Why I paddle, and remaining safe while doing it!

"To go where it's too shallow for boats and too muddy to wade," that is my usual response when someone asks why I use a kayak when I have a perfectly good boat sitting at the house. And for the most part, that is the truth. I tend to stick to areas where power boats have a hard time getting around. The farthest reaches of the marsh lakes and tiny bayous are where the kayak fisherman has a huge advantage. These craft are silent and easy to maneuver in tight places making them the perfect platform to launch an assault on redfish that rarely, if ever, see a fisherman. The ultra skinny grass flats of the lower coast are also tailor made for the kayak fisherman. A large power boat is a major intrusion on these flats. The much smaller kayak can get you closer without spooking these skittish fish.

However, restricting yourself to these areas isn't necessary, nor is it always the best way to catch fish. There is nothing at all wrong with heading out into the open bay to scour the deeper reefs, off the beach into the surf zone, or even several miles offshore. All it requires is proper preparation and some common sense.

The idea for this story came to me while I was fishing a tournament a couple weeks ago. The tournament format called for a slam of one red, one trout, and one flounder. My partner was covered up with big redfish and had enough trout in his favorite spot that we knew we had those two species covered. A big flounder would round out the stringer and give us a good shot at the top prize. It's no secret where the biggest concentration of flounder can be found every fall. Take a drive out to Pelican Island and you'll witness shoulder to shoulder waders dredging every inch of submerged sand. I've got a sure fire honey hole in the Galveston ship channel far away from the army of waders that I would normally fish from my power boat, but this was a kayak tourney.

I was a bit hesitant about paddling amongst all the power boats that I knew would be in the area; safety comes first in any outdoor activity. And for me, kayak safety falls into two categories; my actions and the actions of those I'll likely come in contact with. I'm comfortable with my paddling abilities and know my kayak very well. I wear a PFD and I'm equipped to take care of myself in most any situation. As for the "other guy," I do all I can to avoid potential problems. A bright stern light and a quality flashlight are must-haves for the low light of an early morning launch. I also paddle a bright safety orange kayak. While a brightly colored kayak won't guarantee a careless boater won't run you over, it will definitely win you points in the "being seen" category. It also pays to wear bright clothing and an easily seen hat.

Any time I'm on the water whether in a boat or kayak I want to know that the approaching boat has seen me. It is generally easy to tell whether or not the operator of the oncoming craft has noticed you. When under power in my boat I've got the advantage of speed and maneuverability to avoid any potential problems. When paddling a kayak you must know and accept your obvious inability to get quickly out of the way. This requires you to be even more vigilant than normal. In most instances I can see an approaching boat and paddle myself out of harm's way. If I am in doubt of a boaters intentions and I am unable to get out of the way, I'll turn my boat somewhat sideways to the oncoming craft to allow more of my orange kayak to be seen. On top of this I hold my paddle as high as possible and wave it to get their attention. Some paddles on the market have white or brightly colored blades which make them highly visible. My paddle of choice happens to be an all black carbon fiber model, not really the most visible of colors. To fix this problem I have a reflective metallic sticker affixed to the back of the blade. Should a collision ever occur, I want to know with certainty that I've done all I could to have prevented it.

Spending time in open waters presents other dangers to be aware of besides other boaters. Sudden weather changes, rough water, and rogue boat wakes can all get you into trouble. Getting dumped out of your kayak far from shore is bad news. In the winter it can be potentially life threatening. Common sense leads you to check the weather conditions before every trip, but many anglers tend to dismiss remaining abreast of the changing conditions. A compact weather radio is cheap insurance against any surprises. Carry the weather radio and check it often. I've got a close group of friends that look out for each other pretty well. If I know that one of them is out on the water I'll take a peek at the radar every so often. Should I see a bad situation developing I'll give them a call. They do the same for me. And I know several people I can call while I'm on the water who'll likely be sitting near a computer where a radar screen is only a couple clicks of the mouse away. This has come in handy on several occasions when a suspect cloud bank appeared on the horizon.

