Fly fishing for trout in cold weather is a very effective way to prepare for the new year. While not very exciting to talk about, fly fishing is a very pro-active sport that requires you to get your feet on the ground and into the water!
Cold weather is a great time to start caving decker ice lures and streamers at first. These will give you nice starts and stops to fish! Start building your arsenal of tricks as soon as possible so you are ready for any storm or frozen up stream.
Building your repertoire of tricks will include trying various ways of entering and out of freeze thaw, trying different material proteins you can use, and most importantly, finding new ways to display your trout.
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Wax for your fly line
Wax is one of the most talked about fly fishing tips of the past few years. Many professionals have gone back to using only wax for their flies, due to its positive effect on fish sensitivity.
Wax is generally described as being made of oil or fat that has been dried and carved into a shape and then melted and hardened into a slick. It can be used dry, or should be mixed with some kind of liquid to make it usable.
Some species are sensitive to waxes, so some experts suggest having none that are harsh or ones with less defendability. Others suggest having soft, less defendable waxes so your fish cannot escape you. Either way, you will be helping them out!
As with all new tips and tricks, start small. Smaller mistakes can lead to major problems and/or missed opportunities for success.
Higher content socks
While less expensive sock brands may not offer much extra space, more expensive socks may. Higher quality materials may result in a more comfortable fit and wear.
At the extreme high end of fishing footwear are leather or vinyl shoes that cost almost $100. These are usually built with very high quality materials and designed to last a long time.
Costing less than $20 may result in low quality materials and poor durability. If you are spending more money, increased durability is a bonus!
Some fish such as trout prefer softer water conditions resulting in less hardy fish apparel.
Neoprene waders
Neoprene is one of the major materials used in fly fishing apparel and fly fishing gear. It has a high melting temperature, meaning it will continue to heat up and break down as you wear it.
Neoprene is also resistant to water damage, which makes it very valuable for winter weather fishing. This is a huge plus!
With the right thickness of neoprene, you can experiment with different jacket layers. Some favorite thicknesses are: light-medium, medium, and heavy. These differences do not exist in weight of fish that you can catch!
Synthetic leather has been used as the next material we use to build Fly Fishing Gearhead Kit Components! This material does not retain water, which makes it very useful for cold weather fishing.
Fishing boots
Cold weather fishing is a fun way to spend some time. There are many ways to prepare yourself for this weather scenario, and many ways to keep warm while fishing. If you are in the market for new Cold Weather Fishing Gear, then please take a minute to read through these tips.
For starters, if you are looking at winter boots, make sure that they have thick soles to help hold onto snow and ice. Agreeing below freezing temperatures is tricky without heavy socks! Also, consider wearing thermal leggings or long pants to keep you warm.
For layers, we recommend being invested in at least two pairs of loose-fitting clothing; the more the better. Buy used if possible, these clothes will help preserve your heat! Lastly, try not wearing jewelry or attached items that may be revealing under your clothing.
Sweaters or jackets
Having a sweater or two in your arsenal can be helpful when outside in cold weather gear. They can help protect you from the wind and snow that was flying past you.
When fishing in cold weather conditions, it is important to know what kind of clothing is warm. There are several ways to determine which clothing is warm. The most common way is to use a insulated blanket or a sweatshirt as an index of heat.
Another way to tell if someone is wearing thermal underwear is to see if they are wearing any wool or leather shoes. If so, they must be wearing thermal socks! Both these things prevent heat loss because the materials are heat conducting.
There are many places where weather does not matter as much as where we sit and how we sit.
High-content fleece pants
A low-contraptioned fly fishing pants is called a “high-content fleece pant.” These are typically made out of fleece or wool, and are very durable.
While these may not be the easiest fashion statement to pull off, it is one of the better looking fly fishing pants out there. Some people even wear them with a jacket over to add some flair!
Common features include: elasticated waistband, heavy-duty zipper on the rear, and thick vinyl or wool material. These are typically not designed for wearing under a shirt because of the thickness, but instead as an outer layer garment.
Another tip: Look for sellers that are in good shape so they can keep their high-content pants surviable.
High-content fleece jacket
When it comes to winter weather gear, there are two main categories of clothing. The first is thermal, or heated, garments such as coats and jackets, and the second is winter layering materials such as shirts and pants.
Thermal garments protect you from hot temperatures by staying on while ice fishing, being lightweight enough to wear over a sweatshirt, being reversible if fishing in colder conditions such as snow trout.
In terms of layering materials, you can have a few choices. You can have a long-sleeve shirt that is worn over a pair of jeans, or you can have a sweatshirt that is worn alone.
Down insulation layer
When the weather is cold, or you are laying low in bed for the night, a layer of insulation is a must. Sleeping bag up to 40 degrees is very cooling!
Keeping warm in Cold Weather Gear
To keep your gear pre-warming while you are fishing, have some fleece or sweatshirt wool handy. By using this as a blanket when sleeping, it can also be used to line your tent or sleeping bag as well.
While DuPont makes some great lightweight blanked sleeping bags these days, having some wool will always help save money in future years!
Another tip for keeping warm is having a heavy towel ready to use as a layering up. This way, you do not have to search through the cold and frozen conditions to get the cover!
General tips: Check out what brands are highest rated and trusted by other Fishing Thread users before investing in new gear.