Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
August 24, 2025, 12:32:23 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Recent Topics

[August 22, 2025, 07:40:31 PM]

[August 20, 2025, 01:02:31 PM]

[August 19, 2025, 08:25:11 AM]

by PNW
[August 16, 2025, 10:51:59 AM]

[August 15, 2025, 05:52:58 PM]

[August 12, 2025, 06:14:41 PM]

[August 08, 2025, 12:28:19 PM]

[August 08, 2025, 11:19:57 AM]

[August 08, 2025, 11:11:23 AM]

[August 08, 2025, 10:59:41 AM]

[August 07, 2025, 07:03:21 AM]

by jed
[August 05, 2025, 07:31:48 PM]

[August 02, 2025, 05:52:47 PM]

[July 30, 2025, 08:15:00 AM]

[July 28, 2025, 04:41:44 PM]

Picture Of The Month



Guess who's back?
jed with a spring Big Mack

Topic: Best PFD  (Read 3097 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

New Guy

  • Plankton
  • *
  • Location: Tacoma WA
  • Date Registered: Feb 2016
  • Posts: 9
I am looking for a new PFD for fly fishing from my kayak.  Thought I'd ask the group what they thought was best.


DWB123

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Location: Seattle, WA
  • Date Registered: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 842
"best" is subjective. try a bunch on and see what works for you. Quality brands are Stohlquist, NRS and Kokatat, generally.


Tinker

  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • Kevin
  • Location: 42.74°N 124.5°W
  • Date Registered: May 2013
  • Posts: 3338
The one that works "best" for me for fly-fishing is the Kokatat Bahia Tour - but like DWB123 advises: what works best for me most likely isn't right for anyone else.

You really need to try them on, adjusted to fit, and go through your casting motion to see what happens.

I like the Bahia because it tends to stay put when casting and when fast stripping, and I don't use the Bahia's pockets for more than small emergency items - whistle, light, etc.  The downside to the Bahia is that the pocket for the VHF radio is high on the right side of the vest making me to adjust for some casts.

I have a Stohlquist Angler PFD that has more storage options and capacity - and the zip-down/out pockets can be handy - but on me, it shifts and rides up too often when I'm using the fly rod.  Not so with conventional gear.

I do not stand up to cast - that also makes a difference - but this is how they fit and behave on me.  Your experience will vary.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2016, 04:16:52 AM by Tinker »
The fish bite twice a day - just before we get here and right after we leave.


jsmccormick

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: Salem
  • Date Registered: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 230
2016 2nd Place Brownlee Crappie Shootout
2015 7th Place Boniville Bass Bonanza

2015 Hobie Revolution 13
2015 Hobie Oasis


 

anything