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Dress ing for Success ful Cold-Weather AnglingU by Darl Black photos by the author My fi shing friends who live Staying warm and dry in more southern states in winter weather involves have a diffi cult time getting three considerations: (a) their minds around north- insulation that holds warm ern snow, ice or even open- air but doesn’t absorb wa- water temperatures in the ter; (b) preventing rain, low 40s. “What do you do snow or wind from pen- during the three or four etrating your insulation; winter months when you and (c) allowing the water can’t fi sh?” They ask. vapor generated by body I tell them, “Who says I heat to escape through all don’t go fi shing? I dress for layers. Today’s high-tech cold and hit the water— materials address all three either open water or hard considerations in an in- water depending on the se- credibly comfortable way verity of the winter.” Don’t let winter’s weather keep you from fi shing. Dress for with a three-layer cold- Several decades ago my success in layers with the latest in today’s clothing. weather clothing system. answer would have been, “I sit around a warm fi re and dream of spring,” or, “I become chilled if outside for very Base layer long.” Those days are pretty much a thing of the past, if you First is the base layer next to your skin. Its main purpose dress for success with the latest winter wear. If you’re still is to wick perspiration away from the body so it passes to trying to stay warm and dry with poor choices in clothing, the next layer. you’ll continue to suffer. The single most important step you can take toward be- ing comfortable is to lose those inexpensive cotton thermal Proper layering long johns. With the exception of natural silk, manmade The idea of layering clothing for cold weather outside fi bers do a better job. The polypropylene base-layer gar- activities goes back to earlier times. But few individuals ments of a few years ago have been replaced with improved understood proper layering, and the clothing industry material like Thermastat™ and the newest compression certainly lacked the technology to produce the needed garments that fi t like a second skin. garments. I’m a fan of a silk base layer. Silk is form-fi tting with- In my youth, layering simply meant piling on lots of out the tightness of compression garments, which I fi nd clothes. I would pull on cotton thermal top and bottom uncomfortable. undergarments, heavyweight cotton bluejeans, cotton fl annel shirt, a scratchy wool sweater and a fl annel-lined Insulation layer coat with a rubberized coating. An hour or so later I was The insulation layer must create space to trap warm air damp and shivering. from escaping but allow perspiration in the form of water My clothing was largely to blame for my misery. Cotton vapor to pass to the next layer. is a poor cold-weather clothing choice because it retains Goose down has long been an outstanding insulator moisture. Putting on a rubberized outer shell creates a wa- in outdoor clothing, but it doesn’t let perspiration escape terproof barrier for sure, but at the same time it doesn’t let easily, so you can become overheated if you’re involved in moisture escape. even moderate activity. Furthermore, down is bulky and www.fi sh.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January-February 2008 35 Shell layer The outermost shell layer must be windproof and waterproof, yet breathable so all that perspiration can escape—otherwise inner layers will become damp and you’ll end up shivering. The proper outer shell material will prevent rain (large water molecules) from passing through while allowing water vapor (smaller molecules) to pass to the outside. There are several high-tech materials that can do this. Gore-Tex® is likely the most recognizable name, but oth- er shell materials include Dry-Plus®, Tech H2O™, Foul Tech™ and textured nylon. The key is to purchase water- proof shell clothing for which the manufacturer states that the actual material is breathable, instead of claiming that the garment breathes through vents or inner mesh lining. The head is an area of signifi cant heat loss, so it’s impor- Rubberized or PVC material never breathes. tant to keep it covered. To be comfortable, layering must extend to the entire doesn’t dry quickly. Natural wool remains an effective in- body. You must include long-sleeve tops and long bottoms. sulator, but all-wool garments retain moisture and don’t And don’t forget the appropriate liner sock and insulating dry quickly. sock before slipping your foot into a shoe or boot. Today’s best insulation materials are Polar Fleece or Thinsulate™—warmth without weight or bulk. Quality Adjusting the thermostat fl eece is relatively inexpensive, it readily allows water vapor Some people can withstand cold better than others. to pass through, it retains insulating abilities when wet, and You may require more or less insulation than your buddy it dries very quickly. Vests, hats, neck gators, long pants to maintain the same comfort level. For example, to stay and pull-over/zippered tops are all available in fl eece. warm I generally need a fl eece pull-over and Thinsulate Chart-courtesy of NOAA 36 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2008 www.fi sh.state.pa.us vest while my fi shing buddy Dave wears only a pullover. During extreme cold periods, I replace my raingear shell Apparel for Winter Kayaking with a Thinsulate insulated coat in addition to a fl eece I’m not into winter kayaking, but I have friends who pullover. live for it, and it’s becoming more popular every sea- The head is an area of signifi cant heat loss, so it’s impor- son. As kayaker Ryan Wiegel explains, “Boaters have tant to keep it covered. For some individuals that might be very special requirements in garments. You cannot a simple ball cap. For others, it may require a neck gaiter wear your typical cold-weather fi shing clothing. and tightly knit watch cap or a Thinsulate/Gore-Tex ball- “When kayaking in the winter, you work up more cap. If you wear a watch cap, consider adding a headband of a sweat than when fi shing. The name of the game is visor to reduce glare for improved sight on the water or to stay cool so that you don’t perspire. We use a layer- on the ice. ing system, but we do not over do it. Plus, since our upper torso is very active paddling, it is vital to have Hands, fi ngers fl exible clothing. Depending on the activity, there are several options to “Our base layer serves to wick away sweat, but it also consider when it comes to hands and fi ngers. If you’re acts as a rash guard due to all the paddle movements. fi shing with a rod and reel where feel is important, fi nger- The base layer and thin insulating layer must stretch. less gloves in either ragg wool or fl eece are popular. Take Everything is designed with “MVT” in mind—Mois- two or three pairs along in case one gets wet. When you’re ture Vapor Transmission.” running an outboard, hauling a sled onto the ice or pad- The outer shells specifi cally made for cold-water dling a kayak, you need the protection of full-fi nger lined, kayaking are exceptional performance garments. Not waterproof gloves. only must the outer layer be wind-resistant, waterproof For added warmth of toes and fi ngers, look to the magic and breathable, but the shell must also be fl exible and of self-contained chemical heat packs. Stick “toe warmers” durable. Cordura nylon fabric covers all critical rub with adhesive strips to the bottom of your socks, and slip points. On a full dry suit the wrist and neck openings “hand warmers” into your jacket pockets to bring feeling have special latex gaskets to keep water out. back to your pinkies. “I wear a water sport helmet with ear protection. It provides some insulation but also allows heat to Fine-tuning escape. We wear thick neoprene boots with felt soles • Wading: Winter steelhead or inland trout anglers have instead of shoes. Our gloves have a waterproof nylon wader requirements. Many opt for extra-thick neoprene outer shell with gripper dots to hold a paddle better, chest waders. However, if you walk any distance on dry and special removable inner gloves for warmth. land, more than likely you’ll work up a sweat because neo- “With all the technical clothing we use, I am more prene doesn’t breathe. I am much more comfortable with comfortable kayaking than walking down the street in insulating fl eece pants and a pair of Gore-Tex waders. the winter,” Wiegel says. • Boat fi shing: When jet boating during winter on one And, of course, don’t even think about boarding a of the state’s major rivers, any exposed skin on your face kayak without wearing a life jacket—DB. will take a beating from wind burn and cold air. I’ve tried balaclavas, but these hooded slip-on head protectors aren’t suffi ciently windproof at boat speeds. However, there is a relatively new item called a sport utility mask with inter- changeable lenses. These masks are lightweight and con- siderably cheaper than the motorcycle helmets worn by tournament bass anglers during the spring and fall.

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