11-06-2011, 11:35 AM
[cool][#0000ff]That is a personal and subjective thing. Some folks are more tolerant (masochistic) than others. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most years I fish right up until the time when I can no longer get my tube out through the shoreline ice to fish open water. I fished two trips in December last year when I had to break through ice to launch. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=628543;#628543"]WILLARD 12-8-10[/url] My last trip was actually the day before Christmas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Ice in the guides is one of the downsides of fishing in the cold. Other BIG considerations are keeping warm and safe. It can be just TDC (too d..... cold) to enjoy/endure your fishing...no matter how good it might be. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You gotta wear warm head gear. Keep the ears warm and help hold body core heat by keeping the head warm.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Wear gloves. Full fingered gloves or mittens make it tough to work your tackle...or to retie or rerig...or handle fish. But fingerless gloves can leave the tips of your fingers exposed to extreme cold and frostbite can sneak up on you in a hurry if your fingers get wet and there is a breeze to go along with subfreezing temps. That has always been my "indicator"...if my fingers hurt too much to fish, I quit fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For the upper and lower body you need to layer properly. Don't wear cotton. An inner layer of poly or "Under Armor" type insulation is a good place to start. Then add fleece or wool layers as needed to keep you comfortable without overheating and perspiring too much.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like the hands, your feet can be the reason why you get off the water early. Again, layer properly and use wool socks for warmth. But you need to consider constriction. If you try to shove too much bulk into your waders and boots your feet will become constricted...reducing blood flow...and it won't matter how many layers of warmth you are wearing. When your feet get cramped they get cold and they hurt. You're done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A lot of wannabee late season anglers try to make do with the same fins they used in warmer water. That is a big cause of foot constriction. Wear larger soft pocket or laceup fins over all the extra bulk for winter fishing. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can get by with lightweight waders for winter fishing...if you layer properly. But neoprene is much better. 3 mm will suffice over a wide range of temperature conditions...from early fall chill to iceout flogging in early spring. Again, what you wear under them is most important.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am probably one of the last tuber/tooners on the water in Utah most years...and one of the first on when the ice comes off. I have fished Huntington several years when the lake capped over within a couple of days of my last trip...and tubing water temps were only a few degrees above freezing. But the fishing far more than justified the discomfort.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, I would be the last one to suggest that anybody put themselves at risk for frostbite or hypothermia by trying to fish when it is just ridiculously cold...even when there is no ice on the lake. As I often say...when discussing ice fishing...I fish for enjoyment, not endurance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most years I fish right up until the time when I can no longer get my tube out through the shoreline ice to fish open water. I fished two trips in December last year when I had to break through ice to launch. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=628543;#628543"]WILLARD 12-8-10[/url] My last trip was actually the day before Christmas.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Ice in the guides is one of the downsides of fishing in the cold. Other BIG considerations are keeping warm and safe. It can be just TDC (too d..... cold) to enjoy/endure your fishing...no matter how good it might be. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You gotta wear warm head gear. Keep the ears warm and help hold body core heat by keeping the head warm.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Wear gloves. Full fingered gloves or mittens make it tough to work your tackle...or to retie or rerig...or handle fish. But fingerless gloves can leave the tips of your fingers exposed to extreme cold and frostbite can sneak up on you in a hurry if your fingers get wet and there is a breeze to go along with subfreezing temps. That has always been my "indicator"...if my fingers hurt too much to fish, I quit fishing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]For the upper and lower body you need to layer properly. Don't wear cotton. An inner layer of poly or "Under Armor" type insulation is a good place to start. Then add fleece or wool layers as needed to keep you comfortable without overheating and perspiring too much.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Like the hands, your feet can be the reason why you get off the water early. Again, layer properly and use wool socks for warmth. But you need to consider constriction. If you try to shove too much bulk into your waders and boots your feet will become constricted...reducing blood flow...and it won't matter how many layers of warmth you are wearing. When your feet get cramped they get cold and they hurt. You're done.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A lot of wannabee late season anglers try to make do with the same fins they used in warmer water. That is a big cause of foot constriction. Wear larger soft pocket or laceup fins over all the extra bulk for winter fishing. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You can get by with lightweight waders for winter fishing...if you layer properly. But neoprene is much better. 3 mm will suffice over a wide range of temperature conditions...from early fall chill to iceout flogging in early spring. Again, what you wear under them is most important.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I am probably one of the last tuber/tooners on the water in Utah most years...and one of the first on when the ice comes off. I have fished Huntington several years when the lake capped over within a couple of days of my last trip...and tubing water temps were only a few degrees above freezing. But the fishing far more than justified the discomfort.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But, I would be the last one to suggest that anybody put themselves at risk for frostbite or hypothermia by trying to fish when it is just ridiculously cold...even when there is no ice on the lake. As I often say...when discussing ice fishing...I fish for enjoyment, not endurance.[/#0000ff]
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