Winter Fishing Clothing: What You Should Have

Winter fishing in North America is one of the most unique experiences anglers could ever have.  One such experience is through ice fishing where an angler stands atop a frozen lake or river, cuts a hole through and fishes there. It’s a very popular form of fishing that’s only available at this time of year. Fish, in general, are bigger during this time as the cold kills off many of the smaller prey fishes feed on resulting in fish needing to stock up on food the season prior. It also helps that the cold slows down their metabolism; their need to eat food. Say what you will about fish during this time, but, there’s no denying that the experience of catching a bass through a thick enough layer of ice is fun regardless of how many fish one catches.

Of course, regular fishing is also just as rewarding during the holiday season. Many trout are active during this time in places like the Hudson River or Lake Tahoe. There are also many trout expeditions being offered during this time, like in Rock Creek, Montana or in any of the Great Lakes. Finally, the United States is dotted with many scenic views and natural landscapes as well as a variety of different fish to catch. During the wintertime. These scenic views go to another level. Much like many winter wonderland adventures found in movies and tv, places like Montana, Colorado, and Lake Tahoe transform into the very same thing.  These places also double as great family trip destinations for the holiday season.

With as many good things to talk about when talking about winter trips in the United States, one obvious hindrance to the winter is the cold.  Winter weather is no joke and frostbite is certainly not one either. In order to combat the cold, the first step one should always take is to wear appropriate clothing. More so than heaters, fireplaces, and warm food and water, one thing that will keep anglers warm is their clothing. When planning a winter outing here are some clothes anglers ought to have.

Winter Wear Essentials

Focus on the Base Layer

More so than warding off the cold, the most important step when picking out clothes for winter fishing is having clothes that are insulated. Though wearing many layers of clothing will ultimately lead to raising body temperature, using clothes made out of fleece is great to use as a base layer of clothing. These types of clothing will not only insulate the body while keeping natural body heat inside but will also evaporate fluids like sweat outside of the garment. Despite what many will tell you, overdressing is actually bad as excessive sweating due to having many layers of clothing will end up cooling due to the weather and stick to the body. Using fleece-based clothing as a base layer will help prevent that from happening. 

Wear wool

A big mistake many anglers make when picking out clothes for fishing during winter is getting clothes made out of cloth. Wearing cloth-based clothes is generally looked down upon and can be very dangerous. These types of clothing are usually used for summer where it’s nice to keep cool during the hot weather. Cloth is definitely the type of material that the cold winds will pass through. Even worse when dealing with this type of material is when it comes into contact with water as the water takes too long to dry and stick to the skin, both of which can lead to hypothermia and even frostbite. 

Wool is a better type of material to have on your clothing as it’s thick enough for water not to pass through as well as to brush off cold winds. There are many jackets out for sale that are lined up with wool both inside and out. 

Use Waterproof Clothing

There will be many times when an angler gets wet during a fish trip; it just comes with the sport. Despite being a regular occurrence throughout any other time of the year, getting wet during a fishing trip in winter can be very dangerous; a lot of times even more so than the cold winds. Cold water will not dry quickly and when let alone can drastically lower the body temperature to dangerous levels. There are many waterproof clothing ranging from gloves, shoes, and even pants. It’s good to invest in some as a way to prepare for the cold water.

Cover Even the Smallest Gaps

Obviously being able to cover key parts of the body like the chest comes first, but in reality, anglers should try their best to cover most parts, including the head and most especially the hands and legs. These parts are the ones most likely to get afflicted by frostbite the most and should be seriously taken care of. Wearing insulated gloves and socks are a good way to ward off the cold as well as to insulate your own body heat. Some anglers even recommend using double the socks in order to keep warm. Finally, there are heating supplements other than ones for clothing that can readily be bought in any store. Heating pads are one of the most indispensable tools a winter fishing angler can have. Anglers use these to heat specific parts of their bodies. Most anglers usually place them on the nape or in their gloves, as well as socks. Though it’s good to always have heating pads, they do still run out. Anglers should always carry a surplus in case of emergencies. Wearing wool beanies will also protect anglers from the cold winds.

Fishing during the holiday season can be both fun and unique, at least compared to when heading on out during the other times of the year. Though it’s great to maximize the holiday season and have fun, people should still take precaution in consideration of the elements.  Frostbite and hypothermia are real things to be worried about and should properly be prepared for. In the end, what precedes a good vacation is proper planning and wise decisions.