they were a bit hot. After a day of fishing ( in any weather) when I took off my waders what ever I was wearing underneath was soaked from all the perspiration caused by all the casting and paddling, which is how neoprene works, the moisture coming from your body causes a layer of warmth between your body and the neoprene. Changing from those wet clothes to dry ones on a cold day was something I did quickly.
Breathable waders were becoming popular around about that time, and I bought a pair, and I'm still wearing breathables some years later, one of the many pluses about them is you can layer under them and still be comfortable and unlayer when the weather warms.
The waders I wear are Dan Bailey breathable waders. They are constructed of a four layer waterproof breathable membrane, the outer shell is micro denier nylon taslon with a coating layer, then a laminate layer with the inside layer nylon tricot. Actually they lost me at breathable membrane. Dan Baileys waders are... durable and they are waterproof with built in side straps eliminated the need for a wader belt. However if you wear other waders that don't have this option, do wear one, it'll keep the water out if you wind up in the water. As the weather cools I wear sweatpants and shirts made of fleece, I wear the waders over them. (The only type of waders I recommend are the breathable stocking foot type, not the boot foot type).
Before we move on to other paddling clothing, I'd like to dispel and old myth. If you fall in the water with waders on, you don't sink to the bottom. The pressure from the water will make your waders cling to your body like a suction cup, climbing out of the water, a little may creep down the top of your waders as the lack of pressure loosens the waders suction. So that I would not have any doubts if a situation ever happened, such as my kayak capsizing, I gave myself a test. Attired in my Polartec long johns, my fleece sweat suit over that, my high-tec waders over that, my paddling jacket over that, and my PFD topping it all off--I jumped into a swimming pool. I didn't sink like a rock, I floated like the Pillsbury Doughboy. I swam and floated around for about a half hour, more than enough to do a self rescue, providing you know how , and you've practice doing one in the first place. I was a bit wet from water seeping in through the collar and sleeve gaskets causing some discomfort, nothing serious in moderate fresh water conditions, such as slow rivers or reservoirs. The jacket I was wearing, was a Kokatat jacket called the breeze, great jacket, although not really waterproof, it's made for the previously mentioned moderate conditions, for keeping the the water out, the wind off, and your body heat in.
To be completely waterproof, make sure dry pants or tops have latex's gaskets . For the waistband, sleeve, ankle and neck area, or they will not be waterproof. First of all wet suits for kayakers are sleeveless, leaving room for paddling, and if your a fishermen...casting. You can buy a good quality wet suit for around a hundred dollars. While my waders did the job. a good fitting wet suit is like a second skin. These days for paddling in comfort, and when I have to ... swimming, and other events like practicing the Eskimo roll, exiting and reentering my sea kayak in open water and any time I'm in my sea kayak in general, my wet suit is my first choice.
For cold weather kayak fishing, such as fast moving rivers,or the ocean, and winter fishing in general, my outfit begins with sealskin ( name of clothing, not real seal skin) underclothing , I wear a top and bottom made from it, their like a light wet suit or a second skin, over the latter I wear a wet suit. Wet suit do not have stocking feet like waders do , so I wear neoprene socks, and wet boots over them.
For those of us that have the opportunity to paddle and fish in salt water on a somewhat regular bases ( for me that can be as little as two times a month) due to its durability and its flexibility the wet suit is the only way to go.
Anoraks and Paddling jackets
Over
my wet suit I wear my paddling jacket. For colder weather and waters my Anorak.
While they do keep you nice and warm, Anoraks are not completely waterproof,
they will take in a little water through the collar. When paddling in the rain
or those cold days when Kokatat Anorak you just gotta fish or paddle, they can't
be beat. I prefer a paddling jacket or an Anorak over any wadding jacket on
the market. One of the many reasons is they are made so you can wear a PFD over
them comfortably. Anoraks and paddling jackets are designed with a whole lot
of freedom in the arm and shoulder area, so that paddlers can paddle comfortably
, a design that will benefit any kayak fishermen's casting. On those occasions
when a kayak fishermen finds them self in the water, and they will, if you've
dressed like your going to go out and practice capsizing your kayak, in other
words, your in the proper clothing, and your waterproof! Along with the safety
gear, and proper instruction and paddling time on the water, You will be prepared!
Tilley: I started
wearing a Tilley hat years ago, before I paddled any craft. While there are
many different types of hats on the market today, the Tilley is still my choice.
When the weather gets really cold, your ears and nose hurt, type of cold , that's
when the hooded Anorak comes into it's own, along with an item a whole lot cheaper
then anything else in a paddling fishermen's wardrobe... A stocking cap. Wool
is warm but not when its wet, fleece...is, choose wisely.