Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some feedback on how many of you guys and gals use some kind of pdf while in the water? Also how many use wader, and do you think a pdf would help out if your waders filled up with water? I used to do allot of wading the rivers for trout and smallmouth bass fishing in the past but never wore any kind of pdf but the older I get the more cautious I get. I have been looking at a fishing vest pfd which might serve double duty as for storage and pfd. Thanks all and HH.
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personal flotation devices and waders
- Thread starter pointer80
- Start date
Scubadetector who used to post here very frequently would tell you to get one and use it! He's lost a few aquaintances due to drowning in their waders.
That being said, I don't use one and probably never will. Like you, I've been in waders a lot during my life, trapping, fishing, smelt seining etc. Damn near died falling through the ice on a river in them once, could not pull myself up on the ice and the current was pulling me under the ice once the waders filled up. I took a deep breath, let go of the ice and let the current take me downstream a little where I knew it was shallow enough for me to get my feet on the bottom and push myself up through. It was only about a 20' float under the ice, and I was not scared as I remember, just mad that I was now soaked and it was a long hike back to the truck. I don't think a PFD would have helped in that situation, except for an easy body recovery. I think it would depend upon the situation, If I was wading in a fast river salmon fishing in AK, with the current constantly changing a gravel bottom and the water was very cold, I may be inclined to put one on. When a guy hooks a big salmon, things get tricky in deep fast water...The worst thing I deal with is waves coming in over the top, but I can handle that. If you think you are in a treacherous area it would probably be a good idea.
Mud
That being said, I don't use one and probably never will. Like you, I've been in waders a lot during my life, trapping, fishing, smelt seining etc. Damn near died falling through the ice on a river in them once, could not pull myself up on the ice and the current was pulling me under the ice once the waders filled up. I took a deep breath, let go of the ice and let the current take me downstream a little where I knew it was shallow enough for me to get my feet on the bottom and push myself up through. It was only about a 20' float under the ice, and I was not scared as I remember, just mad that I was now soaked and it was a long hike back to the truck. I don't think a PFD would have helped in that situation, except for an easy body recovery. I think it would depend upon the situation, If I was wading in a fast river salmon fishing in AK, with the current constantly changing a gravel bottom and the water was very cold, I may be inclined to put one on. When a guy hooks a big salmon, things get tricky in deep fast water...The worst thing I deal with is waves coming in over the top, but I can handle that. If you think you are in a treacherous area it would probably be a good idea.
Mud
I've never used waders, so you guys tell me if I am full of it here:
Would it help to tightly cinch a belt over the waders at about breast (or waist) level to keep the water from getting in? Even if all it does is slow the water, that might be the difference.
Thinking about this, it might provide buoyancy with the trapped air in the waders, but you could counteract that with a quick release scuba weight belt.
Would it help to tightly cinch a belt over the waders at about breast (or waist) level to keep the water from getting in? Even if all it does is slow the water, that might be the difference.
Thinking about this, it might provide buoyancy with the trapped air in the waders, but you could counteract that with a quick release scuba weight belt.
Good subject guys. I never wore waders until I bought my AT-Pro. Then, bought some used chest waders that didn't have the belt with them. Thought it'd be a good idea to have a belt so got one with d-rings on it and now use the waders with the belt cinched up pretty tight. My son saw me in the water one day and said, "Be careful Dad. Those things fill up with water and they'll take you under." I'm thinking that in a lake where the water is not moving, I'd be able to swim away from a hole before they could fill up with the belt so tight. Am I thinking right?
I rarely use my waders while detecting anymore, but when I do I wear an inflatable pfd if the conditions warrant one. I don't think it would be possible to go very deep if I had the bouyancy of foam PFD to deal with. I actually use a weight belt most of the time to be able to apply more pressure to the scoop in deep water.
togamac said:
Depends on what type of waders they are. Neoprene waders will actually make you float, but they make swimming difficult. Breathable and canvas waders won't really "take you under", but what they will do is make it difficult to make forward motion while swimming. If anything happens the most important thing to do is not to panic! If something happens ditch your scoop and detector (You can always come back for those). Remember in most situations while wading you're probably only a couple feet from the safety of shallower water.
bootyhoundpa
Well-known member
i only use waders-neoprene- when hunting the swimming areas of my local lakes,which i am very familiar with...besides i can always tell what the bottom coditions ahead of me are like just by dragging my coil over it.... if the water is so cold that i must wear waders then im probably not gonna go much deeper than 2 or 3 inches above my belly button,any deeper than that my hands will get and stay wet causing me to cut my hunt short.... i do also sometimes wear them the very few times i make it out to the shore during colder months...but even then im only wearing them so i can hunt the surf line..... i am not educated in such matters but maybe a dry suit would be more appropriate if you have a strong desire to hunt the deeper water during cold months,that way you could stay dry and still wear a floatation device..... sometimes in the fall when the water at the lakes is getting really chilly but not untollerable i will hunt the shallower water with waders on then go back out to hunt the deper water during the mid afternoon with my shorty wet suit on,... i usually get 1 or 2 good hours in till i start getting too cold and then drive home with the heater on.....good luck and be safe...
