Thinking about past experiences on the river and semi-close calls . . . maybe it's time to start wearing a life jacket while running up/down the river on the trapline.

I don't want to be wearing something bulky. Something that will self-inflate if necessary. Something that I might not even notice I'm wearing some of the time.

Recommendations?

Do a goggle search. There are all kinds of manual and automatic inflatable PFDs.

When I’m running the bayous I would never trust an auto inflate I got one life don’t want an expired co2 cartridge to decide when it’s over. I commercial fish catfish and crawfish run nets and lines .wear a vest that actually works. You won’t worry about bulky if your dead . And for all those I can swim like a fish. Like I tell my kids you can’t swim if your knocked out. Just my 2 cents don’t trust something that only inflated when you go x amount of feet under

Mustang. Commercial fish for a living and we fish a few places that we are either required be law or situations when you would have to have a death wish not to wear one. All the regular inflatables like the bass guys wear have been unreliable at best. Mustang is what all the coast gaurd and government employees we've been around wear so we switched. Expensive but its the only ones I trust as much as a regular life jacket.

Also, not sure how bundled you are while trapping but may be worth looking into a float jacket. They are a little bulky but no worse than a winter coat and they're warm as heck. Could work as your trapping jacket/life vest in one, at least while make long runs.

I second the mustang float coats well worth the money

All the auto inflate vests are problematic, they have a tendency to blow up in wet and humid conditions, then you have to buy a rearm kit... and you never know the condition of the CO2 cartridge, they aren't bulky though, and you can blow them up by mouth...if you're conscious...
The various Mustang products are the gold standard... I've never wore anything commercial fishing, but probably should...

There are some Neoprene float jackets that are much less bulky and will float you, plus they're waterproof...just hard to get one that fits good, but that might be an option, Not Coast Guard approved though as a life jacket

Thanks, much appreciated, I'll check out the Mustangs.

I don't recommend any inflatable PFD's. I once went to replace the CO2 cartridge on a Mustang PFD and found that the old one had unscrewed its self.
We wear PFD's full time while commercial fishing, even on flat calm days, we need to have 100% confidence in our PFD's; self inflatables do not provide that.
I have four friends who have drowned over the past 15 years. This is one subject that I will not compromise over.

Mustang makes jackets so you can move around in them freely. the best fitting one that I have tried. I did not know that they made inflatable ones, mine is a real one......jk

Which one do you wear if I may ask. Too many choices . . .

I wore a Mustang float coat and suit at times when I was out on the Aleutians. I bought a Mustang jacket, it is waist length for in the boat here. Mustang coat and suit. I only wore the suit when we were running long distance in the skiff.

Mustang brand. But I have one of their blue bomber jackets, similar to the one the Coast Guard wears. I like it a lot. And I have two parka float coats and a few Mustang work jackets and suits like Marks above. But the new Bomber Jacket from Mustang is my favorite now. You can wear the bomber jacket all day and you won't know you have it on. It's that comfortable. Get one and wear it. It will get more comfortable as you break it in. Then it's like a glove.

I have used inflatables for work and pleasure for at least 20 years. Positively saved my life one time. Would not be without one. Worked flawlessly when I needed it. Went off another time went I went in but it wasn't a life or death situation but it did work. The automatic ones I have had also have a pull cord.

How about the Striker Shield Float vest? I like the idea of sleeveless to allow wearing of gauntlets.

https://www.strikerbrands.com/colle...GQjkwS5PgkEqJUA1lj4Nrx85ZJq88WjGyFn5C-dw

These are the ones we use, from West Marine. On the little square, lopsided black thing on the papel (wearer's upper left) we zip-tie a small, sheathed, serrated, Victorinox knife, the second most important safety item after your PFD.