What price do you place on your life?

[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.

[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