This past early spring I picked up an inflatable pfd on sale. Have not used it yet, but the last time I got tumbled by a hard wave chop last fall, I did not find the surface as quickly or as easily as I wanted. Got me thinking about using the pfd and I started looking for a good sale. If I were to hunt streams with fast current, I certainly would think about wearing a pfd.
As to sinking you, if you are in the water without waders, you are surrounded by water. If you are in waders and get them filled with water you are surrounded by water, just have a little more drag. Biggest issue would be in fast moving water and not being able to find your feet. Somewhere out there is a video of a guy jumping into a swimming pool with waders and swimming around demonstrating that they really don't drag you to the bottom; in fact many of them are a bit buoyant.
I use waders when it is cool enough to not roast in them and when it is cold with some layers on under the waders. I have a shorty wet suit and a thin full length wet suit or a swim suit and boots for conditions too warm for the waders.
When the air and water are cold, I use the waders and trapper gauntlets with a small bungee cord to keep the gauntlets pulled up. As long as I don't hunt deeper than mid-stomach in the water that set up stays dry and warm. I only hunt fairly calm water with this set up and don't try to fight waves where getting rolled is likely. If I get a deal on a survival suit (like OldBeechnut has suggested many times!) I may forgo the waders and gauntlets.
Picture is of the gauntlets I currently have and the short bungee.
Cheers,
tvr
As to sinking you, if you are in the water without waders, you are surrounded by water. If you are in waders and get them filled with water you are surrounded by water, just have a little more drag. Biggest issue would be in fast moving water and not being able to find your feet. Somewhere out there is a video of a guy jumping into a swimming pool with waders and swimming around demonstrating that they really don't drag you to the bottom; in fact many of them are a bit buoyant.
I use waders when it is cool enough to not roast in them and when it is cold with some layers on under the waders. I have a shorty wet suit and a thin full length wet suit or a swim suit and boots for conditions too warm for the waders.
When the air and water are cold, I use the waders and trapper gauntlets with a small bungee cord to keep the gauntlets pulled up. As long as I don't hunt deeper than mid-stomach in the water that set up stays dry and warm. I only hunt fairly calm water with this set up and don't try to fight waves where getting rolled is likely. If I get a deal on a survival suit (like OldBeechnut has suggested many times!) I may forgo the waders and gauntlets.
Picture is of the gauntlets I currently have and the short bungee.
Cheers,
tvr
I am a retiredfirefighter. In my career, I made probably 50 drownings. Out of those 50, not ONE thought they might die. 3 of those 50 had chest waders on. All of tem I bet thought they would be fine....
My point to all would be this. You have no clue what you might or might not do under emergency/panic conditions. You just don't. You have only one physical life. PERIOD. Why take a chance.
Autoinflating PFD's are not all that expensive. They are certainly cheap enough if they save your life.
I would offer this.....DON'T BE STUPID. DON'T TRY AND BE MACHISMO.
It is just like a seatbelt in a car. You rarely need it, but brother, when you do.........
Get a PFD and wear it anytime you are in the water hunting.
HH
Dennis afloat
My point to all would be this. You have no clue what you might or might not do under emergency/panic conditions. You just don't. You have only one physical life. PERIOD. Why take a chance.
Autoinflating PFD's are not all that expensive. They are certainly cheap enough if they save your life.
I would offer this.....DON'T BE STUPID. DON'T TRY AND BE MACHISMO.
It is just like a seatbelt in a car. You rarely need it, but brother, when you do.........
Get a PFD and wear it anytime you are in the water hunting.
