do many of you carry a VHF Radio? it sure seems a good safety feature, I guess, are there "responders" to distress calls on the Lakes?

I have the Lowrance VHF-880 installed on mine.

I have made only one distress call and it was on Lewisville. So as far as that lake goes - yes, there are responders.

Cell phones have kind of really cut down the use/need for them.

On my Cell phone I can pull up the national weather service and see the current radar/waring etc.....

If I need to talk to another fisherman on the lake - I just them on the cell phone.

The other day a boat was floating capsized (upside down) across that lake, I called (on the Cell Phone) to Oak Cove Marina - they called TPWD and within an hour they were out pulling the boat back to Oak Cove.

I have VHF radio on the baot but never use it anymore (obsolete).

thanks. I think I should just upgrade my cell phone then.

Cell phone coverage on lakes that are not close to a major metropolitan areas hit and miss at best. VHF responders aren't much better. Cedar creek has a coast guard auxiliary but I haven't had much luck on the other lakes. It�s a good tool, just depends on if someone is listening.

I have handheld VHF radio that I use in both of my boats.

Marine VHF is a great thing IF a lot of other users on the lake have it and monitor it. On the coast it is a valuable tool, but on most inland lakes it is not common. If you ever need to put out a Mayday call it is nice if many nearby boats can rush to your aid. Cell is good only if you can get a good signal and know who to call (and they respond). VHF is also a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to communicate with your buddies. Of course if you broadcast the fishing hole that is hot everyone else hears it too!

VHF's are far from obsolete. Sure, cell phones can do alot more but when minutes count the VHF wins hands down.

On many lakes(not all) there are people like me who have their radios on and can respond to a distress call in a moments notice.....911 will take an hour....best case.

Plus VHFs are free to operate.

If you have the $150 and a place to put one they are well worth the money.

I have a radio on my boat but never use it. Can someone tell me what station I should have it on.

I have to agree, cell phone coverage can be non existant at times. not to mention if it's soaked or on the bottom of the lake.

I wonder if its legal to use them just to call for a Tow back ?

Spro, monitor channel 16. It is the universal hailing channel and emergency channel. If someone calls you it will be on that channel and you then go to another channel to talk.

Channel 16 is for emergency calls ONLY. Channel 69 is for pleasure and 68 if for boat to boat. On lakes that many use the VHF, like Texoma, 68 & 69 can get a little cluttered so other channels can be used. But for all general calls, 68 and/or 69 will be used.

thanks very much.

Channel 16 is also the universal hailing channel. If someone calls you on 16 tell them to go to ch 68 or 69 or whatever channel you are using to talk. Don't talk on ch 16 other than that, but it is ok to use for that purpose. That way a large number of people are monitoring ch 16 (waiting to be hailed) and they will then hear a distress call should there be one. The US Coast Guard describes it as "International Distress, Safety and Calling"
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm

That's easy to remember. Thanks