Inflatable PFD's - do you wear a PFD bank fishing?

[alm21]

As I take my kids out on the river, I have rightfully fallen under scrutiny by family members around the life vest situation. I am now researching the inflatable PFD's.

I liken this with my snowboarding/skateboarding history. As a kid, we never wore helmets snowboarding, rarely skateboarding and mtn biking (until I got hit by a car). Nowadays, it's the norm to wear a helmet on the mountain. I rarely see bank fisherman wearing PFD's, including myself, but have given thought numerous times such as when I'm crossing a river, climbing rocks on the bank, or looking into swift deep currents.

Looking into this, I could easily spend $200-$400 dollars for two vests. I am leaning towards the inflatable due to ease-of-use/comfort. Bulky vests aren't practical for the bankie on the move. In fact, I think it could cause a potential situation when your movement is restrained by a bulky vest (that goes for my kids too). So, the choice comes down to manual or auto inflatable? And for the auto, water sensitivity or pressure acitivated? Reliability is a key concern. I don't want false activations or duds. Manual is a lot cheaper but relies on you being capable of pulling the cord which I don't think is a good call for the kids. After doing some brief research, Mustang's pressure activated auto inflatable vest looks good but $$$$.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Can a heavy rain cause one to inflate?
What brand would you trust? Mustang, Onyx, Stearns, other?
Would you wear one? Why not now?

Just throwing it out there as I research. Food for thought.

 

[C_Run]

After that guy drowned in the Santiam washing his hands in the river last spring, my wife would like me to wear one. However, I still do not. I think about it a lot because sometimes I bank fish in some dangerous spots. If I did , I would just wear my kayak fishing vest which has big pockets for tackle and not spend more on a specialized vest. It is bulky, though. I don't take the chances I once did out there.

 

[GDBrown]

Since I have lost some of my stability when bank fishing I have started to regularly wear my inflatable PFD. I have come very close to sliding into the swift current on more than one occasion and got back to the car shaking a little more than I would like. It also is a great comfort to my wife when she sees me put it into the box with all my other gear. I'm less likely to wear it during the summer when the water is warmer and not as swift but it is still a requirement in my boat the if the motor is at any setting other that idle the PFDs are on and buckled.

My vest is from Cabela's ($79 on Sale) and is self inflating when submerged more than 18 inches. That means that if I slip or stumble but don't go under it will not pop open and scare the bejeebers out of me. It has not restricted my movements enough to notice a difference, yet.

 

[OnTheFly]

I've got an Onyx. It was a gift and until then I've never tried one on. They are comfortable to be worn all day IMO and I feel a little safer with it. What I need to do, and I recommend others do as well, is jump in the water (in the summer) and activate the CO2 to see how it operates. Also, practice locating the air stem and blow in air by mouth as well. A little rehearsing can save precious seconds if and when the time comes.

 

[GDBrown]

I've got an Onyx. It was a gift and until then I've never tried one on. They are comfortable to be worn all day IMO and I feel a little safer with it. What I need to do, and I recommend others do as well, is jump in the water (in the summer) and activate the CO2 to see how it operates. Practice locating the air stem and blow in air by mouth also. A little rehearsing can save precious seconds if and when the time comes.

Excellent idea, I'll try that first thing next spring. Do I need an extra CO2 cartridge with me?

 

[OnTheFly]

Excellent idea, I'll try that first thing next spring. Do I need an extra CO2 cartridge with me?

That was my thought. I plan to pick up a couple extra cartridges to experiment with.

 

[GDBrown]

So first thing next year...... Harriet Lake in January?

 

[OnTheFly]

So first thing next year...... Harriet Lake in January?

Haha....only if they can fit over a dry suit.

 

[mlw]

I have a Cabela's inflatable I got for for the boat, but sounds like a good idea for winter wading, particularly on the coastal rivers - heard too many stories of guys stepping into a hole. I inadvertently tested mine - got wet in the boat - so now I have it on manual for the boat, but can switch back to auto.
Michael

 

[brandon4455]

you know if i had the money for a small compact one i woudl msot definitely in rivers where it would be dangerous, but places like the crooked river there is no need for that unless you are at a rare deep are where you can't touch bottom.

 

[Irishrover]

I have one for my boat. I do not use it on the banks. I tested it out at a lake during the summer. It worked as well as any other life vest Ive tried out. If I really were in need of a life vest in a river I'd prefer one that might not pop if it came upon a sharp object. If my grandkids are with me on the river they wear a life jacket.

 

[Modest_Man]

you know if i had the money for a small compact one i woudl msot definitely in rivers where it would be dangerous, but places like the crooked river there is no need for that unless you are at a rare deep are where you can't touch bottom.

Any flowing water over knee deep can drown you, easier than you'd think. I raft with a guy who lost a buddy who was dumped out and tried to stand up in waist deep water, got his ankle caught between two rocks upstream with his head down stream and couldn't get his head out of the water and drowned in less than 3 feet of water.

I highly recommend that everyone do like On The Fly suggests, and float down sections of rivers to see how the currents work and practice floating feet downstream like you're sitting in a chair. I practiced this with a standard life vest this summer for a couple hours on the Rogue while someone else rowed my cataraft and it REALLY helps.

I should wear one on the river...

 

[FishFiddle]

I would not be without one, mine is a Stearns manual pocket vest, very comfortable. Waders, especially neoprene will float your legs and feet making it very difficult or impossible to stand even in shallow water with slick moss covered rocks and moving water, try it sometime. The most important statistic I want to be is another license sold by ODFW nest year!

 

[BigD]

I always wear one when I am in the boat, never wading in a river. I have a stearns manual one, never been tested, guess I should test it, seeing that it is 5 years old.

 

[cddunn]

i just bought one last week. There's been a few situations where I thought it would be a really bright idea to be wearing one, but probably won't anyway.

 

[halibuthitman]

I have actually used the mustang work suspenders in a real situation... and I assure you... they work flawlessly, and doubles as an effective harness for ariel lifts... how much is your life worth?

 

[halibuthitman]

remember, if you spend enough time "on" the water.... your gonna end up "in" the water, failing to prepare is preparing to fail- one of the saddest things ive ever done is gone to a funeral with nothing but a picture..