I would rank getting away from other anglers and fishing uncharted waters as the number one reason, I go fishing from a kayak. Every stroke of my paddle takes me farther and farther away from civilization and closer to nature. Kayak fishing gets me right down on the water’s surface. Often, I can feel the cool water embracing my skin as I push on the paddle moving me forward. Nevertheless, I never venture out until after my Mustang Survival Deluxe Sportsman’s Vest is on.

Anyone who has ever gone fishing in a kayak knows that tipping over or getting swamped by a wave is a possibility. The reality of real danger in those situations is hypothermia or drowning if you are not wearing a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Unfortunately, many  anglers who fish from a kayak choose not to wear a PFD because of a number of reasons including too bulky, rigid, heavy, and just uncomfortable to wear. Of course your PFD will not keep you from drowning if it’s on the bottom of the kayak or stored under the seat. That’s why I love the Mustang Survival’s MV5901 Deluxe Sportsman’s Vest (http://www.mustangsurvival.com/). It is loaded with features that make me want to wear it including:

• Low-profile construction
• Slim Design and flexible foam cut
• Large beveled cargo pockets with secure closures
• Various attachment points
• Multiple adjustment points
• Rugged construction

The Deluxe Sportsman’s Vest was designed to be comfortable to wear on those extended paddling trips down the river or on the lake. That’s important when you don’t want to hassle with taking on and off your PFD. The truth is most anglers take their PFDs off because they are not comfortable. It’s hard to adjust some PFDs. They were made, but not designed to fit the contours of the angler’s body. On the other hand, the Deluxe Sportsman’s Vest has multiple adjustment points. Is it too tight on the shoulders, arms, or chest? There are multiple adjustment straps in all these locations with protective webbing to keep the straps from scratching or rubbing the angler. Its overall slim design makes it easy to cast without hindering your range of motion making it easier on both the shoulders and arms. The open cut design also eliminates chafing under the arms; no doubt, anglers will appreciate that. Other features of the Deluxe Sportsman’s Vest are large beveled pockets for holding all your fishing tackle or supplies, lots of attachment points to hold your fishing net or tools, and heavy duty construction to increase its durability.

When selecting your PFD an angler should check for the right size. The PFD should fit snug enough so it will not pull off over top the head and shoulders. It should be comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time when paddling or fishing.

After each trip out an angler should check their PFD’s for:
* Rips, holes, or tears
* Damage to buckles, seams or straps
* Signs of water logging, mildew, shrinkage or hardening of the buoyant materials
If it shows any of these signs the PFD should be replaced with a new one.

There are a number of things an angler should do when they are done fishing for the day with their PFD. Let it dry before putting it away. Always store it in a cool, well ventilated area. Anglers shouldn’t  alter,  modify, or have  their PFD dry cleaned, they shouldn’t leave it out in the sun for extended periods of time, don’t put heavy objects on it or use it for a boat fender, or don’t use it to kneel or sit on.

Getting away from the crowds and finding unmolested water is easy to do when you go kayak fishing. It’s amazing how many backwater areas there are to fish really close to home, but no one goes there because it requires a kayak or canoe to get back to where the good fishing is located. Anglers just have to keep in mind to wear their PFD while paddling and fishing in these waters since no one is usually around to render assistance should the kayak tip or swamp. The best part is the new PFD’s are more comfortable to wear, have pockets for storage areas, and allow for unrestricted movement of arms and shoulders. Just remember, every stroke of the paddle takes you farther and farther away and closer to the honey hole where the big fish live.