Submitted Photo North Dakota’s boating laws require U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets to be on board for every person, and children 10 and under must wear them at all times. NDGF photo.

Summer means folks across North Dakota are flocking to lakes and rivers with fishing poles in hand, coolers packed, and boats in tow. It’s a seasonal rhythm as familiar as the flick of a fishing line or the call of a meadowlark across the prairie. But amid all the excitement, there’s one item that too often gets forgotten, or worse, ignored altogether: the life jacket.

I’ve spent years on the water, just like many of you. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from both personal experience and conversations with game wardens and first responders, it’s this: life jackets save lives. It’s not just a slogan. It’s a fact, backed by story after story, some tragic, some triumphant, about the difference a properly worn life jacket can make.

Take a moment to imagine this. You’re out on the lake, casting for walleye with the grandkids. A gust of wind kicks up, the boat rocks, and suddenly someone goes overboard. If they’re not wearing a life jacket, those precious first few seconds can turn critical. Panic sets in fast. Water temps in North Dakota, even in mid-summer, can cause cold shock. And without a life jacket to keep you afloat, it doesn’t take long for fatigue to win.

That’s why North Dakota’s boating laws require U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets to be on board for every person, and children 10 and under must wear them at all times when the boat is underway. But legal requirements are just the baseline. If you’ve ever been caught in a summer squall, you know conditions can change in a heartbeat. It’s not about just having life jackets on the boat. It’s about wearing them.

Modern life jackets aren’t the bulky, orange blocks of decades past. Today’s designs are sleek, comfortable, and even stylish. Inflatable life vests are especially popular with anglers because they offer safety without getting in the way of casting or reeling in the big one. There’s no longer an excuse of “it’s too hot” or “it’s uncomfortable.”

Parents, it starts with us. Kids are watching. If we wear our life jackets without complaint, they’ll see it as normal. If we leave them in the storage bin until something goes wrong, they’ll learn that too. Set the tone. Show them that wearing a life jacket isn’t just smart. It’s what responsible outdoorsmen and women do.

Water safety doesn’t end with life jackets, of course. Every boater should be familiar with their equipment, avoid alcohol while operating a watercraft, and keep an eye on changing weather. File a float plan and let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. And always, always respect your limits. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t risk it.

This summer, as you head out to a favorite fishing spot, Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake, or the quiet bend of a river you’ve fished since you were a kid, pack the sunscreen and snacks, but make sure that life jackets are more than just cargo. Make them part of the plan. Wear them. Talk about them. Insist on them.

North Dakota’s waters offer a lifetime of memories, of kids catching their first perch, of sunrise fishing trips with friends, and of peaceful, glassy evenings spent drifting with a line in the water. Let’s keep those memories joyful and safe.

Wear a jacket. Make it home.