Below Buford Dam-PFD required when wading?

sparsehackle · 08-19-09, 10:56 PM

I've fished a few times lately between Buford Dam and Bowman's Island. I've noticed that virtually none of the wading fishermen wear PFD's. I'm sure that PFD's are required if you're in a tube or any kind of boat, but I'm not clear on the regs when wading without a floating craft of any kind.

Does anyone know the "law" on this?

Buck Henry · 08-19-09, 11:27 PM

Hey Sparse, long time no see! I am pretty sure that if you are in the water between the dam and the Hwy 20 bridge, the law requires you to be wearing a class III PFD. I do not think it matters whether you are in a boat, or tube, or just wading.

SlowStreamer · 08-19-09, 11:32 PM

If you listen to the COE recording (770-945-1466) for water releases below Buford Dam it clearly states that below the dam to hwy 20 bridge PFDs are required.

I fish there often and I always wear a PFD if, I'm wading or floating in a tube or toon. The PFD I have is a vest type making it a bit more practical for me.

I've been below the dam when they've had an unscheduled emergency water release, and if your not near one of the take out trails you will be glad you had a PFD on. The water comes up fast and in no time it goes from wadeable to "Hasta la vista baby".

huntfish · 08-20-09, 06:27 AM

[quote=SlowStreamer;544577]If you listen to the COE recording (770-945-1466) for water releases below Buford Dam it clearly states that below the dam to hwy 20 bridge PFDs are required.

I fish there often and I always wear a PFD if, I'm wading or floating in a tube or toon. The PFD I have is a vest type making it a bit more practical for me.

I've been below the dam when they've had an unscheduled emergency water release, and if your not near one of the take out trails you will be glad you had a PFD on. The water comes up fast and in no time it goes from wadeable to "asta la vista baby".[/QUOTE]

The ole "Hoochie Bobber" Interesting ride but not fun....

esb's daddy · 08-20-09, 06:50 AM

Not only is it the smart thing to do, but I have also heard that it is at least a $75 fine.

benvan · 08-20-09, 09:52 AM

yep a pfd is required as I found out the hard way. The dnr guys came out in a canoe and wrote me a 75 dollar citation that made for a bad day of fishing. It was my first time fishing there, and I was very uneducated on the dam any way. I arrived and a heavy fog had the RED signs That state a PFD is required obscure and unreadable(actually I never saw them till the fog lifted.) Well when the fog lifted I was out fishing and the warden was out writing tickets...

Wear a vest

Trout8myfly · 08-20-09, 10:10 AM

Russ, that's Hasta la vista baby...

And yes, PFDs are required, wading or floating.

Which prompts a question based on failing memory - are the tubers wearing PFDs? Because a few months ago B Kar Ma, Chuck Morris and myself helped some yakkers off the Hootch near the Hatchery when the sirens started up - and I don't recall that they had any PFDs with them, let alone wearing.

SlowStreamer · 08-20-09, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trout8myfly

Which prompts a question based on failing memory - are the tubers wearing PFDs? Because a few months ago B Kar Ma, Chuck Morris and myself helped some yakkers off the Hootch near the Hatchery when the sirens started up - and I don't recall that they had any PFDs with them, let alone wearing.

Yes, they do

I know this for a fact cause 2 weekends ago a nice young coed in a float tube went through shoals and slipped off tube. Her top was snagged in the PFD that was not securely fastened. As she went under her PFD came off over her head along with her top

.
She was very very cold to say the least

. I was just down stream in my usual early morning spot and caught the tube and pfd with attached article of clothing and walked them back up to her.

Buck Henry · 08-20-09, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowStreamer

I was just down stream in my usual early morning spot and caught the tube and pfd with attached article of clothing and walked them back up to her.

OK Mr. Shutterbug, where are the pics of this event!

SlowStreamer · 08-20-09, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck Henry

OK Mr. Shutterbug, where are the pics of this event!

