Tragic Kayak Fishing Story - Reminder

[buzzed bait]

Just a reminder to all the kayakers on here.... wear your PFD.  I honestly do not wear mine to float as much as i wear it so that my body could be found in such a tragic situation as the one on this story.  I know A-Jay has said it many times and it sounds a little morbid, but the last thing i would want is my loved ones looking for a body....  BE SAFE!  

 

This guy was wearing his and while it may not have saved his life, it brought immediate closure to his family.

 

 

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-84429303/

[Rhino68W]

If you don't wear your PFD you're taking a completely unnecessary risk. Period. Stay safe my fellow yakers.

[A-Jay]

The article reports this unfortunate young man was indeed wearing some type of life jacket - type / kind was not reported.

 

That does make a difference.

 

Without making any conclusions of my own on this sad story, I will say wearing an approved, properly fitted and servicable Life Jacket Greatly Increases ones chances of survival in virtually every situation.

 

A-Jay

[Ski213]

Its a tragic story and a good reminder to all of us, whether in a kayak or any other type of boat. The water can be pretty unforgiving.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Its a tragic story and a good reminder to all of us, whether in a kayak or any other type of boat. The water can be pretty unforgiving.

x2 

 

Not just kayakers, but all boaters should wear a PFD.

[Bass newb]

Register to continue reading?

[bigfruits]

wow, that's sad. I wonder what happened to the poor guy.

 

I cant bring myself to wear my pfd unless im river fishing down class II or III rapids or in some very choppy river or ocean water. I always have it on the kayak with me though. I know that wont help at all if I unexpectedly flip but that's a risk I am willing to take. especially on calm hot/humid days.

 

that being said, don't be stupid like I am and make sure you wear your pfd at all times, kids. buy the self inflating ones if comfort is an issue.

[buzzed bait]

wow, that's sad. I wonder what happened to the poor guy.

 

I cant bring myself to wear my pfd unless im river fishing down class II or III rapids or in some very choppy river or ocean water. I always have it on the kayak with me though. I know that wont help at all if I unexpectedly flip but that's a risk I am willing to take. especially on calm hot/humid days.

 

that being said, don't be stupid like I am and make sure you wear your pfd at all times, kids. buy the self inflating ones if comfort is an issue.

 

i was a little like you up until a short while back and i just realized it's an easy way to avoid a life threatening situation.  things can happen in a blink of an eye and even an athletic, good swimmer can find themselves in a bad situation.  I don't have any kids myself, but couldn't imagine leaving a wife and child behind for something that may have been easily avoidable.....

i recently traded in my older "standard" PFD for the inflatable version and can say that was one of the best moves i've made.  the inflatable version is so much more comfortable, i can wear it all day no problem even in the dead of summer.  And i fish around this humid h*ll-hole they call atlanta!

[RB 77]

I tube, yak and boat. The only time I have ever went into the drink is on my yak! Wear your PFD and stay safe my fellow yakers.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Register to continue reading?

Pretty much what I was thinking.

[kjfishman]

I am bad about wearing a PFD. Cabella's has the inflatable life jackets on sale this week and may get one as they aren't as bulky.

[Evan K]

I fish from a yak almost exclusively, and if I'm out on water deeper than 5' (i.e., anything but a small shallow creek) I'm wearing my PFD. All the time. No exceptions. I can swim, but I have a serious fear of deep water. To be honest, I really can't feel comfortable at all unless I'm wearing one.

[Neil McCauley]

Kayak fishing on anything but small/medium ponds is stupid. There, I said it.

 

And kayak fishing on the Great Lakes- Lake Michigan in particular- is a whole other order of stupidity.

[bigfruits]

sounds like someone has never paddled in a kayak.

[buzzed bait]

Kayak fishing on anything but small/medium ponds is stupid. There, I said it.

 

And kayak fishing on the Great Lakes- Lake Michigan in particular- is a whole other order of stupidity.

 

sounds like a pretty uninformed assumption...  i take it you've never seen guys fish in the ocean in them either?  i would say you'll hear about as many stories of guys falling in from the boat as you will hear guys falling in from the kayak....

[warrior1]

Everybody asks why I always wear my vest in my boat, I always tell them that if you have a comfortable vest you won't even know its on and that came from my Kayak days.  I was an open ocean kayak fisherman and I always thought it funny that guys would tie their vest at the back of the yak.  I came so close to getting dunked by boats or swells that I didn't want to go looking for my vest or swim after my yak to get to it.  

 

We also have heard stories of boating accidents due to inattention, alcohol  or just plain stupidity, so I wear my vest always.  And, it's old school, I don't want to hope that water will activate something if I'm unconscious.