[SEABASS4213]

Do any of u guys out there wear a life jacket while u guys are out fishing im only 17 and i usly go somewear by myslef and i wear one plus it makes my mom fell better just incase i do fall in the water
and do u guys think it would save u .

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

 

[FIJI]

If you're out there by yourself...how are you planning to get OUT of the water ?? Granted, you will likely not slip under the ice wearing the life jacket, but I can just about Gar-Un-Tee that you'll be stuck in that hole till someone finds you. The dive team will appreciate the thoughtfulness of making their recovery job easier.

It is amazingly difficult to get out without help.<don't ask how I know this !> LOL

Better idea yet (or at least in addition to the life jacket) is to carry something that will help you self-extricate. Carrying a loud safety whistle is another good idea.

Do mom (and yourself) a favor. Go pick up a couple of phillips screwdrivers, drill hole through the handle of each and tie a stout cord between them. Cord should be long enough to go around your neck and put the screwdrivers in your jacket pockets. Then If the unthinkable happens you'll be able to "ice-pick" a handhold to help pull you out before hypothermia sets in.

Don't leave home without it.

Remember the old adage..."There is no such thing as safe ice !".

 

[William H Bonney]

I know a guy that won't step foot out on the ice, without a life jacket, I'm talkin' one of those orange, canoe rental, life jackets.

Your best defense against something terrible happening while ice fishing or hunting or whatever,,,, is your HEAD!!!

Make sure you err on the side of caution,,, and for gods sake,,, if something does happen,,, DON"T PANIC!! Once panic sets in,,, your as good as dead. Use those "few" seconds you have to "evaluate" the situation and make a good decision, on how to "remedy" the situation.

 

[SEABASS4213]

Well when i mean i go off by myslef i mean the pond behind my house which my mom can see from the windo
the life jacket that i got is a bass pro shops vest it comfortable and warm plus it fits under my suit and i bought some of the ice picks for 3.oo trust me i used already it hard enough with even though but i wont step out on the ice without a life jacket either

 

[Rat City Hooker]

Bought a pair of inflatable suspenders to fish the big water alone last year.Almost went over board the year before,by myself after dark. Plan on wearing them for icefishing.Does anyone know if I will have trouble with inflation due to the cold?

 

[Frantz]

I wear a self inflating set of suspenders, alone or not. They are light weight and you and everyone else barely know they are on. I use the same ones for summers on the boat and when out on the river in waders. It works great, last spring I got a little to cocky and lost footing on the muskegon and my waders filled and I went for a ride down river. I pulled the ripcord and the ride was a lot better as I was mostly floating till I got to some shallows.

 

[Hunt4Ever]

I do a couple of things:

1. I wear a life jacket walking to and from my fishing spot. It's under my coat and helps keep me warm too. I take it off when I get set up and in my shanty.

2. I NEVER am the FIRST one on the ice or the LAST one off.

3. I like to walk in a previously made path. Foot steps will work, but a snomobile or ATV is better.

I saw two ATV's go through the ice on Brest Bay last year a good mile or two out. They were not using their previous path and hit some thin ice. They were running a shuttle out to Stoney Point.

 

[Rich M]

I wear a vest while I'm scouting. When I'm sure everything is safe I'll take it off but I stick to the paths I've spudded along. And I always carry ice awls. The best safety item is using good judgement. Learn to read the ice by going out a lot and never take chances.

 

[JJ Mac]

I carry the ice picks and also put a throwable floatation device tied to a rope inside my sled. The ice picks are to help myself and the throwable is to save someone else without making me get too close to where they went in.

 

[river_walleye]

I own the SOSpenders that Rat City Hooker is talking about. You can wear them over your clothes, NOT under. Never had to use them, hope I never do either.
Too bad Rat City Hookers rod wasn't wearing one of those life jackets yesterday

 

[kwick65]

i've never heard of those suspenders. what do they cost, and does anyone know if they come in kids sizes. I take my son out with me quite often, and I always am a little nervous with him out there. We both use the picks. I never really thought about life jackets.

 

[river_walleye]

Kwick, check Cabelas and Bass Pro. Mine were like $100 or so. Stearns makes SOSpenders www.sospenders.com you would have to check on the kid sizes..

 

[Ed Michrina]

I always used to wear a thin vest type life jacket under my coat.

I now owne a Mustang survival flotation suit. It's warm and can give me up to 1 to 6 hrs. in the water depending on the temp. I also carry a pair of ice spikes/ small flares / small strobe / light /compass and a cell phone inside a ziplock bag.

Just a thought if you go in the drink and activate the inflatable life jacket will it make it harder to get out of the hole while inflated?

This is a little tip. As soon as your out of the water and on safe ice, remove the car keys from your pocket and hold them in your hand. By the time you get to your car you pockets will be frozen shut and your hands will not be nimble . Stay Dry, Good fishing.

 

[WDGibby]

Ed

Thanks alot. sounds like good advice to me. Especially the part of the car keys. Never did think of that.

Gibby