Fishing In Cold Weather

General Fishing Safety

• General Safety  • Warm Weather  • Cold Weather  • All-Weather  • Basic First-Aid

Related Information

• Fishing Fundamentals  • Fishing Resources

If you fish in cold weather, several layers of clothing can keep you warm. Clothing layers trap air between them and offer great insulation. As it warms up during the day, you can always take off some of the clothing.
Long underwear, a warm shirt, and warm pants help to hold your body's heat. Additional layers of clothing can include an insulated vest and a rain parka, which are also good for keeping you warm on cold, windy days.

Caps and hats are important. They prevent loss of body heat from your head-and-neck area. Headgear used for fishing during the winter should protect most of your head, including your ears. Some good choices are an insulated hat or cap or a wool stocking cap. A knit scarf can protect your neck.

Fishing is difficult with most gloves. There are gloves, however, that let you tie knots and handle fishing tackle. They include lightweight rubber gloves and "hunter/fisherman's gloves," gloves that have a flap so you can expose your fingers. Gloves without fingertips are also good.

Before fishing on ice, it is a good safety practice to check the thickness of the ice. Drill a hole with an ice auger near shore and along your route of travel, measuring the thickness of the ice as you move. Do not fish on ice unless it is at least four inches, and preferably more, thick. Thinner ice is dangerous because it can break easily.

You need warm clothing, long underwear, pants and shirt for cold weather and ice fishing.

A snowmobile suit and insulated boots with thick soles are ideal. A warm hat, heavy gloves, and a skier's mask are also needed. Hand warmers are also helpful. A personal flotation device, when worn under clothing, provides extra warmth and also emergency flotation if you go for an unexpected icy plunge.

This information provided by Future Fisherman Foundation