Some people don’t go fishing when it’s cold, but to me that’s a huge mistake. Some of my most memorable days on the water have come this time of the year. I’ve found that if you outfit yourself with the proper gear and equipment, it will increase your winter fishing success astronomically.
The Proper Gear
First and foremost, dress properly. Layers are important, but don’t bulk up so much that it affects your mobility. I start with a mid-weight pair of thermals, both the shirt and pants. My next layer is a pair of jeans and a nice thick hooded sweatshirt. I sometimes add another fleece jacket on top of the hoodie when it’s really cold and then put on the outer layer suit. You really want a suit that blocks the wind and is waterproof. There are a lot of good Gore-Tex suits on the market, so do your research and find the one that fits you and your budget.
Another important part of your winter wardrobe is headgear. A good fleece beanie and a neck gaiter make all the difference. The neck gaiter keeps cold air from slipping past your neck to the rest of your body, and the beanie obviously keeps your head warm. A good pair of thick, cold-weather socks, boots and a good pair of gloves, and you will be good to go. I remember one day last winter a friend of and I went fishing when it was 12 degrees in that morning and never got above freezing all day. We caught 19 smallmouth and had eight longer than 18 inches, which is considered keeper size on the lake we were on. Was it cold? Sure it was, but we were dressed properly and had the whole lake to ourselves.
Use Proper Equipment
Fishing tackle needs to be fine-tuned for winter fishing. There are a few things I do to make life easier when it’s cold. First, I use Winn grips on all the rods I build. Most gloves have a sticky grip material on the palms. When that material meets the Winn material, it gives you unbelievable grip on your fishing rod. It’s almost like the rod is locked in your hand, and it takes away any slipping that can be a problem with cold hands. It does the same for bare hands.
Winn also has a new product out called Winn Reel Sleeves. They have the same great grip material as the rod grips, but they slide over the handles of your reel. When it comes to finicky fish in the winter, you can’t afford for your hand to slip off the reel for a split second or that fish could be gone. I’ve been using these reel sleeves for several months, and will have them on every reel I own in the 2018 season.
Check out all the Winn products and custom rod building materials at www.mudhole.com. Winter is a great time to learn how to build your own rods for 2018.