It’s December, and in North America, that means winter no matter where you live. Obviously the cold season is different in South Dakota than it is in Tennessee, or even Michigan. But every fisherman faces the same challenge during these months—how to keep warm out on the lake.
Most anglers understand the importance of maintaining core body temperature, and the art of layering clothing from your undies to that last water- and/or windproof level. What I’m talking about are the three areas that are the hardest to keep warm—and usually the main reason you decide to call it quits early—your head, hands and feet.
Head
Having spent my whole life trying to stay warm outdoors (some years all the way from October through April), I know the main thing is to keep heat from escaping through the top of my head. If it leaks there, my whole body drains. I use many different covers, but my go-to lid is an original
Stormy Kromer wool cap.
George “Stormy” Kromer was an old-time Wisconsin railroader who asked his seamstress wife to make him a warm cap that would stay on his head when he stuck it out the engine window to check the tracks. Being that the first one was made from one of George’s old baseball caps, I’m not sure how warm it kept him. But today’s versions are solid gold.
It’s a natural for late-fall and early-spring fishing; because it’s 80 percent wool, it keeps insulating even when wet. I’ll wear it through the deep winter, too. The cap has earflaps for those days the wind starts to blister your lobes. But if I have to, I’ll pull a big knit hat over the top to cover them up even more.
Kromer caps are sized to fit, so if you order one, you’ll need that information. Here’s how to get it: Wrap a seamstress’s tape measure around the biggest part of your head above the eyebrows. Take that measurement (in inches) and divide by pi (if you slept through algebra class, pi is 3.14). The resulting number is your hat size. No seamstress’s tape? Use butcher’s string, or something equally flexible, and hold that length up to a yardstick.
Hands
Keeping your paws warm can be tricky because sometimes you need dexterity and sometimes you don’t. When I’m running a snowmobile over the ice, or a boat through a sleet storm, I opt for a pair of
heavy mittens, preferably with a long cuff that keeps cold air from running up my coat sleeves.
For added warmth on colder days, I wear wrist gaiters made from an old pair of tube socks. Hack off the toes, then cut a thumb-size hole about an inch from the cut-off ends. Slip one over your hand and up your arm, pushing your thumb through the hole so the gaiter can’t ride up your wrist. Glove options are many when you require finger control. A lot of fishermen choose neoprene or polypropylene versions, and they typically do a good job.
I prefer the feel of fleece, and usually go with a fingerless style. It’s not as water resistant, but to me, it just feels better.
If it’s really cold outside, I activate a
chemical hand warmer and tape it to the back of my hand where the blood vessels are close to the skin. It warms blood moving into your finger tips, and is usually good for 6 to 8 hours. Athletic tape or duct tape works equally well, just be sure it doesn’t restrict blood flow. Then, slip your gloves on over the heat packs.
Feet
Undoubtedly more cold-weather fishing has been cut short by frigid feet than for any other reason. Mainly because it’s harder to keep your feet warm than it is to keep your head and hands comfortable.
Good boots and moisture-wicking socks are a start, but I recently found something that looks like it may be the final answer. The folks at ThermaCell just introduced their new
remote-controlled Heated Insoles. A thin battery pack and heating element are built right in, plus you control heat levels and the on/off switch with a small remote-control pod.
The medium setting heats to 100 degrees and lasts for 5 hours of continuous use. On high-heat (111 degrees) the batteries will last for around 3½ hours. Most likely, though, you’ll turn them on until your toes are toasty, then push the “No Heat” button until they start to tingle again. Now you’re talking all-day comfort.
Their lithium ion batteries are rechargeable, and the company says they’re good for at least 500 charging cycles. Plus, the insoles are flexible enough for walking, and padded enough for standing, comfortably.
I anticipate these things will make a huge difference on those late- and early-season trips when my footwear isn’t as heavily insulated. But I’m going to start them out in my heavy ice fishing boots (as soon as the ice is thick enough), and will let you know how well they work.
In the meantime, if you’re among the first to try them, let’s hear your field report. And if you’ve got your own tricks for keeping warm on a cold fishing day, please share them with the rest of us.
-- Kurt