Looking for suggestions to stay warm well into November/December open water season. Want to be warm but not the Michelin man look where you can’t move.
I have Insulated Guidewear bibs but after that I’m open to suggestions – coat, hands, feet.
Have heard of battery-powered vests, socks, gloves.
Have also heard of heat packs for boots and mitts…
Sitting out in the boat shivering or numb is miserable. What do you use – what really works well?
Last season I found that a down vest with a solid pair of bibs goes a long way. It’s a really effective layer without bulk and free range of movement for your arms.
Good base layers.
Also recommend good base payers. I really like my under armour base layer 3 or 4. I also bought a Rocky top and bottom from wal mart last year. I was very impressed.
I like my base to be a turtleneck or a high collar long sleeve top. I don’t like anything zippered uptight under my chin. With the turtle set up it cuts the wind blowing in the neck area.
Thx! Suggestions for – Hands… Feet ??
What kinds of socks and boots do you have? How thick of gloves can you fish with? I try to wear extra layers everywhere else, so I don’t really need gloves, keep everything else warm, and that much more heat goes to your hands.
Tried my fairshare of gloves, can’t say i liked any of em all that well.
Cheapo cotton ones, with handwarmers placed on the wrists or back of hands keep me pretty comfy all night or day.
Ice armor extreme parka has been great for me.
I hate wearing gloves, so usually only wear a thin pair like gorilla gloves or mechanics gloves and utilize hand warmers in my pockets or a muff. For feet you will likely need to wear rubber boots as most docks will be pulled and you’ll need to step in the water to get in the boat. I like my Irish Setter 1200 grains, with 2 pairs of wool socks (a thinner merino wool and thicker wool over it). If it’s really cold, I’ll bring my buddy heater so I have a place to warm up or dry my hands. And a warm lunch does wonders too, either via a grill or something in a thermos (soup, precooked hotdogs etc.)
I boat fish all winter, in some rude conditions… And you’ll get cold, welcome to winter.
I wear striker climate suit
Good winter boots (add hand warmers if necessary)
Good hat
Good neck gator
Wear gloves as little as possible (rare)
I will typically do a 5 handwarmer routine, two in bib pockets closer to kidneys, two in my coat pocket to warm my hands, 1 next to the cell phone in a pocket. Occasionally I’ll add one in my boots.
Thx! Suggestions for – Hands… Feet ??
Long time back I got some fantastic advice from this old timer. “If you’re hands are cold, wear another layer on your arms. If your feet are cold, put another layer on your legs” True words.
X2 on getting your neck covered up.
Great question. And responses.
One article of base layer type clothing I stumbled across that I now swear by for late season open water and ice fishing, is a wool blend shirt from LL Bean called the River Driver shirt. Google it/look on their web site. They are very comfortable and warm. About $40 I think. It’s a great base layer type shirt.
anyone go with the the one piece coverallas not very cool looking although I don’t care about looks much. Feel like the heat would stay in better than bibs and coat although not popular. maybe its when you have to go to the bathroom that’s the issue.
layers! adjust to fit conditions of the day.
and no cotton!
my late season wear for trolling in Canada:
– polypro long underwear top and bottom
– polypro union suit
– fleece pants
– Cabela’s Windshear pants
– Cabela’s Windshear wool sweater
– non-insulated rain bibs/parka (easier to layer)
– 700 gram Thinsulate waterproof boots
– 2000 gram Thinsulate pak boots
– Berber fleece neck gator
– Wool watch cap
– Berber fleece cap
– thin, waterproof gloves (warm, wet days)(2-3 pair)
– wool mittens / leather chopper outers (cold, dry days)
Can I say something? Ok, ok, I’ll just close the door behind me then. Carry on.
X2 on Underarmour 3/4.0, that stuff is great. I like their “Expedition weight” 4.0s too, basically like a really heavy sweat pant/shirt. I’ve had good luck with Clam Ice Armor, I like the regular blue suit for open water because it’s relatively lightweight but great at stopping wind, still plenty warm. I also have a high-end Columbia rain suit, I don’t think they sell it anymore, but it’s great because it’s like normal rain gear, but a little heavy, with their Omniheat liner. That stuff is WARM. I love the pockets, I don’t even have to use hand warmers.
Having said all that, has ANYONE found a nice glove that’s actually waterproof and dexterous?
Great topic-November fishing often is colder than ice fishing because with ice fishing you walk every now and then or you are by a heater.
I also bring along one of those phone charger / hand warmer devices. They put out a lot of heat, and can be recharged pretty quickly by plugging a USB into the 12v plug in my boat.
Warmer than the shake-pouches and no mess.
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