OF COURSE! Tournament or not, whenever I start up the big motor, or if fishing alone, or in bad, windy weather, ALWAYS! And the KILL SWITCH must be tied on to my jacket. Not to wear one is stupidity. My passengers(s) have to wear one too.

Ever since I got thrown out of a bass boat in November without my vest on doing 35mph during prefish for a T I wear my vest every single moment the big motor is in gear everytime...Period.

I dont wear mine unless I am in a tournament, the winds are big, or its MAJOR cold out. I should wear it more and will wear it more than I did last year but on nice days with low winds and warm weather I am going commando!!!

Always promise my wife that I will wear the life jacket from the time I get in the boat until I am off the water when I go by myself. I always keep that promise. Now if someone is in the boat with me, I will wear it when the big motor is on, and depending on the weather, it usually comes off while fishing. I think I will look into the inflatables for more comfort.

I always were mine with the kill switch hooked up when the motor is running. Usually fish with without unless it is getting rough. Probably going to invest in some sospender type life vest soon, though.

i am guilty also of not wearing mine,all the time.if it is windy it is own.no excuses though,you never know when it could save your life.kill switch is own before big motor starts.even when i am by myself i put it on when i back in the water.just habit.then take it off when pulling truck up.

Got thrown out at 70...no kill switch, no jacket on...lucky to be here. Some of you guys know this story.

It's not if, but when gang. Don't tempt it....you really feel like a moron when your boat is cruising away from you and you have no choice but to yell for help.

My saying, clip it an click it.

MP

Guilty. I do not wear mine all the time. If I am going to make a run or fish a tournament I put one on. If weather is bad I put one on. If I am on the front of the boat it is probably not on. I did fish a tournament last year with high winds and I kept it on all day, only because it was hard just to stand in the front let alone fish and stand.

Gets kinda hectic, no?

I wear my Mustang auto inflate when running, but thats it.

Thanks to my grandpa teaching me that the most important thing about fishing was to respect the water. I always wear mine when under power. Also, I worked in a photo lab in the late 80's. A private investigator brought a roll of film in. I developed it. It was pictures of a guy that fell overboard on Fork near a ramp with no life jacket or kill switch. The boat did circles around him, filleting his legs and ultimately hitting him in the head. He died. I remember the pictures so vividly- like it was yesterday.

I'm not sure if I was right after his wife or just close, but when he called me and told me the story he was still driving home. The shock was still in his voice and it was hoarse from him screaming for his life. I'll never forget him telling me how stupid he felt watching his boat idle away from him with 6 PFD's on board.

I keep mine on, you can bank on it. Each time I get in the boat I recall that phone call.

Guys - go to the posting on Bass Fishing titled MEMBER MISSING AT LAKE FAIRFIELD -- especially you guys who NEVER wear one --

Al, it's apparent that many fishermen/fisherwomen don't think anything will ever happen to them. They reason: I'm an experienced bass boat jockey, or I'm a good swimmer, or I never fish alone, or... It's like Mike Prengler said, "it's not if, but when".

It sounds like several of you have had close calls and lived to tell about it, either from the grace of God, sheer dumb luck, or a combination of both. Me personally, I don't like having to rely on either one to kick in when I screw up. I think my guardian angel retired after my partying days ended..

For those of you that this post has made you stop and think - that's all I was hoping to achieve. I really don't want to have to read another story about a drowning that could be prevented so easily. Now maybe someday my luck will run out and I'll be the one, but I guarantee the official report will read "angler was wearing PFD".

Always wear jacket and kill switch when the engine is running.