C
old weather fishing can be a lot of fun and
very productive. However, it can also be
uncomfortable and even dangerous. When
planning a cold weather outing, you must consider
the elements, wind chill, length of time that you will
be on the water, and the fact that you can’t just run
inside to get warm when you are out on the water.
First on your list should be suitably warm
clothing, such as a snow suit or “blizzard” suit. It
should be “water repellent” or “resistant”, “water
proof ” is obviously the best. Water “resistant” or
“repellant” affords less protection against rain or
snow. You surely don’t want to be wet in cold weather,
especially on the water. Traveling in a moving boat
at this time produces some serious wind chill.
Now imagine that you are also wet and I’m sure
you will appreciate the importance of proper gear.
Common sense preparation will help you avoid a
very uncomfortable and dangerous situation.
A blizzard suit that is “water proof ” is your best
bet, as it will keeps you both warm and dry. It costs
more then the other suits, but one miserable, cold,
wet day will persuade you that the extra expense is
worth it, by far. You’ll also need warm socks and
footwear… and don’t forget the gloves...A hunters
hand warmer is also a good thing to carry with you.
I can’t overstress the importance of taking every
precaution that you can against the cold. A lot of
winter anglers carry propane heaters with them on
their boats. This is the type where the burner attaches
to the propane tank, and has one or two burners.
Naturally, you will want to be very careful when
using this type of heater at home, or your business;
it’s even more critical when you are out on the boat.
You don’t want to have to choose between fighting
the flames in a burning boat and joining the Polar
Bear Club. When observing the proper safety rules,
these units do come in rather handy, even if you are
fishing in the coves in the early morning darkness,
when you don’t want light on the water. This type
of heater produces very little light, while providing
considerable warmth for your hands.
I also recommend taking along a mask and
glasses to keep your face warm, especially when
traveling in the boat. These items are a great aid in
handling “wind chill”. Be sure that everyone on the
boat is wearing a PFD, and keep extras handy for
use if needed. A bump or a sudden jolt can send you
overboard in a second, leaving you no time to search
for a life jacket, much less put it on yourself. Other
PFDs, including throw cushions and throw rings
should also be at the ready. It is always a good idea to
have “ship to shore” radio or at least one fully charged
cell phone with you. Keep your phone in a Ziploc
bag to guard against getting it wet. I have fished in
the winter early in the morning before daylight,
when the temperature was 20 degrees or less. I never
do so unless I have someone with me, and we always
observe these common sense precautions.
When casting a lure in this type of weather and
retrieving it on the water surface, you’ll notice that
the water freezes on the line. Obviously, the water
temperature is above freezing, but the air is much
colder. A dunk of the fishing rod in the water thaws
the line, but of course, it will freeze again.
Fishing in the coves early before daylight
produces good numbers of stripers in the 20 lb range
at this time of year. To succeed at this type of fishing,
you’ll need a good fish finder and a good spot light
to help guide you to the fishing spot.
Start early, well before daylight, so that you can
be in the cove before daylight. Carefully travel to
Fisherman’s
Almanac
by Bob King
Cold Weather Fishing
Your
Big Fish
9
