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Pristine cold-water lakes, mountain backdrops, crisp air and bright foliage make the fall months some of the most beautiful of the year. What’s even better is that all of your favorite summer water sports you love to do can be carried into autumn.

Watch the leaves change colors right before your eyes while wakeboarding, waterskiing, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking or fishing!

Below are some of the benefits of taking your summer water sports hobbies into the fall, as well as safety considerations.

Fewer Crowds: It’s nice to take a breather from the frenetic pace of people. With fewer boaters on the water, there’s more opportunity to explore surroundings that are typically filled with other recreationalists. You also get a chance to try new tricks on the water without the pressure of people watching you. You probably don’t want an audience when you’re practicing your new yoga move on your paddleboard or a tricky spin on the wakeboard.

Then there’s the fishing. Fall is prime time for anglers because the fish are biting in preparation for winter. Cooler water temperatures are perfect for fish. When fish are hungrier and more active, they are more willing to take the bait. And that’s perfect for the angler.

Vitamin D Without Excessive Heat: Being outside is great for both your physical and mental health, but sometimes as the weather cools down, we find ourselves migrating indoors. Outdoor hobbies like kayaking on glassy water can give you motivation to get that outdoor exposure. Best of all, you won’t have the hot sun beating down on you as much.

You’ll still want to make sure to hydrate and wear sunscreen though.

Colder Water: A nip in the air definitely means a bite in the water, so make sure you’re prepared. A wetsuit for wakeboarding is an essential item when water temps start to dip. The colder the water temp, the thicker the neoprene suit should be. Talk to your local surf shop about wetsuit thickness and water temperature.

You wouldn’t want to run the risk of getting hypothermia if your core body temperature drops too much.

During the lazy days of summer, we aren’t thinking about the consequences of cold water immersion. There’s always the possibility of capsizing while canoeing or kayaking, and it’s usually not a huge deal. However, if something goes wrong in cold water, especially if it’s fast moving, the consequences could be deadly.

The body will try to maintain its core temperature of 37-degrees Celsius, but can only do it for so long. The body runs out of energy over time and the core body temp drops. The more it drops, the more critical the situation.

Different Flows: Rivers and lakes can be very seasonal. You’ll want to do the proper research on the safety of the area you plan on visiting. Also, talk with other experienced boaters about the best places for different times of year.

Fluctuating water levels can cause special hazards for boaters. Water levels can change rapidly due to tides, flooding rivers, or water released through dams. Any of these conditions can cause pleasure craft to run aground in areas where navigation may have been safe earlier. Any change in the water level also can affect docking to a fixed pier.

New Areas: Because of changes in water level, extending your water sporting into fall can bring you to areas you haven’t yet explored. In finding new places, many adventurous types want to get in every last bit of camping, too.

This brings both novel experiences and new requirements.

Where you might have been fine tent camping before, you may require a winterized camping trailer depending on what part of the country you live in. Camping in the fall and winter can be magical, but again, make sure you’re prepared.

With summer already becoming a distant memory, fall isn’t quite in the rearview mirror yet. Get out there, go with the flow, and enjoy doing the stuff you love the most.

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