On 3/31/2025 at 12:37 PM, TnRiver46 said:

don’t know how, but Georgia is hotter than Florida and Alabama combined 

Had a buddy who moved to Georgia years ago who also spent some time in Florida. He always said the same thing. He described Georgia as “swampier”. 

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Had a buddy who moved to Georgia years ago who also spent some time in Florida. He always said the same thing. He described Georgia as “swampier”. 

I engaged in the strenuous activities of tailgating and golfing there and I was concerned with spontaneous combustion 

This is sad, always wear your PFD regardless but especially in cold waters.

 

From the PFD still on the kayak, it looks like a boat may have hit this guy or something happened quick and he didn’t have time to get it on.

If we get caught without a vest we get DQ'd. If we take a pic of the fish with no vest, the fish doesn't count and we get DQ'd. Can't always see your vest when camera is pointed at the fish on a Ketch board, but we've had some geniuses lay their vest in the kayak and take a pic of their fish with the vest in the background.

 

If we're putting on or taking off rain gear and have to remove the vest, we have to go to the bank. If someone sees you not doing that you get DQ'd.

 

I have an NRS I wear during cooler months and an auto inflate during warmer months. Mine will either auto inflate, pull a cord and inflate or a mouth tube to manually inflate. Our season opener is in March each year and I replace my cartridge each year before the first tournament.

 

My gym has an indoor pool and before I change out the cartridge I jump in and test the old one. May or may not help but gives me the warm and fuzzies. I will periodically jump in and go limp with my NRS just to see how it orientates me.

 

I don't worry as much about flipping, etc and being conscious as long as I have my vest on, which it's always on even when not in a tournament - it's if you black out, hit your head or go unconscious for whatever reason. You may float face down and drown, but at least you have a 50/50 chance with a vest on.

 

One other thing a lot of people don't think about is the rule of 120. If the water temp and air temp combined aren't at least 120*, it can be dangerous. If I'm in a kayak and it doesn't hit 120, I wear a wetsuit. The only issue is if you have to pee, you pretty much have to go ashore. If push come to shove I'd rather sit in a puddle of urine than die though.

jumping in with an inflatablevest is a nice idea.  nice to understand what to expect.