PFD – Extrasport Osprey

Here is my trusty PFD, I’ve been paddling with this for quite a while now and I believe it’s one of the best PFDs around for the kayak fisher, why? Several reasons but the most important is simply because of the pockets, it enables me to keep all the stuff I need on hand at ALL times.

Other reasons include;

• It’s bright, helps me to be seen on the water and that’s always a good thing
• It’s comfortable, needs to be when I’m spending six hours or more on the water at any one time
• The baja back, this simply means the lower half of the back section has thinner foam in it which means your seat it’s pushing your forward all the time
• All the storage
• Oh and did I mention all the pockets..?

So what do I keep in those pockets? Well to start I don’t keep any fishing tackle in them, I keep the things that a) I need with me and b) the things I don’t need all the time, those things are kept in the kayak, I don’t want to be continunally opening and closing zips…

Large front right pocket

• PLB (Personal Locator Beacon – same as an EPIRB), I should NEVER need this but if i do it MUST be with me and not the kayak…
• VHF Radio – my Uniden Voyager lives in here, always switched on scanning channel 16, 8 and the local Coastguard channel
• Whistle No.1

Large left pocket

• Mobile phone – my semi waterproof mobile phone lives in here, use it for TXTing while on the water if there is coverage
• Camera – my Olympus 790SW lives in here – has to be the best range of cameras for kayaers, fully waterproof without any bulky covers etc
• Whistle No.2

Small top right pocket

• Emergency knife – small stainless steel knife in case of trouble – not for cutting braid and mono…

All other pockets, distributed throughout the other pockets will be

• Balance Energy Gel packs – to keep me going, these are just tubes of not bad tasting gel for carbs replacement
• Mini Mars or Moro bars – for that instance sugar fix while paddling
• Museli bars, good for a quick feed

Cheers, Jason