No Life jackets

[camoman]

Recommendation, don't get an auto inflate one that works via a little thinger that dissolves and then inflates the jacket, those damn things are trouble waiting to happen, especially when they can end up somewhere that gets damp.

 

[Achucker]

I got two inflatabes so I make sure that my buddy wears one and is comfortable. I too wish that they make one for kids. A life jacket isn't mentioned to be a fashion statement. It's meant to be worn for when you need it and that you can return home and tell everyone what happened instead of them finding you days later!

 

[Traxion]

For anyone one that thinks they can swim well and don't need it, I can say that I wouldn't bet on it. I can swim like a fish, grew up in the pool. In high school, we decided to be idiots and jump out of the boat and swim to the dock on a rainy, windy spring day. Fully clothed, typical fishing gear. Right at the last minute, we put life jackets on. It saved my life. I have never been that scared, bobbing around in whitecaps barely able to swim. If I hadn't of put that jacket on, I would have drowned. The other idiots in the boat came back and got us. Water temp was low 60's, air temp the same. It was miserable. We often fish in way worse than that, don't just think of the hot summer days when it comes to life jackets. 3/4 of the time you are fishing you are dressed for death if you go in the water. Add in all the obstructions we fish around, DL, Oahe, etc. it only makes sense to wear them while underway. I wear mine most all of the time, especially if alone or in crappy conditions. It's your one shot if something goes wrong, get one that is comfortable and use it is my opinion.