LIP GRIPPER YOUR PFD A PERSONAL
ADD FORCEPS AND CLIPPERS TO MAKE
FISHING DEVICE. PHOTO: JOE WINSTON
W
earing a personal floatation device (PFD) is first and foremost about safety, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable, stylish and rigged out, too.
Start by choosing a PFD that fits well and feels good. Try on several models, adjust
each to fit, sit in the kayak, make some paddle strokes, walk around the kayak shop and look at yourself in the mirror. Pull up on the shoulder straps to make sure the PFD won’t ride up in the water. Look for a life vest with a high back to accommodate a sit-on-top seat. Adjustment straps on the shoulders and sides will personalize the fit. A PFD will only work if the angler is wearing it, so get comfortable. When rigging up a PFD, first consider what safety equipment would be necessary if you should become separated from your kayak. On my vest, I carry a handheld VHF radio in one pocket and a compass, emergency whistle and small line-clippers in the other. For an extra level of safety, add a personal locator beacon to one pocket. I clip a waterproof LED light to the front of my vest, but anglers who fish at night should take along a compact signal strobe. Each piece of my safety gear is tethered with a 18-inch piece of parachute cord to a D-ring on the life vest. I also carry a pair of fishing pliers in a pocket on the front of my vest. The pocket has a clear flap that displays my In Case of Emergency card, which contains important informa- tion for first responders.
[R IGG ING]
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LIFE VEST BY JEFF HERMAN
PFD=PERSONAL FISHING DEVICE
Anglers who wade-fish from the kayak should choose a PFD with small tackle com- partments in the front. Wear the PFD while wading in case you step in a deep hole or get carried away by the current. Nothing should hang from the PFD that would interfere with a rescue. Pockets shouldn’t be so full of gear that they inhibit paddling or swimming and hooks should be stored where they can’t snag the angler. If you carry a safety knife, make sure it is in a sheath. New designs and modern technology have made life vests more comfortable and more effective than ever. Today’s foam vests distribute the floatation for maximum effect and comfort while inflatable vests are compact and reliable. Rigged up with the proper safety equipment, a PFD will do more than just keep you afloat in an emergency.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to read reviews of five of the hottest fishing PFDs.
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