Life Jackets

I see lots of comments on here about life jackets and kill switches but most of the time its after someone looses their life like the gentleman on lake fork the other day. . I wear mine anytime the big engine is running like a lot of yall do. .The question on my mind is how many of yall have ever worn one while on a guide trip . I have been on probably 8 guide trips and we never had one on even on the night trips i have been on .. I know its nobodys fault but mine for not wearing one but have never been asked by the guide i was with if we wanted one. I know some guides probably wear them but i fish fork a lot and see a lot of guides and their clients but i cant remember off the top of my head ever seeing a guide boat with them wearing them unless it is a kid in the boat with one on . Not trying to start a ruckus with the guides cause i got lots of guide friends .. You just nrver know whats gonna happen runnin the lake

I've always brought my own when fishing in other's boats.

I use to fish with guy that didn’t want get his out of box, I asked him one day why he don’t like wearing them and his answer was they get in the way while fishing. I have never figured that one out yet. I’m wearing mine and I’m going to put passenger out and it be up to them if they wear it or they have that I can swim attitude like most people you see without them on. My prayers go out to family of man at fork and all those who have lost love one over this. Would not hurt my feelings if they would pass law making it mandatory to wear one while big motor running.

Guides I've been with have their lanes marked and they take the same routes. Chances of hitting a stump are pretty low but I guess nothing if full proof. If the waves are down I don't usually bother to wear one with a guide although I guess I should. At night I certainly would.

Technically it's against the law to operate a boat without a kill switch attached to you, in the state of Texas

I spent 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard--believe me when I tell you a life jacket will save your life. We always wear our life jackets while running the big engine. I wear my inflatable ALL the time.

I was on a guide trip last week and the guide didn't wear a life jacket, but I did. Always wear one when I crank the outboard. Regardless of your lake knowledge, floaters can surprise you.

Doc

Same here. I go out with guides frequently and rarely do I see one of them wear one. I'm old and chicken, so I wear mine.

My inflatable is on from the time I leave the dock to the time I return and I forget I have it on. Kill switch is attached as well. My wife was with me on my last trip and she got to witness first hand seeing idiots not watching where they are going and cutting right in front of us. She could't believe it, I could, nothing new.

If I went with a guide and he DID HAVE HIS PFD ON, I’d be worried.

Your not allowed in my boat unless you plan on wearing one while the big engine is on.

2 Mustang HIT inflatables on my boat that are mandatory when the HPDI is running. 3 traditional PFDS for more people/backup (including child size jackets). I tell everyone that gets on the boat with me wearing a PFD is non negotiable, if you don't want to wear it, you don't get a ride and can fish from the shore.

So far no one has opted to fish from the shore.

Glad to see the "wear it or get out" type of rules when the big motor is running. That's been my rule for years.