Wear a life jacket? I was reading another post that asked if people wore their life jackets and was wondering why you wouldn't wear one. Is it a macho thing or do you just think its not cool looking to wear one? What is it?

I dont fish with one on unless the water is rough but it is right beside me at all times. BUT when i get the extra cash i am going to get an automatic vest and wear it all the time for sure. I will not get in the water without one on or holding on to one at all. I refuse to be found dead on the bottom of the lake! We hear about all these drownings every year that could have been prevented with a PFD! Does not matter whether your an olympic swimmer or not. Things Happen. So definately WEAR IT!

I don't think it really has anything to do with that. I wish they would just make it a law. It is part of the process in a tournament but I am as guilty as others for not doing it at times. I just get so caught up in trying to catch fish and have a good time. Plus I never go over 40 mph, but that is no excuse. I swam competitivley forever, but that is far from an excuse too.. It's usually the people that used to swim, that end up drowning.

I always wear one at night and when I fish by myself, but I need to get better at this habit.

im lazy.

I wouldn't see the need to actually wear one while I was stopped to fish unless it was a category 3 in which case my dumb butt would be at the house. Any other time I am in the boat the vest is on, especially if a child is with me.

Part lazy, part discomfort. Even the inflatables are something else I have to put up at the end of the day (I unload all sonar, rods, expensive stuff before tarping the boat every night). I've gotten to the point where I'm wearing it if the weather is bad, waves are big, or if I'm going to run much faster than a cruise. The inflatables make getting the habit a lot easier.

I don't like wearing them when I'm just riding or fishing. Not a good reason but that's my answer.

Does not need to be a law. Got enough of those and not enough people to enforce them.

agreed. law doesnt produce common sense...

Until i can afford an auto it is just bulky and annoying. I do wear it solo when running most of the time especially at night.

I was recently fishing a tourney wearing an auto and it sprinkled. POOF! The only thing missing was the rubber duckie head. Time for a new cartridge...

Back many years ago, I didnt wear one except during tournaments. But then I was young and dumb and , you know the saying. I wear mine all the time when fishing alone. I do have one of the Hydrostatic ones and you even hardly know you are wearing it. BTW. in Mississippi its the law to have it one any time the outboard is running, and if you dont its $500 for each person not wearing one.

You are one unlucky dude cus auto inflators trip from pressure not moisture.

incorrect blanket statement. only the HIT inflators and similar are hydrostatic. I have older SOSpenders that have a disk that dissolves in water, allowing the cartridge to be fired. moisture can deteriorate the disk.

You are correct BR, I should have qualified my statement.