[2]


[1]


STAY SAFE, OUT THERE.


PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ RASSLAVA


[6]


[7]


[3] [5] Gear bagLIFE-SAVING ESSENTIALS


CHRIS HYDES HOBIE FISHING TEAM TOURNAMENT PRO


ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS, MARINE 200 KIT [1] $44 | WWW.ADVENTUREMEDICALKITS.COM A first aid kit contains things I might need in an emergency, like bandages and gauze to dress cuts and lacerations, as well as ibuprofen for minor aches and pains. I also keep Clif Bars and bottles of water in my pack. That has saved a few trips when a friend forgot to bring food and water.


RANDY VINING OLD TOWN CANOE & KAYAKS PRO OWNER OF WWW.GEORGIARIVER PIRATE.COM


ALEJANDRO PÉREZ-ARTEAGA WILDERNESS SYSTEMS, KISTLER RODS AND YAKATTACK PRO


5/32 INCH, HIGH-VIS TOWLINE $2.98 | WWW.LOWES.COM I attach one end of the towline to my kayak and the other to the back of my PFD so I can wade up river pulling the kayak behind me. The line is as long as the kayak so I can walk to the tankwell without unhooking. A longer towline can get tangled in my backcast, or worse, in my feet. Find the line at any hardware store.


BANANA BOAT KIDS STING-FREE, TEAR-FREE [4] SUNSCREEN SPF 50 $10.49 | WWW.BANANABOAT.COM A high-protection sunscreen can save your hide in hot weather and high sun. In addition to preventing sun damage, sunscreen slows dehydration and reduces pain. I choose a kid’s sunscreen because it has the highest sun protection factor and it doesn’t sting if it drips into my eyes.


JEFF HERMAN JACKSON KAYAK, WERNER PADDLES, AND RAILBLAZA PRO STAFFER & ACA CER- TIFIED INSTRUCTOR


NRS HYDROSKINS [6] 0.5 LONG SLEEVE SHIRT $97.95 | 0.5 PANTS $99.95 | WWW.NRS.COM Fishing the Adventure Fishing World Championship reminded me how impor- tant it is to dress properly. In sultry hot southern Louisiana, a surpise cold wind and rain put me at risk of hypothermia. NRS Hydroskin is a thin neoprene layer I can wear as an outer layer when it’s warm and a base layer in the cold. The materi- al is soft and breathable, so it doesn’t feel like a musty wetsuit. Wearing the pants and shirt keeps me warm when wet, which can be better than rain gear in a kayak.


This article first appeared in the 2015 Summer/Fall issue of Kayak Angler. 30 PADDLING MAGAZINE [4]


EXPERTS WEIGH-IN ON WHY CARRYING THIS VERSATILE GEAR COULD SAVE YOUR HIDE


The only thing more important than catching fish is staying safe. Pro anglers push the limits. Their only safety net is an arsenal of well-tested gear. If these pros won’t hit the water without these safety picks, neither should you. BEN DUCHESNEY


PETZL TIKKA XP [2] $54.95 | WWW.PETZL.COM I keep a headlamp and fresh batteries in my pack, in case something was to happen and I was stuck on the wa- ter after sunset. I can use the lamp to light my way and signal rescuers.


SEA TO SUMMIT SOLUTION PADDLE LEASH [3] $19.95 | WWW.SEATOSUMMIT.COM When fighting a fish it's easy to lose track of my paddle. Or, if I flip the boat, I don’t want to lose my paddle to the current. I attach the paddle leash to the center of the kayak so it can stretch to either gunwale. A quick-release clip allows me to disconnect the paddle when I don’t need the leash. Don’t find yourself up a creek without a paddle.


AQUAMIRA WATER TREATMENT DROPS [5] $14.95 | WWW.AQUAMIRA.COM Water-purifying drops (usually silver nitrate) will elimi- nate biological risks from water. Metals and soil will still be there but infection factors can be eliminated from water in an emergency.


STANDARD HORIZON HX870 MARINE VHF [7] $249.99 | WWW.STANDARDHORIZON.COM I mostly use a handheld VHF to talk to my fishing buddies on the water but it also can get me out of trouble. My marine radio can put me in contact with Coast Guard and other rescue services and includes NOAA weather channels, emergency beacon and strobe. The HX870 floats and charges with a USB cord.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54