Ice fishing clothes

Aite, and don’t make fun of the poor Mississippi folk...it’s cold down here dangit.
This cold snap got me thinking again about a set of bibs and jacket that would provide flotation. I’ve been using decent deer hunting clothes and layering on my rain gear to help keep the wind out. Trouble is, with 3-4 layers it gets cumbersome and of course going into 40-50 degree water like that spells disaster. Started thinking about ice gear with built in flotation.

I’ve looked at striker, clam, frabill and Norfin and Eskimo.

Any recommendations or thoughts? I’m looking to cut down a layer or two and still have the same warmth as my current layered system. I figured, who better to ask than some c.c cold weather professionals.

Wannabe...


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I have an old Ice Armor suit without flotation that's OK for warmth. I have to layer under it to stay warm in temps below 25 or so. I don't fish dangerous ice or take risks with bad ice so no flotation isn't a problem. The guys who fish Saginaw bay or the rivers through the ice and accept that they will go through the ice eventually seem to talk up the Striker flotation suit. If you go to Michigan-sportsman.com under ice fishing Saginaw Bay you should find some good info. Hop[e that helps.

For ice fishing up here in Michigan, my son and I both have Striker ice suits in the “Hardwater” series. It’s the top of the line in the Striker Ice line.
My wife wears the “Prism” suit.
OE wears the Predator suit, but he doesn’t ice fish.

I am never cold in the Hardwater suit, it wears well (not heavy) it has a flotation rating of ( I think ) 3 hours.
It may be overkill for you boys down south but I guarantee you will never be cold. It is worth every penny.

Attachment 394820

We wear them late December open water fishing shown in this video

Late December Lake Erie Walleye - YouTube

And out ice fishing, in this video I am wearing Hardwater and Jeri is wearing another striker brand.

Ice Fishing Multi Species ( a little UW footage) - YouTube

I know there are other brands but I can’t give you any info about them.


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On Satdoc and Torch's recomendation I wear Artic Armor They are wind proof, water proof, warm, and floatation.

Steve is correct, I have the Striker Ice Predator series, Bibs & Jacket.

I also am on blood thinners, and is does EXCELLENT, at keeping me warm.

Water, wind proof. It works so well, I started putting on a base layer, then Merino Wool long Johns, then the Bibs, a Striker Hoodie, and then the jacket. No jeans or cotton.

I was perfectly comfortable on our December trip on Erie, I don’t remember the temp, but was not concerned, in any way.

I don’t ice fish, didn’t have the greatest of times as a kid, but used to rabbit hunt instead.

All that went the wayside for my kids, but I don’t mind.

I’m getting bored, and may have to beg Steve to take me ice fishing, we will see....

OE


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Dang...no making fun and no teasing. Just plain old good advice. That’s just weird. :)

Thanks guys. If I could one more question on the striker - how do the sizes run? I’m about 39 in the waist...ok, 40. And normally would go with xl, but I’m thinking I might should do 2xl so I have the option of additional layers and still have mobility.

And don’t think since you didn’t tease me that you’ll get a free pass if you show up on the MS board. It’s a blood sport over there at times.

Wannabe...


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How tall are you?

I can look at mine in the morning.

I’m 5’8 & a portly, but well loved 235-ish.

I will let you know the size I have in the morning.

I at one time wore a base layer, merino wool layer, cabelas ECWS layer, then jeans and a hoodie.

Movement wasn’t the greatest but Found I keep just as warm with just the merino wool layer, and have plenty of mobility.

I forgot Steve took video of me getting my long Johns on, but that was all I had on under the striker ice.

I firmly believe you won’t need allot of layers under it.

I go by Oneida Eagle on MS as well, so don’t be shy, and don’t take any crap from some of them.

OE


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I am 6’0”, at the time of purchase I was 278 lbs. I am currently at 248 and 38” waist. I bought it in 2xl, with the weight I’ve lost probably a xl would work fine.

I don’t layer up, I drive to where I’m going to ice fish in jeans and a hoodie and simply put the Hardwater suit over what I drove in and have never been cold in the least. My hands or feet get cold before anything.

I wannabe warm or I’m done.

OE, he’s talking about the Mississippi forum and not Michigan Sportsman. You might wannabe careful in your interpretation of acronyms.....I hate acronyms.




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I need to make one point. Open water trips on Lake Erie in December are a better comparison than ice fishing is, unless the ice fishing is done outside the shanty and without a heater. Most of my ice fishing is done without a shanty or heater and I do get cold in my Ice Armor suit. When it's time to replace it I will probably get the Striker Ice if it's not too expensive.

I have 2XXL for both Bibs & Jacket.

I like the following layers of Base Layer, and then Merino Wool, then the Striker Ice suit. Allows for movement. Steve likes the regular clothes method.

I get picked on for my clothing choice, but being on blood thinners, Ill take the old fashioned ribbing from the guys, and be WARM.
I do try to avoid cotton as much as possible. Cotton does not wick, and will suck the heat from your body. We know that from wet T shirt contests.
AND TRUST ME, no one wants to see ME in a wet T-Shirt contest.


That's just me others might have a different method. I would think that if is works for me on blood thinners, it would work for any one, including farm boy jean wearing Steve's.

Also we do pick on people up here, we just try to gradually ease them into a false sense of security, and then WHAM, like a baby seal.

That being said, since Steve reminded me that MS was for Mississippi, its -4 up this ways, why do you need a Strike Ice suit? One flannel lined banana hammock, and your good to go...:Rofl:Rofl:Rofl

OE