How Do You Stay Cool in The Hot Months?

Those hot summer days make it hard for me to stay out there. I bought one of those big 6 foot patio umbrellas from Walmart and attach it to my seat post with the Millennium Umbrella post. It works well with one or two fishermen. An added bonus is it makes it really easy to see my Livescope in bright sunshine. A good 18 to 20 volt Lithium work fan finishes off the setup.
My wife even keeps a spray bottle of water in the ice chest to mist on us every now and then too. With my umbrella setup I can even swing it to one side or the other for those hours when the sun is starting to go down.
Those fishing shirts seem too hot to me. I usually just wear a light colored T-shirt and shorts. Does anybody else have any tips for the hot summer days?

During the hot summer you can find me at home under my A.C.:) I'll be fishing at daylight until about 10AM then I'm headed home.

Oh yea, I should mention that I have one of those small D.C. fans out of an old school bus mounted to a short 1 X 6 board and I have it with clips hooked to my trolling batteries. Helps some but in the deep south it gets HOT!

A 20 volt fan certainly helps. Some of the sport shirts that wick moisture also helps. Millennium boat seats let's some air flow through the seat keeping me cooler also. Sometimes it is best to seek refuge in the shade.

Good tips on the moisture wicking shirts and the Millennium seats. I used the seats and they are nice in the summer. They also dry quickly after a rain. I think I'm going to try those wraps that go around your neck and feel really cool this year.
I worked night shift, 3 to 11, for 35 years. Been retired for 12 years and still can't get out of that sleep pattern. Stay up to about 1 AM and sleep to about 9 or 10 every morning. If I get on the water by 8 AM I'm doing good!

Also, August is a good month to switch over to pulling cranks. An awesome technique for that time of year and you get a little breeze when doing it. Really nice in a party barge.

They make cooling hats as well. Mission is a brand that comes to mind

I'll have to check them out. I worked under A/C all my life. The heat kicks my tail.

I like the air conditioning myself. Here in Tennessee if I can get in some shade I am happy to keep fishing. Sometimes it helps to go nocturnal and catch them in the night

I can give a big thumbs up to the neck wraps. The one I have is on its last legs so I need to find a replacement. It has some type of filler that firms up when wet and does a great job. A quick dunk when it gets warm and it’s good to go. I need to come up with a way to mount an umbrella on my Millennium seat as mine are not on a post.

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Originally Posted by slabbandit

Good tips on the moisture wicking shirts and the Millennium seats. I used the seats and they are nice in the summer. They also dry quickly after a rain. I think I'm going to try those wraps that go around your neck and feel really cool this year.
I worked night shift, 3 to 11, for 35 years. Been retired for 12 years and still can't get out of that sleep pattern. Stay up to about 1 AM and sleep to about 9 or 10 every morning. If I get on the water by 8 AM I'm doing good!

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Right there with ya, bruh !! I worked 3rd shift (11p-7a) for around 40 of the 45yrs I worked in a hospital pharmacy, and retired 10yrs ago ... but still have trouble getting to bed before 2am, asleep by 3-4am, and awake & up by 12noon. This time of year I can get away with those hours, but it's a struggle during Spring to Fall.

I've always said ... if the day was 30hrs long (sleep 10/awake 20) then I'd be good to go. :ThumbsUp

I hear you guys about working nights. Long term can really mess up the regular pattern. I only did rotating shifts in the service for a few years but it took awhile to turn my sleeping around. Now at my age I’m lucky to get a partial nights sleep.
Bob

nights or days it's still the same. I wake at 5AM, no alarm and my eyes shut about 8:30 PM old habit from working days I guess. Retired several years ago.

Worked nights and 2nds for Years. On days now. Took a little while to get adjusted

when it tops 100 in these parts I try to hit spots that have dense shade , can't take the heat like I used to back when , even in the dense shade at 100 plus and not much a breeze it will melt ya .....
had an umbrella like mentioned that i used as well , but boy howdy if the fish were on the wrong side or the sun was low it was still about too much heat for me ....
sure can consume a ton of water on those trips

Those battery fans certainly help

I usually start my night fishing way before it gets hot but since i'm crappie fishing now i don't know how i'll go about it. probably get an umbrella to somehow temporarily attach to me double seat stand until the crappie start the night bite pretty good.

