Here's a special feature episode of Kayak Fishing Tales showing Howard McKim's 5-hour, 11-mile marlin sleigh ride in Baja. You can read McKim's feature article about this marlin double hookup in Kayak Angler magazine by clicking here.

Retail sales of outdoor recreation gear and garments dropped two percent in 2009 compared to the previous year, according to a report released by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). Sales totaled $5.075 billion. Best categories included camping items, climbing gear, and hiking boots. Paddlesports stores were down seven percent.

Is it safe to kayak fish in waders? We posted Jim Sammons’ video about this question a few weeks ago.

Sammons’ contention is that taking an unplanned swim in waders is not the one-way ticket to the hereafter that common wisdom suggests. And he proved the point with a hefty dose of sarcasm and a leap into his neighbor’s pool.

We got a wide range of replies, some congratulating us on the posting and others saying we were spreading dangerous information.

"Kayak anglers might drown because of Jim Sammons' stupid and misleading movie," said one reader.

Here's a follow-up post to clarify the question of wader safety versus the alternative: wearing a full drysuit. To sum up, waders are safe in some conditions and potentially very dangerous in others. Opt for a drysuit in cold or rough-water conditions where an accident could mean spending some time in the water.