Pfd's......

[Fish Chris]

Yes, this is just another PFD rant.

It's just that every time I'm on the water, I see that the vast majority of anglers do not wear PFD's ? Why !?!? Do they think "it won't be them" who ends up drowning ? I mean, even if they don't care about their own lives very much, don't they have family or friends who wouldn't want to lose them ?

Seriously, I see guys all the time, going 50+ MPH in high per bass boats, with no life jackets ? Then, on my Striper / Sturgeon waters, it's cold, murky, often with strong tidal flows, and again, I almost never see anybody wearing a PFD ? Why ?

I'm a pretty decent swimmer.... but not in cold water, with full clothing, maybe a heavy jacket, and big, heavy boots !

And then, how could one tread water if they had been knocked out, or had a broken arm, or leg ?

The modern, auto-inflatable PFD's are just too comfortable, and conveniant "to not always have one on" any time your on the water !

If you won't wear one for yourself, please do so for those that care about you.

Drownings are such a tradgegy, and such a shame, when one stops to consider how such a large % of these accidents are so easily preventable !

PLEASE wear a PFD, at all X's when your on the water.

Thank you,

Fish

[Mr SwimJig]

PFDs and kill switches are a must as far as I am concerned, just like a helmet and proper attire should be used at all times on motorcycles and ATVs.

SJ

[grimlin]

"Won't happen to them" Unfortunately that's the attitude most people have.

I know that link is a work safety video,but apply this same knowledge to home as well.If you want to skip the intro and go straight to him talking skip to 1:24 and start from there. I know I'm ranting and raving about this guy...but everybody should hear this.

[bass or bass ?]

In the last couple years here in Arizona I've read about 3 incidents of guys slipping off the side of their boat, hitting their head on the boat, and drowning as they tried to urinate over the side of the boat. No pfd's worn. I keep a 1 quart plastic mug for this purpose, then dump it out, rinse it out, and store till needed again. Much safer.

Whenever my big motor is running, EVERYONE in my boat wears their pfd. Don't want to wear it? Find another boat!

[bucky]

I agree! I put mine on when I get into the boat and take it off when I get out. I can"t understand why some don't wear ther pfd's but there are many who don't.

[mikeeasttn]

Always wear my PFD and make anyone else that is in my boat wear one. Cheapest life insurance you can have on the water. Also have ring on PFD and alway keep the "kill switch" clipped to. Grandson fishes with me and I try to be as safe as possible and teach him to be safe.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

About a year ago I was fishing a lake in my kayak. And a boat swamped me and tossed me out of said kayak. My pfd was sitting in my lap and floated off. Heck I'm a good swimmer, but after thirty minutes of treading water, I Was worn out. Never again will my pfd not be on me when I'm in or on a boat. Don't make my mistake always wear one.

[Grey Wolf]

Yes, this is just another PFD rant.

It's just that every time I'm on the water, I see that the vast majority of anglers do not wear PFD's ? Why !?!? Do they think "it won't be them" who ends up drowning ? I mean, even if they don't care about their own lives very much, don't they have family or friends who wouldn't want to lose them ?

Seriously, I see guys all the time, going 50+ MPH in high per bass boats, with no life jackets ? Then, on my Striper / Sturgeon waters, it's cold, murky, often with strong tidal flows, and again, I almost never see anybody wearing a PFD ? Why ?

I'm a pretty decent swimmer.... but not in cold water, with full clothing, maybe a heavy jacket, and big, heavy boots !

And then, how could one tread water if they had been knocked out, or had a broken arm, or leg ?

The modern, auto-inflatable PFD's are just too comfortable, and conveniant "to not always have one on" any time your on the water !

If you won't wear one for yourself, please do so for those that care about you.

Drownings are such a tradgegy, and such a shame, when one stops to consider how such a large % of these accidents are so easily preventable !

PLEASE wear a PFD, at all X's when your on the water.

Thank you,

Fish

You've probably figured this out by now but humans are the dumbest creatures in all of God's creations.

[GrundleLove]

To be honest, when i got my boat I bought a PFD...but at the same time I have a different view on them.

I usually fish small lakes and ponds, that being said lets say that i am crusing along, and i see a rock and i swerve sharply and fall out of my boat.

You know what the odds are that i would NEED that PFD? Guess what people...human float. As a matter of fact, when i went on a canoe ride with my friends, my friend decided it would be funny to rock the canoe and we tipped. Know what i did for 10 min until someone could get us? Lay on my back and float there. IT was great.

Now you could say, omg you banged your head and disoriented or knocked out and you cant swim/float. I guarantee that the PFD will not save you if you are knocked out or disoriented...you will drown anyway. face down in the water is the same with a PFD or without.

[Long Mike]

To be honest, when i got my boat I bought a PFD...but at the same time I have a different view on them.

I usually fish small lakes and ponds, that being said lets say that i am crusing along, and i see a rock and i swerve sharply and fall out of my boat.

You know what the odds are that i would NEED that PFD? Guess what people...human float. As a matter of fact, when i went on a canoe ride with my friends, my friend decided it would be funny to rock the canoe and we tipped. Know what i did for 10 min until someone could get us? Lay on my back and float there. IT was great.

Now you could say, omg you banged your head and disoriented or knocked out and you cant swim/float. I guarantee that the PFD will not save you if you are knocked out or disoriented...you will drown anyway. face down in the water is the same with a PFD or without.

