PDF warning for Davis Lake, CA from CFFU

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Attention all Lake Davis anglers:

A few years ago I went on a camping/fishing outing in the Lake Davis area. While there, I went to Lake Davis to do some fishing. It was windy, I mean white cap windy therefor it was not a very enjoyable experience. When I got back to camp I got to talking to another fly fisherman about my experience at Lake Davis. This other fisherman told me when he was getting ready to enter Lake Davis with a float tube he was approached by a law enforcement officer and told that if he tried to enter Lake Davis without a PFD that he would be given a citation. I don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but take this information for what it's worth.

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PS: I believe you need to have any floatation craft registered with the "CA Dept of Motor Vehicles / Boats & Waterways" if you have an electric or gas motor on it.

[Scott V]

I have been told if you are in a float tube on any water you have to have a PFD with you.

[Troutstalker55B]

Bill,

That's a great reminder, I think everyone should have a PFD handy when on the water in ANY craft. It's common sense - Live to fish another day. I had a Caddis brand pontoon boat and the frame snapped in half while fishing the hex, I had no PFD and was lucky to be able to hold on to one pontoon and kick to shore. It really scared me and now when I'm in any pontoon or float tube I wear a PFD. I bought a nice comfy one that has pockets and converted it into a vest that holds two boxes of flies, tippet, nippers, forceps, and a fly patch. I even wear it when I fish the Pit, and it has saved my butt more than once.

Jon.

[wjorg]

I agree!

But I thought the float tube was the PFD? Maybe just in Oregon?

Though you had to have one on a pontoon boat but not float tube? If you fall out of a float tube, youve failed the test of natural selection.

But then again, as with fishing regs, you get a different interpretation and administration. And theyll write you a ticket these days for anything, too bad they only get like 3% if the citation....

[michaeln]

Bill, you might want to change the thread title... it says PDF instead of PFD.

[Specc]

I got checked last month while I was floating Davis, and was told that a PFD is required if you are 200ft or more off shore. Not a bad idea to where one anyway....I wasn't that day, but I was close to shore, so no citation.

[1flyfisher]

On davis I have been stopped a few times in the past and had to show my PFD to the sheriff. The sheriff has been out there a bunch this year. I have seen the boat a few times this year and a few times this past week. He stopped some guys near me earlier this year and checked them for pfd's. I have seen the sheriff give out a citation for a missing registration number on some guys motorized pontoon. Don't test them.


Get a good pfd. When you are crapping your waders getting blown across davis in your pontoon you'll wish you had one. You end up in the icy water in the fall with white caps breaking on your head, your waders filling up, hypothermia will drown you quick.

[FRSam]

I got checked last month while I was floating Davis, and was told that a PFD is required if you are 200ft or more off shore. Not a bad idea to where one anyway....I wasn't that day, but I was close to shore, so no citation.

I know this is what Brian, the boat cop, told me when we talked about it. I still think it's a good idea to have one on board or wear one like Jon suggested with the pockets so it can double as a vest.

Quite a few years ago, well before any of the treatments, I had the seat of a donut tube rip out on me in some pretty nasty weather on Davis. As I was hanging on kicking to shore dragging my line behind me I hooked a pig...we all made it to shore.

And as Paul suggested in the early spring or late fall that water is COLD and cold water will cramp up your muscles almost the minute you hit it. It's nice to have a backup - I'd also include a whistle.

Pete

[wjorg]

On davis I have been stopped a few times in the past and had to show my PFD to the sheriff. The sheriff has been out there a bunch this year. I have seen the boat a few times this year and a few times this past week. He stopped some guys near me earlier this year and checked them for pfd's. I have seen the sheriff give out a citation for a missing registration number on some guys motorized pontoon. Don't test them.


Get a good pfd. When you are crapping your waders getting blown across davis in your pontoon you'll wish you had one. You end up in the icy water in the fall with white caps breaking on your head, your waders filling up, hypothermia will drown you quick.


Waders filled with crap would drown me faster...

[RenoLipRipper]

I have heard that a PDF and whistle are required by law in some states.

Question? Do you think the inflatable seats in my Outcast Super Fat Cat could be considered a PDF?

A whistle would be nice to carry. Most of the lakes and times I fish now are when few if any boats are out. But when I fished Crowley, would have been a good thing to have just in case one of the guide boats happens to be concentrating on other things other than where they are going. I have had a popular guide firm in the Mammoth area come pretty close before, and imagine that, the owner whom did it is a licensed captain etc.. The intials are SD of his firm.

Check your local laws.

[michaeln]

Question? Do you think the inflatable seats in my Outcast Super Fat Cat could be considered a PDF?

You can consider them to be a loveseat if you like, but they sure don't come anywhere near qualifying as a USCG approved PFD legally.

PS: In spite of the fact that they probably provide more flotation than the average PFD that *is* approved.

[Dave E.]

See: http://library6.municode.com/default-test/DocView/13824/1/107/108#0-0-0-3111


See: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lakedavis/meetings/20040524.html

Heading: " New Business "

Best of luck, Dave

[michaeln]

Plumas County Code 10-1.18 states that any person on an air mattress or inner tube who ventures more than 300 feet from shore must be wearing a PFD.


I wonder if the Plumas County Sheriff would consider a float tube to be an inner tube, if it was one of the newer U-boat styles like an Outcast Fish Cat or Fat Cat?

My 'toon is a five chambered boat that is rated for Class V rapids and can carry 1300lbs. Would they consider that to be "an air mattress or inner tube" (the wording in that law)?

Seems like a lame law. If you are 298 feet from shore you don't have to wear your PFD, but if you are 2 more feet out you have to wear it. I wonder how the Sheriff in his boat is going to measure that distance?

I always have a PFD onboard, but I usually don't wear it. Note that the Plumas county law says you have to WEAR the PFD. If I got cited for having a PFD onboard but not wearing it I'd fight it in court.

[Fats]

I had catastrophic tube failure in a float tube once... a seam let go on the main inner tube and resulted in a 6" split. Needless to say, it deflated quickly. Luckily, the float tube had inflatable back rests (which floated) I was in neoprene waders (which floated) and I was wearing scuba fins which allowed me to cover the water quickly kicking back to shore.

I still like wearing neoprene when float tubing because the added floatation is nice and they are closer fitting than any breathable waders I know of. If I'm in a round float tube, I'm not too worried about it.

A U-Boat, Fat Cat or pontoon boat, I tend to throw one in just to avoid hassles.

[betty]

FYI:

I was escorted off Diamond Lake in Oregon this summer because I did not have my PFD on (in car, of course). Only got a warning citation, not a fine. My friend also was escorted off----his was at home, and had to go to lake store and rent one. The flotation cushion he sits on in his tube was not considered sufficient.

Made me feel dumb. When float tubing, anything can happen. A good idea to wear one always. I will from now on. Knew about the Davis regs---county law, I believe, says you must have one on.

Betty

[1flyfisher]

If anyone needs one, I have a Life Jacket for Sale.
It is an Extra Sport Life Jacket in size XL.
It should fit anyone that wears a large or xl shirt.
$35
I can email you a pic or you can see it on craigslist right here.

http://reno.craigslist.org/spo/1866904364.html