PFD Knife?

I'm a newbie at yak fishing but got a great indoctrination last weekend with Blake at Coral St in PG.   Had good fun with the rockfish and got rocked twice by a big ling.

Some questions for all of you experienced ocean yakkers about knives:
1.  PFD or on the deck?
2.  Favorite brand?

I looked at the CRKT ABC with Mike (solsrf1), but the reports were that the sheath is a pain.   Checked out the Gerber Rivermate, but the reports were that the sheath was a different kind of pain.

I'm thinking that a PFD knife with an easily snapped in (and relatively) secure blade with a blunt tip would be a good safety and all-around (like cutting bait).

Thanks in advance.
Ron
pgangler

I have not brought a knife on the yak w/me for about 4 years. And even then, it was a cheapo that I only used to cut bait. Unless you're diving from the yak, why would you need one? Just seems like another unnecessary toy that I'd lose/break/injure myself with/throw away after it gets corroded by saltwater.
Although, if you really do attach it to your PFD, make sure the sheath is solid! Because it's only a matter of time until you roll in the surf....everybody swims at some point.

Oh, and WTTM! 

I carry both, the Rivermate on my PFD and an inexpensive 6" partly serrated knife attached on top of the pod.

Jay

I keep a leatherman multitool in my plano box (good for repairs to wheeleeze carts, eyeglasses, kayak deck rigging-used it for all of these) and a PFD mounted sheath knife.
I think the PFD blade I have is too big & heavy(its a cheapie SS dive knife abt 8" long) but I've used it for cutting bait and spectra line, and I've used it to dispatch a few fish before I had a fish billy.

I'd say the sky is the limit on a deck mounted knife, but for a PFD I think something very small & flat (low profile to reduce snagging if you need to crawl back on deck after a capsize) would be best. Stainless steel over any other steel. I also like to have a serrated edge for cutting rope, etc. I keep looking at my CRKT "dogfish" as something close to what I'd like.

Overall, my main reason to wear a knife on my PFD is in case I need to cut out of an entanglement. Though I am constantly trying to rig my boat to get rid of potential entanglers, things like leashes for rods and game clips are hard to get past.

Thanks for the info was looking to get a knife also .David

I carry in my PFD a multi tool (gerber fishing one). Good for all repairs and hook removal. I also carry a cheap folding knife for bait and any other misc cutting. I think I paid $6 at mel cottons. Trust me go cheap you are gonna loose it. I did. The multi tool is on a small phone cord bungee.

Trust me go cheap you are gonna loose it

I can attest to this. I lost two nice Gerber paddling knives (one after 2 days)  and a third cheaper knife in the last 15 yrs. All of them "fell" out of their sheaths. Of course the cheapest one I have now has also stayed around the longest.

why would you need one? Just seems like another unnecessary toy that I'd lose/break/injure myself with/throw away after it gets corroded by saltwater.

There have been a couple of occassions where having a knife saved my bacon.
Sometimes it is better and safer to cut something than try to deal with it in another manner at that very moment.
One time my kelp gripper slid down the kelp stalk and then got hung up and I couldn't get it to slide back up. A really nasty set of what can be only described as rogue waves came in. The swells were enormous out of nowhere. Had I not been able to cut away immediately I would have overturned for sure.
A lot of stuff people ( myself included at times ) bring on their kayak is either overkill or completely unnecessary.
I don't think a knife is one of them.

Now that's what I was looking for--thanks Tote! Because I couldn't imagine a situation that would require me to use a knife...until you reminded me of the time I tied-off to kelp and couldn't reach the clasp to unhook, and the swells were pretty big...almost yanked me right off the boat holding onto the kelp tie. I used my pliers to cut the rope. But that's still the only time a knife might've been handy...of like 80+ saltwater kayak fishing adventures.
Not trying to sound like a doubting-thomas here...just trying to convince myself that I need to buy another knife (my dive knife is prob too big for the yak). Let's hear some more reasons why a knife is necessary equipment.

Here's another.
My iron jig got snagged in the kelp. The hook was burried deep into the stalk. How do I know? Because it was only a few inches from the surface..then a few feet from the surface...then a few inches from the surface...then a few feet from the surface...
When it got to within a few inches I was able to cut the kelp just below the jig. That was all I needed for the kelp to give and get my jig back.
On the flip side.  .. AOTD tourney at Inseins's place. I was headed in at OC. Probably about 100 yds from the exit when reached back to make sure my game clip was in the TW ( I had fish to weigh ). I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the side of my @ss.
My super sharp filet knife had slid out of the sheath and was sitting parallel to my seat. When I reached back it went thru the wetsuit and into...well....you know where.
There was a lot of blood. I was at first concerned it may have hit something major so I left the wetsuit on as to apply constant pressure until I could get to a place ( Inseins's place ) to take a closer look.
As I was doing just that in the bathroom 'Wife of Fishunter' walked in on me.
Something surreal about a strange woman seeing you applying a bandage to your own @ss.
Ahh living the dream.
Now I make sure whatever knife I carry will only come out when I want it to.

Let's hear some more reasons why a knife is necessary equipment.

It makes an awesome prop for pics! 

 

   I had to use my PFD knife (A Wenoka squeeze lock) to gut some trout last time I actually caught some on Loch Lomond.  My normal trout knife was left home for an unknown reason.  I was glad I had it. 

same deal (well the first part of tote's) Snagged a crankbait on some reeds in the delta. It was about 8 feet above the water. No chance to pull it free (8 lb test). Just paddled over and cut the stalk and pulled the lure free. I'm telling ya $6 plastic handle fold out has a pocket clip that attaches to the web lash down thing-y on my PFD. Oh and bait. I am a heavy squid user. Craig/Ravensblack had to dispatch his dino with a knife when his hammer head went flying!

I also have a wenoka pdf knife its a nice piece of equipment with many uses. Mine is a titanium blade which has held up very well for 3 years.

I also have a wenoka pdf knife its a nice piece of equipment with many uses. Mine is a titanium blade which has held up very well for 3 years.

same here    also have the titanium blade = IT WILL NEVER RUST ON YOU   (I have gone through so many knives that rusted on me )

*I was fishing Davenport on a windy day and my bow dug into a nasty chop that carried a few kelp strands over it....got my knife out (attached to my vest) and quicky cut the strands of kelp before it got too top heavy. IMO: yes, a good knife is worth having