 it's that time of year again the weekly start of our fishing tips today our host Ray Gildow of the Niswa Guides League and Mandy Eric the Bassing Biologist take you how to stay safe on the water hello again everyone and welcome to the 2018 fishing tips season we're very happy to have you with us again and we'd like to start out our first segment in studio talking about safety in 2017 we lost 12 individuals to drowning and anything we can do to prevent a drowning is something that's well worth our time to spend talking about so tonight today we're going to talk a little bit about life jackets and a few other things that it's important to have in the boat when you're out fishing we'll start with the level two so you can see this level two life jacket these are for you know near shore quick rescue is nice to have in the boat you also notice with these there is a chest size and a weight size specifically on these life jackets it's really important to make sure that you have a life jacket that fits the people are in the boat that we're going to need them moving over these are level three so this is a level three life jacket there again has the chest size and the weight restrictions for what size you need to be to make sure that it fits you specifically these are more the ones that you're going to have for maybe water activities and boating fun also another level three you don't really see these much or think about but this is actually a life jacket it's super nice especially in spring and fall that you've got it built right into it and a level four is a throwaway and they come in a variety of different styles you can see those that are little like tires white tires or ropes on them it's important on any of the life jackets that you use that they are US Coast Guard certified that's very very important so this is a throwaway all boats should have a throwaway in the boat in case something happens and someone goes overboard and they need some extra help so that's a level four a level five there's a variety of level five this happens to be a cartridge life jacket which means if you fall in this one is automatic or manual you can pull the string and it'll inflate or if you want to use it set it on automatic it has a bobbin in it and it has a co2 cartridge and as soon as that water hits that bobbin it blows up and it really does do a nice job of keeping your neck up and keeping you floating couple other things you should have your boat be sure you have a fire extinguisher very very important that everyone have a fire extinguisher and finally have a whistle if you don't have a whistle in your boat and you lose the horn this is a backup that you could really use I'm right Ylva with the Niswa Guides League and I'm Andy you're the Bassin biologist good to have them back for another year absolutely you'll be on the water soon I'm sure yep a couple two more in the studio and then we're out on the water showing you how to catch those fish all right look forward to that if you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS