What is your favorite paddle/fishing vest?

REI outlet has the Extrasport Sturgeon on sale for $64.93.  Looks like a good deal.  Lots of pockets.  What are you guys wearing that you really like?

this one....LOVE IT

http://www.kokatat.com/product_detail.asp?code=bht

Be careful of ones with tons of pockets on the front. When loaded they can make self rescue a bitch.

Be careful of ones with tons of pockets on the front. When loaded they can make self rescue a bitch.

Good advise right there 

this one....LOVE IT

http://www.kokatat.com/product_detail.asp?code=bht

Be careful of ones with tons of pockets on the front. When loaded they can make self rescue a bitch.

+1.
I've used Extrasport Sabre original, an extrasport Mona Lisa, an extrasport Sabre with retro-glide, and now an extrasport Osprey (or whatever their fishing vest is called).

You can see that the new Osprey is the first "fishing" oriented PFD I've used (I got it as a gift). It has nice features and I like it, however it has wayyyy too many little pockets on the front. I like two main pockets and that's about it. more pockets=more little tabs to hang up if/when you need to climb back onto your yak from the water.

+1 on too many pockets. My Osprey is now my loaner/backup vest. I use the Bahia Tour now and I like it better than the Osprey, but I've yet to try on a PFD and think "This thing is perfect."

If I could find something that has the high baja back and smooth front, yet somehow able to retain a radio pocket and a small pocket for a clif bar and fishing license, that would be ideal to me. I just haven't found that vest yet.

i use a nrs chinook and i like it a lot.  plenty of pockets but they don't seem to poke out too much to me.

I picked up the Sturgeon from REI's Outlet store with a 20% off code so it came out to $52 or so.  I think original retail is like $120 or so.  It's bright orange which is good for visibility but pretty ugly which is why I would imagine its on clearance.  Anyway it has two large pockets on the front that stick out a lot farther than I would have liked, I think with a radio packed away it would be just too obtrusive. Just something to think about.

Thanks guys.  Since I primarily use my yak as an ab dive platform I didn't even think about the potential for the pockets to hang up when getting back in.

Personally, I think all the "fishing specific" PDF's suck... I tried on ALL of them, and demo'd several of them... none of them do well at being a PFD nor a fishing vest.  Most of them are far too bulky to be safe if you actually go into the drink and need to self-rescue or swim with any speed.

I'm kind of a PFD whore... I currently have four for various types of kayaking... the vest I decided on for fishing is the Kokotat Bahia Tour, which is a high-back vest that isn't impeded due to a high-back chair (a la the Surf to Summit GTS pimp chair) and has plenty of pockets, but not so many as to defeat the purpose of wearing a PFD.

Other vests I own , and their purpose...

Astral Green Jacket - whitewater/rescue PFD
Stohlquist Descent - my new go-to whitewater/rescue PFD
Stohlquist Brik - low-profile whitewater play

I wanted to buy my wife a jacket and they had the ASEA on a deal of the day at Austin Kayak it was like $35 with $15 shipping but if you spent $50 you got free shipping so I bought one as a back up. It's become my #1, don't even know I have it on most of the time.
I like vests with Buckles just make me feel safer, another thing I really like about this vest is it rolls me on my back pretty fast and my face sits out of the water and it doesn't have the tendency to slide up like a lot of vests do. Make sure you do a water test too some vests you really have to button down to keep them from riding up.
http://www.campmor.com/stohlquist-asea-pfd.shtml?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=16272

I second the NRS Chinook.  It does have a lot of pockets, you just have to make sure not to fill them all up.  I carry a rescue knife, my VHF, Whistle and Pliers on it.  A small strobe on the shoulder finishes it up.  Not too bulky to prevent resuce, but the few things I need in the water.

There are a lot of good options out there.  I definately recommend a high back.  Matt

stohlquist fisherman. Best fishing PFD on the market, IMHO. Easy to re-enter yak also.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,10788.0.html

40% off Stohlquist Fisherman's Vest!
Stohlquist Fisherman Not just another fish story, our most popular fishing specific lifevest, the Stohlquist Fisherman's Vest really is 40% off.  That means you save $49.  One week only for $69.95
Special Price: $69.95
List Price: $119.00

Clavey in PTown

* Make sure the PFD fits you. A good kayak shop should be able to fit you properly (and show you how to make the proper adjustments to make sure you are wearing it correctly)

Anyone know of any other hand warmer PFD. These look good for the winter if your don't mind optional pockets for storage. 

http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/products/men/tempo200/index.html

http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/products/men/norge/index.html