Which PFD do you recommend?

[Jerry Rapp]

100% of drowning's are caused by water.  Let's ban water. #drowningpeoplematters.  Use common sense.  If you think for 1 second that maybe you should you wear your life jacket on, put it on.  Just like headlights on a vehicle.  If you think turning on your headlights might be a good idea, it is. 

[Mitch f]

12 minutes ago, Old plug said:

How many of you think you can swim 100 yards? . 

That's a good point point Harry, one hundred yards is much further than you think, especially with clothing.

[snagged in outlet 3]

17 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

In very cold water too !

The point is that when you think you are about to die the temperature of the water doesn't even phase you.

Yes I saw that.

Very cold.

I'm getting one.

Pete

[Al Agnew]

I used to take my solo canoe, put it in at the big gravel dredge hole at Hwy. 67 on Black River that as up to 50 feet deep, a half mile long, and several hundred yards wide, and fish all day in the winter without ever thinking about putting on a PFD.  Nothing ever happened to me, but one day it just suddenly came to me that "hey, this is stupid".

I was floating the Meramec above Onondaga in the solo canoe, water was up, cold weather.  Came to a riffle with a submerged log, misjudged it just a bit, BARELY missed the log.  Right about then I realized I wasn't wearing my PFD.

I can swim very well, but have you ever tried to swim very far in cold water with all the clothing you have on in the winter?  

As somebody said above, if you think there's a chance you might need to wear it, wear it.  I somewhat agree with Wrench...we seem to be a little too timid in the outdoors sometimes.  I don't wear one in the summer.  Don't usually wear it in the jetboat or bass boat.  I have enough confidence in my swimming ability and boat handling that I figure the chances of needing it then are just not worth the hassle of wearing it.  But I've finally figured out that I ain't invincible, and there are times when I wear it without a second thought.

So bottom line, if you think you're going to be wearing it, shop until you find one that's comfortable in all the positions you'll typically be in while wearing it.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I'm gettin one. 

In July maybe I won't wear one but winter time......wouldn't hurt. 

 

[fishinwrench]

I wear mine if I'm going to hammer down in the bass boat, but I don't even carry one in the Jon boat or in the canoe.  Fishing with one on is never gonna happen with me. I don't just fish with my wrists I pretty much use my whole body, and a bulky object around my chest is more likely to be the cause of me hurting myself than it is to be something that will save me.

Besides, dying while fishing is part of my grand master plan.

[Jack Perdew]

I've recommend it like a helmet for motorcycles is a choice but if your not going to wear one then please sign a donors card  The average person will only last 15 min in 40 f water 

but your body parts are usable for hrs

i don't always wear a helmet but I have sign the card and always wear a PDF when the water temp 65 or less 

[fishinwrench]

I just watched a guy on COPS standing soaking wet in a icey river in Michigan for about 40 minutes huffing paint thinner.  The cops finally got him out and it took 4 of them to tackle him and hold him down.   So apparently all this hypothermia crap is in your mind.  

[grizwilson]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I wear mine if I'm going to hammer down in the bass boat, but I don't even carry one in the Jon boat or in the canoe.  Fishing with one on is never gonna happen with me. I don't just fish with my wrists I pretty much use my whole body, and a bulky object around my chest is more likely to be the cause of me hurting myself than it is to be something that will save me.

Besides, dying while fishing is part of my grand master plan.

When the water/highway patol gets you in cuffs you may be sorry... I put mine on in my truck in your neck of the woods

[dtrs5kprs]

My former club's season opener every year was a memorial derby for a member who drowned fishing in cold weather. If you go over in June... and don't hit your head on the boat/tree/rock/dock... and don't panic, you are probably OK. In cold weather it just doesn't work out that way. 

For small boats I just use one of my regular PFD's from the big boat. That includes pond boats, small tin boats, and the occasional canoe. I know those do what they are supposed to do. Not paranoid, not overcautious, but also not one to flip a finger at fate.