HH
Dennis afloat
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
My setup for the bay, drysuit when needed, stocking foot chest waders w/belt most of the time, Streans PFD manual inflate fishing vest with lots of pockets. miller scoop, wet shoes, floating non metal sifter, PP probe, a pouch somewhere in the mix and a very large trash bag for striping down and transport of the wet gear till can wash all off. The reason I don't wear a wetsuit or just shorts....vibrio/bacteria
Rainyday101
New member
When I am in a river in cold water and many times with ice still on parts of the river I wear a PDF fishing vest. During this time the river has some really swift current. I don't use a manual or auto inflate, just a regular fishing vest. You can still go plenty deep with a fishing vest on. During the conditions I described I only go just a little past my waste max and usually not that. Also a wader belt is a good idea. In the summer I don't wear waders, just shorts and aqua shoes and a t-shirt. On sand beaches like we have on the great lakes you can walk out half a mile by us and only be arm pit deep. I don't wear a life vest with my waders then. If the waves are big I usually never go past waist deep.
IF IN DOUBT PUT A FLOTATION DEVICE ON! For cold rivers the floatation device is a must. If you are at a lake beach and are in any way umfamiliar with the beach put the flotation device on. Most inland lake beaches I go on are shallow and don't have any deep drop offs. If there were drop offs my PFD would be on- period!
I don't use neoprene because they are too hot in the summer. I have a light weight pair of Frogg Toggs that I can wear in summer and spring. In the spring I wear long underwear and insulated wading pants and many layers of shirts. With all this weight a PFD is a must to use. Also when buying waders make sure they have the plastic release clips that can be undone quickly if needed. In cold water limit your hunting only to shallow safer areas and stay clear of any drop offs. In cold water avoid any spots that are not nice sandy areas with sure footing.
If you go under, drop the gear, and don't panic. With a wader belt the waders will not fill up instantly and the air trapped inside is bouyant.
Good luck and ALWAYS error on the side of safety.
IF IN DOUBT PUT A FLOTATION DEVICE ON! For cold rivers the floatation device is a must. If you are at a lake beach and are in any way umfamiliar with the beach put the flotation device on. Most inland lake beaches I go on are shallow and don't have any deep drop offs. If there were drop offs my PFD would be on- period!
I don't use neoprene because they are too hot in the summer. I have a light weight pair of Frogg Toggs that I can wear in summer and spring. In the spring I wear long underwear and insulated wading pants and many layers of shirts. With all this weight a PFD is a must to use. Also when buying waders make sure they have the plastic release clips that can be undone quickly if needed. In cold water limit your hunting only to shallow safer areas and stay clear of any drop offs. In cold water avoid any spots that are not nice sandy areas with sure footing.
If you go under, drop the gear, and don't panic. With a wader belt the waders will not fill up instantly and the air trapped inside is bouyant.
Good luck and ALWAYS error on the side of safety.
Not a water MDer YET--BUT a long time fisherman.
ALWAYS wear a belt or two with waders. The two main issues with water inside waders are- air trapped in the legs will lift them to the surface. And being able to get out of the water. If your waders are full of water and you manage to get you feet down it will be awkward but you can still swim. The water has a neutral weight as long as you a IN the water. BUT you will feel the full weight once you try to LEAVE the water. 8lbs per gallon-even with a PFD is a real drag. Cold water makes it-well even more dangerous & difficult to get out.
I fish at night so I always move slow & deliberatly and slide my lead foot along the bottom.
PFD-always a good choice. With a belt-the best choice.
Cold water-just use a regular PFD (non inflatable) You shouldn't be going over waist deep with waders anyway. A regular PFD will remind you by pushing up if you go deeper than your waiste.
If you want to go deeper than that-you need something other than waders.
And the POOL video has been discussed many times on fishing sites. There is NO current or waves in a pool.
ALWAYS wear a belt or two with waders. The two main issues with water inside waders are- air trapped in the legs will lift them to the surface. And being able to get out of the water. If your waders are full of water and you manage to get you feet down it will be awkward but you can still swim. The water has a neutral weight as long as you a IN the water. BUT you will feel the full weight once you try to LEAVE the water. 8lbs per gallon-even with a PFD is a real drag. Cold water makes it-well even more dangerous & difficult to get out.
I fish at night so I always move slow & deliberatly and slide my lead foot along the bottom.
PFD-always a good choice. With a belt-the best choice.
Cold water-just use a regular PFD (non inflatable) You shouldn't be going over waist deep with waders anyway. A regular PFD will remind you by pushing up if you go deeper than your waiste.
If you want to go deeper than that-you need something other than waders.
And the POOL video has been discussed many times on fishing sites. There is NO current or waves in a pool.
HendersonHunter
New member
Try Walmart, if you dare!