Kayaking is a safe and enjoyable activity suitable for all ages, skill levels, and interests, but that doesn’t mean it is entirely risk-free. Make your kayaking adventures even safer by ensuring that you are visible when you are on the water, especially if you are a kayak angler.
Kayak anglers must be especially mindful of their visibility on the water because they are often stationary as they cast or reel, paddling in low light conditions like dusk and dawn, and riding low to the water. If you are out fishing, you don’t want to be overlooked by other boaters or first responders (in case of an emergency).
Here are some essential visual aids and their importance for your safety as a kayak angler, as well as the safety of those around you.
Key Visual and Visibility Aids for Kayak Anglers
Distinctive Kayaks and Gear
- Many kayaks come in bright colors that make them easier to spot in all sorts of lighting conditions. If you choose a neutral or camouflage-colored kayak for fishing or hunting, make sure to compensate with bright clothing or paddles.
- Your gear can also aid in visibility. Choose brightly colored or neon paddle blades that can be easily seen by other boats. Kayak anglers can choose distinctively colored rods and reels, too. The bright color and motion can make you more likely to be seen, especially in emergencies.
Safety Flags
- Mount a safety flag on a pole to extend above your kayak while you are actively fishing. This will help make you stand out even from a distance. You can also let other anglers know that you are fishing in that area.
- Orange or other bright colors can help you stand out in daylight hours. Consider reflective or even lighted flags for nighttime fishing.
Navigation & Signal Lights
- If you are out fishing at night (or even during dusk and dawn), you must ensure your kayak is properly lit. Use all-around white navigation lights in low-light conditions. Ensure that they are mounted high enough to be visible from all directions. There is some great fishing to be had at dawn or dusk, but it comes with risk, so be sure to make yourself visible to others.
- Strobe lights are effective for signaling in emergencies or low-visibility conditions, such as fog or rain, which can be great fishing weather but not great for visibility.
Reflective Clothing & Equipment
- If you plan to fish in low-light conditions, be sure to invest in clothing and personal flotation devices (PFDs) that have reflective qualities. Especially if you are sitting and waiting for a bite, you want to make sure that you stand out in some way.
- Flag, paddles, and other gear are also helpful if they have reflective properties. This will make them easy to see, especially when signalling for help and letting other boaters know your location. Rods and reels can also have reflective properties. Consider investing in such gear.
Whistles & Mirrors
- While whistles are more of an auditory rather than visual aid, they can be an important addition to your kayak angling safety. Whistles alert others to your presence when you might not be as visible as other watercraft.
- Mirrors are another helpful safety aid. They can be used to reflect the sunlight and signal others for help or provide rear visibility for you as you paddle, so you know what's behind you. This can be helpful if you are trolling lines behind you as well.
Why Are Visibility Aids Necessary for Kayak Anglers
Low position on the Water
- As mentioned above, kayaks sit close to the water’s surface. Even if you are on a raised seat of a sit-on-top angler kayak, you are closer to the surface than most other watercraft. This is great for fishing, but it can make your kayak harder to see compared to those crafts around you.
- Making yourself more visible with raised flags can help combat this risk.
- On busy waterways, you might not initially be noticed by larger, faster-moving vessels. Making yourself more visible mitigates this risk.
Emergency Situations
- No one expects to face an emergency as they head out on the water, but making yourself more visible is a key step if you find yourself in need of rescue. Whether you’ve capsized, gotten stuck, or lost a paddle, first responders can reach you more quickly if they can SEE you.
- Especially when visibility or distance makes it difficult to distinguish you, high-contrast colors, lights, and reflective gear can all signal your location.
Legal Requirements
- Know the law. Many states require specific lights and visible aids, especially when kayaking after dark.
- Navigation lights are essential for any kayaking in low-light conditions. If you want to drop a line at dawn, you must be lit appropriately. Lights are crucial for safety compliance.
Group Safety
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Kayak angling with a group is often fun and provides an additional layer of safety. Having adequate visibility aids can keep your group together. If you can see each other, you are better coordinated and safer.
Do your part to reduce accidents and stay safe on the water. Ensure you have adequate visibility aids whenever you take to the water to fish. Whether it is as simple as the reflective stripe on your PFD and a bright flag while casting or as complicated as strobes and navigation lights, kayak anglers can’t go wrong with an investment in visibility.