Cold Weather Angling “What you should know” by Steve Clark Anyone that says fishing isn’t a dangerous sport obviously has never waded a steelhead stream in the middle of January in search of chrome. If you have ever found yourself waist deep in 30 degree water or worse yet, if you’ve ever taken a spill in said water then you will agree that winter fishing can indeed be a bit dangerous at time…..unless you are prepared! First off - boot foot neo's are a must if the weather is very cold. I have made due with breathables and layers under them during the mild winters, but if it’s dead of winter and you plan on a prolonged outing then boot foot waders are a must. 3 mm. neoprene waders offer excellent warmth but if you’re a true die-hard and fish in conditions that would keep 99% of other anglers inside where its warm, then 5 mm. neoprene waders are the call of the day. Under the neo's fleece wader pants are great, but if you don’t have them then I wear thermal long johns with a heavy pair of sweatpants over them and stay very warm that way. Stay away from wearing jeans as they don’t retain body heat very well. Also, thermal socks are a good idea. Wearing a pair of silk or poly socks under the insulating sock will also help to wick away moisture to keep you dry, and dry feet are warm feet. Avoid any tight fitting clothing. Clothing that is tight will cut off the circulation and a lack of circulation is what speeds up cold/numb body parts. So loose fitting clothing in layers will help to keep you warm.  For the upper body one word........LAYERS! Several thin layers will always retain heat better than one heavy layer. Also remember to make that first layer a “wicking” layer to help prevent sweat from building up against your body. When sweat builds up you lose all the protection from the layers due to the moisture.  I start out with a t-shirt with a thermal shirt over it; next I put on a long sleeve "fatigue" style shirt then over that I wear a pull over fleece. Over the fleece I wear a hooded sweat shirt if it's really cold, then as an outer shell I wear a wind/rain resistant coat. A hat is a must in the winter steelheading game.... I wear a full face mask rolled up as a hat and if I get cold then I just pull it down...although then you look like a bank robber out fishing, but you will be warm. Remember - heat is lost through the top of your head so capping that heat off will make the rest of your body warmer. Gloves are another must ....I like to use fleece gloves as they seem warmer than neo gloves to me...BUT if you wear fleece gloves make sure you have 2 pair; one to wear and one to keep in the back of your vest because, while fleece gloves are very warm....WET fleece gloves are NOT and when you hook that big 15# steelie and go to land/release it the last thing on your mind is your gloves, so they are bound to get wet. Also remember that wool does retain its insulating properties when wet, unlike cotton. So wool gloves are also a very good choice. On the kinds of days that make your nose stick together and your teeth rattle I have found that pocket hand warmers both in the pockets and dropped down in your wader boots help to get you warmed up. A small thermos of coffee can be a lifesaver....against what some might tell you, alcohol does not help to warm you up. If you think a nip will keep you warm then you will be surprised to know it's actually just the opposite. Alcohol lowers your body temp so it will make you colder! Always carry a lighter and some waterproof matches with you. I don’t care if you’re a smoker or not, having a means of starting a fire can be a life saver when you're outside in the elements. A lighter in your fishing vest is a good idea, but if you take an unexpected spill into the stream then it could be rendered useless, so waterproof matches are a better idea. Felt soles- Avoid felt-soled wading boots or waders like the plague in the winter months. Although felt soles offer sure footing during the summer months they can be downright hazardous in the winter. Felt holds moisture and will grab snow and not let it go, so as you are walking in the snow with wet felt on your feet the snow will quickly build up on the bottom of your boots and make it very easy for you to twist an ankle. And twisting an ankle while you’re a mile from your car in the woods is never a very pleasant thing to have happen. Plain rubber soles or rubber soles with chains on them are your best choice. The main danger to a winter fisherman is HYPOTHERMIA Here are a few signs to look--- - Thickness of speech - Shivering - Problems walking (stumbling) - Blueness of skin - Dilated pupils - Stupor - Slight amnesia - Poor judgment - Slowness of movement in fingers or toes If any of these signs are showing then you need to act fast because they will only get worse. Actions you should take are- - Exercise (simply move around, do some brisk walking, a few jumping jacks, etc.) - Try to insulate yourself from the ground for a bit. - Drink coffee or other hot liquids then follow that with some high sugar candy or food. - In worse case scenarios get back to camp and into a tub of water that is between 105-110 degrees. Hypothermia is not the only thing to watch out for while on the water in winter; frostbite is another lurking danger to anglers. Here are some indications of frostbite. Frostbite: - Redness, burning, prickly feeling or soreness. - Molted color to your skin. - Numbness sets in and no feeling. - Body part becomes hard to move. Treatment: - Try to move the affected body part to promote circulation of the blood. - Warm body part by holding it over a fire. - Seek a doctor for worse cases. Another winter hazard is snow blindness. I’m sure we have all experienced this one when coming inside after being out in the snow on a bright sunny day, but there is actually a worse case of snow blindness that can happen. The main symptom is…. - Feeling of grit in your eyes made worse by eye movement followed by severe headache Avoiding snow blindness is as simple as wearing sunglasses, but if a severe case has already set in then simply closing your eyes and resting for a few hours will rid you of even the worst case of it. Lastly, tell someone where you plan to fish, park your car, and when you plan to be back. Winter on the rivers is not a very crowded time of the year so most likely there won't be anyone to come and walk by to find you if you happen to get stuck out there. So tell someone your plans for the day, so there will at least be someone to come looking for you if you have not returned back home or to camp by a certain time. Stay warm and enjoy the solitude of winter angling! Hatches Magazine Subscription Price: $6.95 for each issue The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.