What price do you place on your life?

[Nanna]

I have to be honest, I had never really thought about one, since I do most of my fishing from the bank. Then one day I was out fishing, and I fell backwards over a rock, a big rock, and landed hard. This was after I slid down a muddy bank. I think I can still feel it thinking about it! That day I could see how easy it could be. I lost a friend to drowning when I was a child, he was only 14, out fishing with two friends...

Last year I bought a vest to wear when I fish alone in isolated spots...I have only wore it once or twice, old habits and what not.... I like it just fine, pockets galore, I should get a pair of waders to match

[peter]

I was shopping for a life vest because I grabbed the wrong one when heading back from the lake and I need one this weekend. I remembered this thread and found it through the search feature. Just thought I would stick it to the top for a while so It might give pause for thought to those like me that don't use one on a regular basis or only when in a scary situation. The one Dave Stewart recommends might be worth the bucks . The fact that it does not inflate until 4" underwater (HIT) and that the Coast Guard uses then, to me makes it a no brainer decision.

I ended up getting one of those Mustang HIT inflatable jackets. I really do forget I have it on even last Saturday on the Cumberland River mid afternoon. A2O in Clarksville IN has them for $219 which is a real good price but still a lot of money. Gonna get an extra cartridge and jump in with it on and see if I could swim to the bank wearing it if I had to. Seems like you would have to swim on your back. They don't recommend them for swift water or white water.

[ragdaddy]

I was reading a story several years ago about a man drowning in the Susquehanna river fishing alone about my same age . I bought an inflatable soon afterwards and wear it religiously. You seriously don't realize you have it on most of the time. One problem was I wore it for a long time feeling real good about it I went to check it to buy a rearming kit and found that the co2 cartridge was not screwed in. Make sure you check it. Also try it on at the store a friend bought 3 and found them uncomfortable so would not wear it except when he thought it was really necessary. I'm pretty sure each drowned person didn't feel it was necessary before falling in. My friend did fall in trying to load his boat and decided to buy one he would wear. I have another friend who bought one after me convincing him to do it and it literally saved his life one day in early spring when he fell out of his boat while fishing alone. Any one of you who can agree that you should wear one but don't just give up and do it. I know old habits are hard but it's not like an addiction or something.
. Ragdaddy

[Moveon]

There is a post on the Indiana Board where two young men drowned at Patoka Lake. Tragic and preventable deaths.

I recently bought for myself a new auto/manual inflatable PFD that I plan on wearing at all times while on my boat. The price was $85.57

These PFDs are light and comfortable and one hardly knows they are wearing them.

I consider myself to be a good swimmer but I have to face the fact that was 30 years ago. Add in cold water or a head injury and we have a recipe for disaster.

Please,fellow fishin.com members, wear your PFDs and be safe.

Plus 1 Moveon Likes this.

[Hlleonard]

I have been fortunate in that I have never fallen out of a boat... that might be a bad thing, I am 67 and have a brother who is 70 and a couple years ago I bought two mustang auto-inflate life jackets for him and myself and when we are together we both wear them, Most of the time when I fish by myself I don't wear it, I have no excuse, like someone said earlier they are a lot more comfortable than the vest type which get pretty sweaty in the summer but the auto-inflate isn't nearly as bad.... Me and the better half have talked about it a few times and she tells me I should but I still don't... I hope the time never comes when I wish I had not been so ignorant... I have noticed while fishing that there are more fishermen not wearing life vest than those that are.... Old habits are hard to break I guess.

[Tyme2fish]

Hlleonard, please wear that PFD,especially when alone.

I too rarely wear my PFD but that is changing as of right now.

And as stated in an above post, get a pee jar (coffee can will work) and stand in the lower area of your boat when relieving ones self.

[Moveon]

I have a hospital pee jar and use it in my boat. It's easier to use than a coffee can as it's made for the job.

The two times I fell out of my boat was when trying to pee of the back. Actually it was only one time but I did it twice. Heck I figured I was already wet and the second time I had already taken my wallet out of my pant's back pocket.

So I actually only fallen out of the boat twice now. But I'm getting older and it's harder to move around these days so that's why I wear the life jacket at all time. I use to be able to swim a mile every day when I was younger. But I learned a long time ago that if you stop swimming for a week you get out of shape very fast. It's been years since I've swam and I would not last 60 minutes in cold water.

Hlleonard, please wear that PFD,especially when alone.

I too rarely wear my PFD but that is changing as of right now.

And as stated in an above post, get a pee jar (coffee can will work) and stand in the lower area of your boat when relieving ones self.

[GeoFisher]

I just hang it over the side...........it's usually dragging the bottom, kind of like a 3rd leg, so I have no issues with falling overboard ....

Gives new meaning to POWER POLE ......

Later,

Geo

[HURRICANEBOB]

I just hang it over the side...........it's usually dragging the bottom, kind of like a 3rd leg, so I have no issues with falling overboard ....

Gives new meaning to POWER POLE ......

Later,

Geo

You must fish in some really skinny water and from a face down surf board. Relax, mediactions and counciling can help resolve the grandios dilusions.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I'll let ya know when I get my life insurance premium bill this year.

That tell's me how much it will cost me to keep living as opposed to just cashing in the chips.

Wearing a PDF to me is a lot like wearing a seat belt....I don't know why I should make it easier for the EMT's and first responders to find the body. My last great act of defiance will be the ultimate game of hide and seek.

When I fished salt water, I never wore a PDF because I never wanted to be a floating buffet for the sharks. I also figured if they never found the body, the family would save money on the funeral.

Funny thing is I always put my wallet and truck keys in my boat bag that has a flotation built into it. I mean even if they do find an empty boat, I want them to have the insurance card and keys to ramp out and tow the boat home.

"A man's got to have his priorities"

[Les Young]

everytime until I start fishing in summer, but in winter it never comes off. If I was in rough water it would stay on too.

[Moveon]

There is a post on the Indiana Board where two young men drowned at Patoka Lake. Tragic and preventable deaths.

I recently bought for myself a new auto/manual inflatable PFD that I plan on wearing at all times while on my boat. The price was $85.57

These PFDs are light and comfortable and one hardly knows they are wearing them.

I consider myself to be a good swimmer but I have to face the fact that was 30 years ago. Add in cold water or a head injury and we have a recipe for disaster.

Please,fellow fishin.com members, wear your PFDs and be safe.

I too always wear a life jacket while in my boat. I too was a good swimmer in my youth. Heck I used to swim a mile every day as a life guard. I taught life guards their skills as a Water Safety Instructor.

But these days I'm never in the water anymore and haven't been for a swim of any kind since the last time I fell out of my boat a few years ago.

So if you really value your life and are getting older (over 40) then it' would be a good idea to have a life jacket on while on the water. This is really important when you are on the river where there is moving water. And when the waters below 78 deg F you can get hypothermia really fast. If you fish in Oct and Nov and Dec then other special precautions are in order. Thing like having winter clothing and a way to warm back up and get into dry clothing if you do fall into the cold water during the winter months are key to survival during this time of the year.