Rods and Reels Don't Float

Nelson Sigelman of the Martha's Vineyard Times wonders why anglers will spend big bucks on rod, reel, and then skimp on the stuff that just might save their lives?

If you fall overboard...

"Would you rather be clutching an Orvis large arbor Battenkill fly reel, cost about $250, or wearing a Hodgman inflatable fly fishing vest, cost about $250?

Serious fishermen are serious about their tackle. Not as many are very serious when it comes to the purchase and use of equipment that could save their lives. And the unfortunate truth is that every year fishermen across the country lose their lives for less than the cost of a good fishing outfit"

The article is aimed at blue water anglers but the same tenets hold true for the tail race trout fisher. Check out this video of how well these PFD's work on the Mustang Survival website.

Friends of FlyfishMagazine.com who angle in some of the rougher parts of the world might be more comfortable in Mustang's Damage Tolerant Life Preserver.

"This life preserver can take a direct hit from a firearm or fragment and still inflate. The unique damage tolerant design makes this PFD well suited for use in high-risk tactical situations"

We have actually fished in a few places with our pals Paisley and Zugbug where these would have come in handy.