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Originally Posted by slabbandit

Those hot summer days make it hard for me to stay out there. I bought one of those big 6 foot patio umbrellas from Walmart and attach it to my seat post with the Millennium Umbrella post. It works well with one or two fishermen. An added bonus is it makes it really easy to see my Livescope in bright sunshine. A good 18 to 20 volt Lithium work fan finishes off the setup.
My wife even keeps a spray bottle of water in the ice chest to mist on us every now and then too. With my umbrella setup I can even swing it to one side or the other for those hours when the sun is starting to go down.
Those fishing shirts seem too hot to me. I usually just wear a light colored T-shirt and shorts. Does anybody else have any tips for the hot summer days?

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Breathable fishing shirt, fishing shorts (yes its a thing), neck gaiter dipped in water (for evaporative cooling), and cover up with a mesh back hat or straw hat to keep the sun off your head.

Quality clothing is the biggest thing, good summer clothes should be breathable and wick away sweat. If you do start to sweat, the wind will evaporate it off your clothing and cool you down. A fan is helpful if there is no breeze.

Sent from my SM-A516U using Crappie.com mobile app

I usually bring one of those long sleeve fishing shirts, a couple gallons of water and a bucket hat to combat the sun when it gets to be too much.

I let the outboard create a breeze back to the ramp :biggrin. At times is gets too hot to want to stay out there

During the summer I start out early and I am on the water by 6am. By 10am I move and fish under bridges to avoid the sun. I'm typically off the water by 1pm during the summer months.

Saw this on MR Dux’s boat. Now have one on mine.

Attachment 449327

I have the same one

I bought a 1/2 gallon Igloo insulated jug last year. I fill it completely with ice then filtered water from the fridge. Last all day and hits the spot when thirsty. I also have a little spot on my home lake where we can take a quick dip to cool off. Makes for a nice boat ride afterwards.

Lots of cold water helps also

My answer would be Freon.

I've worked swing shift for 20 years in a steel mill. I may be one of the few but I can stay awake for 24 hours if needed or can lay down on command and sleep till my alarm goes off.

PSA. 2 years ago in July I'm on some pretty good blue gill. Stayed in the shade mostly but fished past noon. I was fine fishing and riding back to the ramp but I hopped in the truck to fetch the boat and almost lost consciousness. Take your time in the heat for sure.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I wear a long sleeve white shirt, a neck gaiter, a wide brimmed hat, and don't work too hard paddling. I take advantage of any breeze to push me over structure. I usually hit it hard before the sun gets unbearable, then I look for the shade of a bridge, if there is one (fish like shade too).

Jim

We leave Oklahoma and go to Colorado for three months frost in the mornings and around 80 during the day. Can't take the heat very good anymore.

Wanna stay cool? Go north. Way north. I would have said south but north is closer.:biggrin

I'm on lake before dawn and gone by 10:00 & night fishing when it's really hot. :Fire Sun I can sorta handle- humidity not so much

Haven't got into night fishing yet. Looks fun. Most waters around here are pretty muddy. Does that make it harder?

When I worked night shift, night fishing was all I did. All the lakes I fish stay pretty muddy. The fish don't seem to mind.

I can't remember who it was but we used to have a member on CDC that was big into night fishing.

For me night fishing is pretty easy. Tie up to a bridge pillar and lower down a green light. I then drop minnows outside of the light beam and wait for the baitfish/crappie/white bass to show up. When night fishing you bring the fish too you instead of searching for them.

Good times for sure

Bimini top plus lots of water..jump in the lake if needed

Living in the south, it gets hot for sure. I bought the biggest Bimini I could find and use it during mid day (10A-3P). I bought the front supports so I can store it out of the way for trolling out the back.

Nice rig

These things work. (other brands also) Get two one on you and the other in the cooler until you need to switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-C...NrPXRydWU&th=1

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Originally Posted by NCkenner

Living in the south, it gets hot for sure. I bought the biggest Bimini I could find and use it during mid day (10A-3P). I bought the front supports so I can store it out of the way for trolling out the back.

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great set up..where did you get those front supports?

I would fish six am to 9am, or simply keep to shaded banks with trees overlooking the water, wear vented shirts as well as large brim Western Hats and drink plenty of ice water. Worked for me.

Mike