Should everything go south and you get into real trouble, you'll need to be able to summon help. Several items come into play to cover your bases. First and foremost is some form of reliable communication. Too many of us rely on our cell phones these days, but we all know how vulnerable these little devices can be. Who among the fishing crowd hasn't dunked at least one phone? Yes, there are dry bags and boxes made for storing phones, but what if you get caught out there in a downpour and need assistance? I don't want to rely on tucking the phone under my rain jacket to keep it dry while I call for help. A waterproof handheld VHF radio is a much better option. The USCG and other ships monitor channel 16 for emergency assistance calls. And if money is no object you might want to consider an EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon). Once deployed, an EPIRB uses satellites to direct the rescue personnel to your location. It's tough to put a value on your personal safety. I don't own one, but if I were an outdoors enthusiast with a serious medical condition I think it would be at the top of my Christmas list.

So now that we have the rescue troops rallying to the call for help we need to do everything possible to help them locate us. I carry a cache of three handheld signaling flares in a waterproof bag. Some other items you might want to include in your safety kit are water dyes markers, a strobe light, and some sort of reflective signaling device. A dye marker is a fluorescent solution that spreads out on the water's surface making it easier for search aircraft to locate you. Personal locator strobes are extremely bright and compact devices that are easily seen at great distances. A reflective device can be anything from a mirror to one of those silver emergency warming blankets. Several people I know use CDs for this purpose. Use your imagination. Anything that is easy to carry with you and can increase your odds of being seen is worth a look. And of course you are required to carry a sound signaling device. I've got a whistle attached to my PFD and another stowed inside my kayak. I carried one of those small air canister horns for a while, but found it didn't work after about three months stowed in my dry bag.

Open water kayaking also requires a greater skill set than sticking to the shallow shorelines and back lakes. First and foremost is the physical ability to get you there and back. Honestly, there are a good many folks out there paddling who aren't very capable paddlers. Should you find yourself far from shore and fighting an increasing headwind you'll soon learn whether you have what it takes. Be honest with yourself about your abilities and don't push your limits. If you fall into this category and want to go on longer adventures, get in shape and take some paddling lessons. It really isn't that difficult to drastically improve your abilities with a little bit of work. Possibly the most often overlooked skill is the wet re-entry. I'm talking about righting your overturned kayak and then getting back into the cockpit in water over your head. There are techniques that make this easier than you may think, but it does require some practice. Again, take a lesson or get with a buddy and practice. And keep in mind that should you need to use this skill in the real world; the weather and water conditions will likely be less than ideal. That's probably why you overturned in the first place. Clothing, gear, and waders also add various degrees of difficulty. The time to find out that you aren't capable of rescuing yourself is not out in the middle of the bay during a thunderstorm.

Probably the simplest and most effective safety tip is to paddle with a partner or a group whenever possible. Having immediate assistance is invaluable in the event of a true emergency. However, if you are a loner, make a float plan and give it to a friend. Write down a description of your vehicle and your kayak. Explain where you will be launching and the area you intend to fish along with an expected time of return. When you are finished for the day, make it a point to call that person to let them know you are back. If you don't check in, at least you'll know that the rescue crews have something to work with. And one final tip. Use a permanent marker to write your name, address, and phone number inside your hull. In the event you are separated from your kayak, hopefully the kayak will be found and a search will be initiated to find you before the spoil island mosquitoes finish you off.

Now back to my tournament day. I paddled out among the power boaters and anchored up just like I was one of them. There were six boats to my left and nine more to my right. The looks on the faces of these guys was pretty funny. Guess they hadn't seen too many kayaks paddling along the ship channel. Luckily nobody had beaten me to my favorite little hump that comes up out of the deeper water. Within a few minutes I had the first of many flounder on the stringer and we went on to snag first place team and first place flounder. So yes, sometimes it does pay to leave my little world of the hidden marshes.