PFDs are designed to turn an unconscious person from a face down position onto his back. If you ever tried wearing one, you would know that.

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Always have one on. We bought the Manual/Auto Inflator type from PBS. I've seen far too many preventable drownings when I was a CSI.

[scrutch]

I wish someone made the Mustang style vests in kid's sizes. My son would be MUCH more comfortable all day on the water.

As you can see in my avatar pic, The vest fits him, but it is not nearly as comfortable as a mustang style.

[Grey Wolf]

To be honest, when i got my boat I bought a PFD...but at the same time I have a different view on them.

I usually fish small lakes and ponds, that being said lets say that i am crusing along, and i see a rock and i swerve sharply and fall out of my boat.

You know what the odds are that i would NEED that PFD? Guess what people...human float. As a matter of fact, when i went on a canoe ride with my friends, my friend decided it would be funny to rock the canoe and we tipped. Know what i did for 10 min until someone could get us? Lay on my back and float there. IT was great.

Now you could say, omg you banged your head and disoriented or knocked out and you cant swim/float. I guarantee that the PFD will not save you if you are knocked out or disoriented...you will drown anyway. face down in the water is the same with a PFD or without.

WOW !!!!!!!!!!

[CHBasser]

Actually check the type of PFD you are using, if you are using a type III PFD not all type III's will turn an unconscious person over. Although I don't agree with GrundleLove's view that they are completely useless. If I'm sitting still on a lake I may not have mine on, but if I'm moving, in my canoe, or on a river its always on.

Also if the water is cold make sure you have one. I've swamped a canoe in river water that was only in the 50's and it's a shock to your system when you hit.

[bass or bass ?]

To be honest, when i got my boat I bought a PFD...but at the same time I have a different view on them.

I usually fish small lakes and ponds, that being said lets say that i am crusing along, and i see a rock and i swerve sharply and fall out of my boat.

You know what the odds are that i would NEED that PFD? Guess what people...human float. As a matter of fact, when i went on a canoe ride with my friends, my friend decided it would be funny to rock the canoe and we tipped. Know what i did for 10 min until someone could get us? Lay on my back and float there. IT was great.

Now you could say, omg you banged your head and disoriented or knocked out and you cant swim/float. I guarantee that the PFD will not save you if you are knocked out or disoriented...you will drown anyway. face down in the water is the same with a PFD or without.

I'm guessing that you don't wear a seat belt in your truck either.

[Fish Chris]

Unfortunately, I sink like a rock.....

In fact, as hard as I tried, I couldn't make my face float out of the water in a calm swimming pool, and that was back when I was obese ! .....and all kidding aside, fat (or lard, or grease, or oil) is lighter than water, so I should have floated easier back then ! Now that I've gone from about 45% body fat, to 14% I'm sure I'd sink like a lead fishing weight.

Another thing... although I'm a pretty strong swimmer, I don't think I could swim with all of my cloths, jacket, etc.... and most detrimentally, my hiking boots !

Anyway, of course it's up to you... but as you will see in almost every fish photo I ever post, I ALWAYS wear my PFD, even on electric motor only ponds.

I might die from "some other, stupid, preventable thing"...... but it won't be from drowning !

Peace,

Fish

[SimonSays]

Now you could say, omg you banged your head and disoriented or knocked out and you cant swim/float. I guarantee that the PFD will not save you if you are knocked out or disoriented...you will drown anyway. face down in the water is the same with a PFD or without.

Like others have said, many PFDs are designed to turn an unconscious person over. Not everyone floats (high muscle mass) and in situations where there's flowing water like rivers or salt, it saves you from wasting energy keeping your head above the water.

[scrutch]

If you don't think you need to wear a PFD, here's a challenge for you...

Take a couple of buddies, go to the nearest lake when the water temps are around 50 degrees. That's the time many of us start Bass fishing around here. Put on a good PFD and jump right in. Stay there for a full 5 minutes and see if you can pull yourself out of the water.

Then come back here and post what your thoughts are on wearing a PFD for all of us to read.

[Grey Wolf]

It's hard to believe that anybody would advocate not using a PFD.

[oteymc]

I usually just have mine on anytime the big motor is on, mainly because I can't stand to fish with it on. After reading this I may get an auto-inflatable to wear all the time, they are just so expensive.

[dulouz]

I don't own a boat, but I have a PFD. I have a friend with a boat and when I go fishing with him it is understood that I am to wear one at all times. It's a good thing because I almost fell out a few times by leaning on the butt seats and having them spin as the boat rocked. For those of you who think you are good swimmers, do it with clothes AND shoes on and see how you feel. Be safe and wear it.

[Grey Wolf]

I usually just have mine on anytime the big motor is on, mainly because I can't stand to fish with it on. After reading this I may get an auto-inflatable to wear all the time, they are just so expensive.

How much is your life worth to you/family ?

[oteymc]

Ok, I know I left myself open for that, but really?

I said I think it is a good idea, and I will probably get one - until then I will be ok. I am not making light of the points already made, but there are much more dangerous things in my life than fishing without a life jacket on a boat that is sitting still.

Just so this is not misinterpreted, I am pro-life jacket.

[smalliekiller]

PFD's yep i got them but my wife dont wont me to wear them. Funny thing is she always asks me if i paid my life insurance when i take the boat out.