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The older I get,,the narrower my margin of comfort. I was just wondering how you dress for winter fishing.
I have been in cold water with heavy clothes on, they get much heavier when wet and with todays boats, it would be next to impossible to climb back in one if you wound up in the water..
Thoughts on this?
I wear a self inflating life vest once the water gets cold, because in cold water you won't have the strength to get back in by yourself. Dress warm and wear that vest.
You are going to think I am crazy but there is a way to dress that will allow you to dress down substantially, it starts with a good high quality gore-Tex rain gear from bass pro shop, uninsulated for sure, in the winter months if you can stop the wind you have beat the cold, with this rain gear wind is stopped in it's tracks, I promise with this rain gear you can dress down to sweats pants and sweat shirt with thermal under wear, you will stay warm down to the low teens in temperature with minimal clothing, gore Tex is 100% waterproof and highly breathable, it helps keep the moisture away from you body, I crappie fish and bass fish in the dead of winter, running across the lake at high rates of speed, this is the only way to dress down and stay very warm. Try it and you will be pleasently surprised, the 100mph gore Tex rain gear is expensive but well worth the investment, they are durable and last alot of years with proper care and maintanance.
Listen to L.A. Stumpjumper first of all and be sure you are wearing an automatic inflatable life jacket. It is easy to think that you will not have an accident and fall out of the boat but it can happen for sure......and take it from someone who knows from experience that swimming with knee-high muck boots ain't no fun and would be a disaster for sure in the wintertime. For the cold you can't beat something like UnderArmor garments. They are light and very warm. And Slabsntaters is right about the rain gear. I can put my Frogg Toggs on and it is like turning on the heater!
I have one on my gift list for myself. As for warmth I have tried some items from Under armour such as a undershirt, toboggan and gloves. I can tell that the shirt works fairly well, the gloves not so much but the toboggan is great. You can hear good and cant tell you have it on. I would like to try the complete underwear suit but they are a little pricey.Quote:
Originally Posted by L.A. stumpjumper
cabelas had a good one on sale for 99. a good price. i dont fish without mine!
back 20 years or i was knocked out of a 21 ft hi sided boat in the dead of winter at w.o.t. when i stood up on a ice covered floor and a stump or a log just under surface i had no life jacket on out the boat i went i had a lot of stuff on + my gore tex their was 3 of us in the boat it was like a life time before they got back to me it was all most to late with all the stuff i had on + my boots it was all i could to stay a float by the time they got to me i grabbed the side of the boat but they was no way i was coming over the side so they pulled me to the back of the boat and that is the ez way to get back in a boats of all kinds all you do is us the lower unit or the foot like a set of stairs to get back in the boat water temp was some thing like 37 to 40 degs and the air temp in the 20tes lesson learnt all ways ware your life jacket when the boat is under power and keep your butt in the seat
Like Slab said you cant beat a good suit. Bass pro has 2 good ones (Bone-Dry and 100MPH). I wear armor 1 or 2 under it. I wear long sleeve t and my summer fishing zip pants only when it gets below 30. I think the key is layers.
I wear the 100 MPH suit from BassPro.
clean underwear, underarmour long johns, and top, redhead over shirt, underarmour hoodie, ,,,and in the boat a complete set of clean clothes. Miss Sharon rolls them up tight, then runs them through the food saver and shrink wraps everything, clean and dry for the winter, as stated above be safe, try to fish with a buddy in the cold water days
I wear the Arctic Armour coat and bibs, and layering underneath. I always wear my inflatable PFD.
I like the idea of shrink wrapping some extra clothes. I have a habit of getting wet every time I go fishing, winter or summer
How do you like the Arctic Armour? Was thinking of pulling the trigger on buying some. Was wanting more information or at least be able to see some before purchasing. Sounds like some great stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
Down here we only see the teens a few times. Mostly 20's-30's for a low. Usually bibs, a carhart coat, gloves, and a cap gets it done.Thumbs Up
I really like it. It's fairly light, and it will float you if you fall in.Quote:
Originally Posted by dkb23
I appreciate all your input, I certainly kbnow that I wasn't prepared for the cold yesterday. I will be better prepared soon!!!
Hey rockmike....i've come close to buyin' a set of the Arctic Armour Plus ... But I chicken out 'cause I'm afraid that I'll burn up in it unless it is frigid... (and it is dang expensive)....what have you found? Is it comfortable in average arkansas winter temps (40-45)?Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
can't go wrong with the 100mph suit....and a hoodie and a boggan don't hurt!!! Thumbs Up
I've found it to be comfortable in a wide range of temps, but I'm an old fart and I get colder than I did when I was younger.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappieawlogist
Its sounding better and better, like you,,I'm getting long in the tooth, and cold weather is NOT my friend..Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
I'd rather have the advise of an old fart anyday!Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
Uh,,do they make a TM suit, my big engine went down,,its in the shop, and the cost will prevent me from buying 100MPH gear... thought they might have a TM suit,,uh,,thats trolling motor...lol tears....Quote:
Originally Posted by thespeckbandit
Maybe you need to try saran wrap for undies.Quote:
Originally Posted by xring
I usually wear my hunting bibs, coat, and layers underneath. My body stays warm but my trouble is keeping my feet warm. That's what always sends me back to the truck.
Thats the reason I longer hunt,I told the good LORD one day if he didn't let my feet freeze before I got to the truck I would never never be back in his woods.Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAPPIE KG
Later on in life I found out if I'd sent as much on my feet as I did my body I could wade cold muddy water alday with warm dry feet.Alot of good brands out there,I wore Rockys for years in 1000 and 1400 grams.Workmanship in rockys isn't that great anymore so went Brownings with 800 grams and layer with under Armor.By layering with long johns and under armor I can run the river in the dead of winter with pants and long sl. shirt.I feel safer by not having to wear bibs and a heavy coat to get water logged if I fall in.
I did not think about what I do to beep those toes warm, but this is the it. Arctic ProQuote:
Originally Posted by KRAPPIE KG
I dress for warmth insulateds jacket hooded gloves try to stay close to camp if I decide to wimp out but if the crappie are really bitting and it is really cold MY secret weapon is a mister buddy heater just knowing it is there can add hours to a good fishing trip used or not.
Noslab.
Hummm, I have a little buddy heater too, and love the auto shutoff features..I may have to make room in my boat for it to travel with me///wish there was some way to refill the little canisters,,a 20# propane bottle takes up too much space.
Here you go Xring. Northern Brass Propane Filler Coupler Model# MACCOUPLER | eBay I have one and they do work. Just put the 1 lb bottle in the freezer over night before you try to fill it.Thumbs UpQuote:
Originally Posted by xring
Thanks,,I'll have to order one of those today..or maybe two...I appreciate the link.
I think I may have seen them at Wal-Mart also or Academy don't remember.
I wear insulated cover-alls w/bib, and Nat-Gear Jacket....I bought a ladder at Art's that folds up-when running...mounted it on the stern next to big mtr....pretty easy to get in boat...also great for swimming out in the lake, when you want to get back in the boat....not sure I can mount it on the new predator, because of the rear chines on each side....
Passin thru Little Rock this weekend. Will stop and check these out if I can find them.Quote:
Originally Posted by creekslick
You may have to order them online.Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAPPIE KG