As fishermen, no one can stop us from our fishing even when the season changes. It is winter season and the temperature is continuously going down.  In this season, I know most of us don’t know the gears to stay warm during the coldest months of the year. To make it sure, bring extras of hand and foot warmers to keep you warm during the winter fishing.

Now, I will show you the different gears and some instructions for you not worry anymore about the freezing temperature.

  1. Base Layer

The first level of clothing is called as your base layer. There are two reasons why base layer is very important.

First, it insulates the natural heat of the body and keeps it from escaping.

Second, it wicks moisture away from your skin toward the outside of the fabric so it can evaporate.[read more]

Did you know that the moisture wicking process is very significant? If the person begins to sweat and it dries on your skin or maybe saturates your clothing, the possibility to stay warm will be severely hindered.

  1. Mid Layer

The mid layer keeps your natural body warmth in while keeping the cold out. You can wear a hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

Most of the anglers are wearing polyester made of sweatshirts rather than cotton because polyester has a better water resistance than cotton.

There are many available water resistant sweatshirts and warm jeans in the market to keep you warm and comfortable.

  1. Insulated Socks

Insulated socks are really just an extension of the base layer.

When fishing, it I very easy for your feet to get cold because they do not move much.

A good pair of insulated socks has a moisture wicking capability that is very essential to staying warm.

It is a good option to have a thin liner sock that wicks moisture away and a thicker sock to insulate the feet.

  1. Shell Jacket

The shell jacket is also known as the outer layer of your winter fishing outfit.

The outer layer of your clothing is to keep the wind and cold out. They are commonly less thick than the base and mid layers.But this layer is made of a more water resistant soft shell material.

Most of them have Gore Tex lining in them which is popular and known as a water proof membrane that meant to keep you dry while still allowing for evaporation of your body’s perspiration. Also, Gore Tex is also important if you are fishing in wet conditions.

  1. Insulated Boots

Insulated boots really help your feet warm and dry. Like the jackets and bibs, the boots must also have Gore Tex membrane to keep the moisture out while allowing for evaporation of sweat.

Most boots that are used in winter kayak fishing have “Thinsulate” insulation, ranges from 100-1000+ grams. The higher the number, the warmer your boots should be.

Choose the right amount of insulation to keep your feet warm enough without making them sweat much.

  1. Bibs

This gear is another option for you. It has the same purpose as the jacket- to keep out the cold and wind.

They are made of the same material as the jacket and an exact match to the jacket.

This bibs are commonly used by the anglers because its style and design. Also, it comes higher up on your chest unlike the jacket. It also keeps your core warmer than they were just soft shell pants.

  1. Gloves

Fishing gloves are usually difficult to find. But here’s what I found! This gear is made of Gore Tex. The gloves will keep your hand dry when you are fishing in a cold season.

The gloves will try its best to keep your hand warm although in a pro longed day of fishing, your hands will inevitably get wet. For cold days on the water, it is best to have three pairs of gloves.

A thick pair of gloves for making long boat runs and the other two gloves is more thin pairs that you could swap periodically, so that no pair gets too wet. If the other pairs are not in use, you could keep them inside your bib or sweatshirt to add heat to your body and keep them warm.

  1. Head Warmer

Did you know the myth about losing 80% of body heat through our head has been proven false? It is still very important to keep your head warm.

An ordinary old stocking cap will do its job just fine but this version of head warmer is very functional and keeps the face and neck warm in cold days.

  1. Hand and Foot Warmers

Hand and foot warmers are taking you to another level! It can make difference between a day on the water and cold day.

Moreover, they are activated by heat, you can grab and get them out when you are about 12 minutes from the lake and let them warm up.

So they can also be stuck in your boots and gloves to keep your body warm. Many anglers say they last for 8 hours but few of them say they last for only 4 hours.

  1. Snacks

Who wants to go fishing without bringing some snacks? Having a full belly is very important than most of us might think especially during a cold day on the water.

Foods that are high in proteins, fats or complex carbohydrates produce more heat when digested by your body.

If your body produces more heat, you will become warmer. Also, a hot coffee is also a great idea to bring when fishing.

Conclusion

We do need a safety gear especially when fishing in this cold season.

The amount of your safety gear that you would bring on kayak fishing should be based on your convenience level.

Be sure to have mobile phone, GPS and other devices for both communication and navigation.

You can also bring a dry bag with your first aid equipment, hydrating fluids and snacks inside.

Enjoy your winter kayak fishing!

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