Northwest Fishing Reports

I do when in my toon always. I am always wearing hip or chest waders, if I go in and those suckers fill with water, I want all the floatation I can get immediately.

Yes, I wear a pfd always while in my tube. The first year I had it I admit I didn't wear one. And I was out on Lake Omak, Eastern WA. way the heck out there. I swim normaly about 75', that's it.
My thougths are if you are fishing then you have fish hooks all throughout the toon pockets. Sure, they are in containers or something. However stuff gets spilled, you are retying something and rest it on the toon, whatever. It is a potential to go "Pop"
Plus I believe that the law regarding PFD's is that they must be worn on all flotation devices. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on that.

quadradomus wrote: Plus I believe that the law regarding PFD's is that they must be worn on all flotation devices. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Hey Quad...good stuff. They are not required on float tubes or toons for that matter...correct me if I am wrong. I am glad we're all wearing our PFDs out there. Especially in Eastern Washington and in the winter on the westside where the wind kicks up and little mishaps can happen (with hooks, blown bladders, etc, etc).

Great topic KK.
I always try to wear one. I heard something that they are required in the salt but not required in lakes for non-motorized? I really don't know.

I try to wear one anytime I am on the water. Keyword being "try". Not always am I successful or follow through, though. I have changed styles of PFD's a couple of times. I started out with the CO2 inflatable vests that just seemed to get in the way and never really fit quite right. I bought the largest size they had...but still seemed too small. Since, I have changed to the CO2 inflatable worn around the waist. I figure it should work well...unless I am rendered unconscious for whatever reason.

I can swim quite well...however, if I am wearing my vest and waders...that in of itself will weigh me down quite a bit and make swimming any distance a bit of a challenge. If I'm knocked out before hitting the water...I'm pretty much screwed.

I started wearing a PFD in my float tube this year. I bought one that has straps over the shoulders and all the floatation is around your chest and back area. Hope it will keep me afloat with waders, Better than nothin !

I wear a PFD anytime I'm on the water except Ferry boats.Even then I try to locate them if G-d forbid its needed.I'm no Johnny Weismuller and can swim but not a strong swimmer I believe a PFD is always a wise choice.

ChrisB wrote:I started wearing a PFD in my float tube this year. I bought one that has straps over the shoulders and all the floatation is around your chest and back area. Hope it will keep me afloat with waders, Better than nothin !

Agreed. I have found Patagonia makes a great a couple vests that work well in a tube/toon. The new foam in their vests is good on the environment and keeps you afloat. It's a type III USCG vest, which I believe most are. What's nice about the Patagonia's are that they stop the floatation foam around the back-neck area so from about your shoulder blades down there is no foam (on your backside that is)... It makes it nice while moving about because your back is in contact with the tube's seat, not the foam of the vest on the seat (if that makes any sense :-).

Racfish is right.....I always check out the ferryboat PFD locations and always wear one when I'm in a small boat or fishing in the river. Years ago I taught senior lifesaving and was a lifeguard at several beaches and countryclubs. I was a great swimmer but I don't want to test it. PFD's are a cheap device to make it back to the beach, AOK!!!