With spring upon us, more anglers are going to be hitting the water to catch some late-winter, or pre-spawn bass, or maybe chasing big pre spawn walleyes on a river, whatever it may be, the fishing can be good this time of year, but Mother Nature can change in the blink of an eye.
With that, fishermen need to be prepared with their clothing choices, so that they can make the most out of their fishing day and not be forced to return home early because they were cold, or wet. Having the correct clothing will also keep you safe and warm, giving you an enjoyable time on the water.
It is quite possible that the sun will be shining and on shore the temperatures may not feel that chilly, but when on the water the combination of a small breeze and moisture from the water below will make it feel colder on the water.
It is important to take several precautions when heading out on the water when the water temperatures are cold and there aren’t as many boaters out on the water.
Layering is key to keeping your core warm. By wearing a base layer, you will keep your body temperature where it needs to be at, followed by an insulation layer, then an outer layer to break the wind and dry if it begins to rain. If the temperature begins to rise, you can quickly shed a layer to keep cool.
Having a quality rain suit will not only keep you dry from the rain or waves but also will aid in breaking the bone chilling wind. Here is the breakdown out my cold weather clothing kit.
Beginning with a high-quality base layer is important, as this shirt and pant will do two things, the first it will aid in pulling the moisture off your body when you do get warm, and second the base layer garments will keep your core temperature warm. In my opinion, you need to try out as many base layer garments as possible, as each brand fits differently, and since bass fishing is a very movement-based activity, you don’t want to be wearing a base layer that moves or becomes uncomfortable after a few hours of making casts.
On top of your base layer, is when you will throw on your favorite pair of fishing pants and tournament jersey, or fishing shirt. Depending on how cold the temperature is, you may not need an insulation layer of garments and can just throw on a hoody, followed by your rain gear.
If it is going to be extremely cold and you need more warmth, insulation garments are needed. These garments are like a blanket covering your body and will add heat to your body. Now you don’t want an insulated jacket that is bulky, as you won’t be able to cast, reel, and that extra weight will fatigue your body, cutting your day short. Having a jacket that has articulated elbows, and is lightweight, will eliminate this issue, and the Thermoclyne Hooded Jacket provides that, and with its Thermal-mapped Sorona® Aura insulation, you’ll have extra warmth at your core (80g) and less (60g) in your arms giving you the range of motion needed.
One of my favorite ways to layer clothing for my upper body, which is extremely important, is that is how you can keep your core temperature up, is to wear a high-quality sweatshirt, followed by a vest overtop of it. This is an easy way to provide warmth and depending on the day’s forecast can be taken off if it gets warm. And since it is a vest, it keeps an angler’s arms uninhibited when casting. There are two great vest options with Whitewater, the first being the new Thermoclyne, which has 80 grams of Sorona ® Aura insulation, giving you a garment that helps you retain your body heat, while not bogging you down as it is light weight and breathable.
The other vest option is the Torque Heat Fishing Vest, with its combined 80 grams of Primaloft ® Silver insulation and the adjustable (three levels) heating element gives you a powerful way to punch the cold out of your body on those days that are SUPER cold and nasty out.
As you get to the outer layer now, you’ll want to have your rain gear on, or ready to put on, as being wet will shorten your fishing day. Rain gear will also break the wind, and keep you from getting those chills from a brisk wind.
Keeping your fingers warm and dry is important in keeping the sense of feel and ability to tie knots but also warding off frost bite. I’ll wear my gloves to keep my hands dry and warm when driving the boat, or if the weather gets bad. But when I’m making casts, I like to wear fingerless gloves so I can feel my line, retie lures when needed and be able to turn my reel handle uninhibited. The Wool Fingerless, or Merino Wool Half-Fingered Glove are both great options for anglers to wear, and not just in the spring or fall, but also on those cool summer mornings.
Sometimes the temperatures will allow you to keep wearing that favorite fishing hat of yours and just pull the hood up on your jacket. Other times, or maybe just at blast off, you’ll need a beanie to keep your ears warm and to keep heat from escaping from the top of your head. If the weather calls for rain or snow, you’ll want to have an extra beanie, so you can swap them when one gets wet.
With proper laying, you will stay warm and dry, resulting in you being more alert and comfortable, this will keep your day on the water enjoyable and a success.