I knew that would be the next question. Since this is a kid friendly site I can not post it

Actually, the thought crossed by mind to just flip to video mode and let it roll, but as a father of a little girl my conscious would not let me do it. Also my hands were full with fly rod, pfd and tube, and I had to do everything I could to keep from grinning

.

08-19-09, 10:56 PM	#1
sparsehackle Native Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lawrenceville, GA USA Posts: 338	Below Buford Dam-PFD required when wading? I've fished a few times lately between Buford Dam and Bowman's Island. I've noticed that virtually none of the wading fishermen wear PFD's. I'm sure that PFD's are required if you're in a tube or any kind of boat, but I'm not clear on the regs when wading without a floating craft of any kind. Does anyone know the "law" on this?

08-19-09, 11:27 PM	#2
Buck Henry Former NGTO President Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 8,656	Hey Sparse, long time no see! I am pretty sure that if you are in the water between the dam and the Hwy 20 bridge, the law requires you to be wearing a class III PFD. I do not think it matters whether you are in a boat, or tube, or just wading. __________________ Buck Henry Simple Goat Herder Former NGTO President Hall of Fame Member

08-19-09, 11:32 PM	#3
SlowStreamer Chief Information Officer, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Ga Posts: 6,180	If you listen to the COE recording (770-945-1466) for water releases below Buford Dam it clearly states that below the dam to hwy 20 bridge PFDs are required. I fish there often and I always wear a PFD if, I'm wading or floating in a tube or toon. The PFD I have is a vest type making it a bit more practical for me. I've been below the dam when they've had an unscheduled emergency water release, and if your not near one of the take out trails you will be glad you had a PFD on. The water comes up fast and in no time it goes from wadeable to "Hasta la vista baby". __________________ Nothing is impossible the impossible just takes a little longer. So take your time and enjoy the experience. Last edited by SlowStreamer; 08-20-09 at 10:54 AM.

08-20-09, 06:50 AM	#5
esb's daddy Native Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Roswell/Woodstock Area Posts: 867	Not only is it the smart thing to do, but I have also heard that it is at least a $75 fine. __________________ "I live by the 6 F's - Family, Friends, Fishing, Football, Food & Fermented Beverages."

08-20-09, 09:52 AM	#6
benvan Native Join Date: May 2008 Location: senoia,ga Posts: 1,394	pFD yep a pfd is required as I found out the hard way. The dnr guys came out in a canoe and wrote me a 75 dollar citation that made for a bad day of fishing. It was my first time fishing there, and I was very uneducated on the dam any way. I arrived and a heavy fog had the RED signs That state a PFD is required obscure and unreadable(actually I never saw them till the fog lifted.) Well when the fog lifted I was out fishing and the warden was out writing tickets... Wear a vest __________________ "I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong." Ben VanDevender, ACI (Adaptive Fly Fishing Casting Instructor/TAG (Therapeutic Adaptive Guide) http://www.teamdeaddrift.com/

08-20-09, 06:27 AM	#4
huntfish Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lawrenceville, GA, USA Posts: 4,549	[quote=SlowStreamer;544577]If you listen to the COE recording (770-945-1466) for water releases below Buford Dam it clearly states that below the dam to hwy 20 bridge PFDs are required. I fish there often and I always wear a PFD if, I'm wading or floating in a tube or toon. The PFD I have is a vest type making it a bit more practical for me. I've been below the dam when they've had an unscheduled emergency water release, and if your not near one of the take out trails you will be glad you had a PFD on. The water comes up fast and in no time it goes from wadeable to "asta la vista baby".[/QUOTE] The ole "Hoochie Bobber" Interesting ride but not fun....

08-20-09, 10:10 AM	#7
Trout8myfly Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 4,540	Russ, that's Hasta la vista baby... And yes, PFDs are required, wading or floating. Which prompts a question based on failing memory - are the tubers wearing PFDs? Because a few months ago B Kar Ma, Chuck Morris and myself helped some yakkers off the Hootch near the Hatchery when the sirens started up - and I don't recall that they had any PFDs with them, let alone wearing. __________________ "What's his offense?" "Groping for trouts in a peculiar river." ― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

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