Which PFD do you recommend?

[snagged in outlet 3]

I fish out of an 8' Pond Prowler by myself. 

I need a new PFD. 

Pete

 

 

 

[fishinwrench]

Oh for s#it sake, Pete !     Just stay along the shoreline and if you fall out STAND UP.    It ain't like your gonna do any deepwater structure fishing or high speed wake jumping in your Pond Prowler.  

[J-Doc]

I have to agree. In a pond prowler, you don't need to be too far out anyway or where someone can wake you.  No sense in spending $100 on a self inflating unit.  You should have a PFD on all the time if you're over deeper water in the winter.  If you fall out, it's 10 times harder to swim in 35-55 degree water.  The pain is terrible and clothes weigh you down.  Which is why I snagged a self inflating one on Black Friday special.  But I fish offshore structure almost exclusively now and in winter especially. And I'm in a 19ft boat. 

 

Any decent life jacket for $20-30 is more than enough. 

[grizwilson]

Pete, the best PFD is the one you will wear.  I probably have 25-30 around here, everything from self inflating to cheap simple vest.  As I often paddle alone in some remote areas I need to wear one as my maturity advances.  The money spent on the self inflating was a waste for me, for some reason it just seemed to be in my way (if I would lose 30# it might work better) The others were not comfortable in a seated position.  I finally bought a paddling vest from Academy, It is comfortable enough that I will wear it rather than laying in the floor of the boat.  It has some pockets sufficient to hold a fly box, tippet etc.  Try on several, to see what fits you, this is the one I settled on:

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/no-limits-sabine-red-personal-flotation-device?repChildCatid=1017505

g

[Quillback]

I've gone to the vest style with pockets.  I like the pockets for holding plastics, and other gear.  They are a bit hot in the summer, but in the cold weather act as an extra layer of insulation.

[snagged in outlet 3]

16 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Oh for s#it sake, Pete !     Just stay along the shoreline and if you fall out STAND UP.    It ain't like your gonna do any deepwater structure fishing or high speed wake jumping in your Pond Prowler.  

You know Wrench I've been fishing out of one for years, never gave it a thought until yesterday.

The lake I fish has some bluff banks and points and it's almost a mile long.

Yesterday water was COLD.

Another guy pulls up and puts in his big bass boat and the first thing he did was put on a PFD.

Kind of made me wonder if I was stupid.

It brings up another question.

If I fall out how do I get my boat back?

Nobody lives around this lake.

Pete

[fishinwrench]

Guess you could tether it to your ankle like a surfer.   Speaking of surfers...why don't they wear PFD's ?

My true thoughts are that we as a society have become so worried and unconfident in ourselves.  PFD's in paddlecraft, harnesses in tree stands,  bicycle helmets, eye protection and gloves while chopping up carrots, ect. 

Really ?     How do we live past 25 years of age if we are so clumsy and vulnerable?  We are slowly breeding SKILL out of our species.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Well Wrench, as a matter of fact I have tied it to my belt loop.

I can't swim as well as a surfer, especially with winter clothes and boots on.

But I have it made to 54 and I'd kind of like to make a little farther.

So in other rewords you're calling me a pu$$y?

Pete

[fishinwrench]

No I wouldn't go that far. A pu$$y wouldn't even fish.  

I just wonder how much longer it will be before we all start padding our walls and rounding off table corners.

[Old plug]

it all depend on how big and rough your lake is. How old you are and your general health. But if your out on lake in a 8 ft boat that has big bass bots running around wear a PFD without fail and get rid of that boat. I went for year not wearing one may have been stupid and lucky.  Now I am 76 yrs old with the aches and pains that accompany that. I do not even get into in My 181/2 ft deep V. Without it on.