Hello from Zak in Mukilteo!

Hi All,

I moved from Vermont to Mukilteo a little over a year ago and am avid fly angler and fly tier. I'm active in the Washing Flyfishing Forum under the handle "Zak."

I am interested in nearshore fishing in the Sound in MA 9 and 10. While I have a sit on top kayak, I'll more likely be using my 14' rowing dory (pic attached).

I could use some help as I upgrade and buy gear to be safe on this bigger water. For starters, I need to upgrade my PFD. I am looking at the Stolquist Fisherman and the NRS Chinook OS. Do folks have a clear preference between the two, and why? Or another make and model I should look at? If I go with the Chinook OS, it comes in hot blaze orange or a more muted red/black. When I wade fish, I always wear muted drab greens and browns so as not to scare the fish. Is a neon PFD a good idea for safety reasons? I'd also use it for float tubing on still water, and am concerned that a hot orange PFD might scare the fish.

Thanks!

Zak

Welcome to the area and welcome to NWKA Zak! I saw your Location as "In a dory, hope that counts!", of course it counts. There is even a forum/subforum on "Other Paddlecraft (Canoes, rowboats, driftboats, rafts, and pontoons)", although it seems it has been a while since someone posted there:
https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?board=29.0

I, and maybe other members too, have a number of floating creatures that are kind of a hybrid platform (kayak + canoe + standup + boat, such as a NuCanoe) so the limits of one craft to another have blended somehow.
Nice looking rowing dory, I saw someone trolling for salmon in MA 10 in another rowing dory, close to Meadow point a couple of times this summer but I did not get to introduce myself, it looked like he was moving at a good pace for coho, I like the fact that unlike trolling from a kayak where the rod is on your side or back, in a rowing dory you can keep your eyes at all times on the rod, it should work. Something useful he had was a mirror, handy when fishing our sometimes crowded waters.

Regarding PFD, I am not familiar with those models, I am still using an old Loon low profile PFD, I would try your candidates on first and make sure that it doesn't interfere with your style of rowing. Color I don't think it as important as fit and comfort, when I need more visibility in the water I put on top of the PFD a neon high visibility reflective vest I got in goodwill for about $2. Hope to see you in the water sometime!

Skayaker2,

Thanks for the welcome, and the information and advice! Good call on trying them on, first.

Zak

https://kokatat.com/leviathan-lifevest-lvhlev

Been using this one for a few years, extremely comfortable. Forget I'm wearing it most of the time.

Workhard,

Thanks for recommendation, that looks Kokatat like a good one!