Salomone: Eliminating winter fly fishing’s main intimidation factor
The cold doesn't have to keep you from angling
Winter fly fishing on the Eagle River- I am hooked up.
Half-frozen waders and ice-crusted boot laces drip in the mud rooms of the die-hards who never stopped fishing. Winter holds a unique appeal to some fly anglers. Then there are anglers that are “cold curious” and approach winter fly fishing with a timid step. Winter angling on the river can be something you want to repeat with a little focused preparation and purpose.
Gear for winter fly fishing mirrors a lot of the same functions obtained from ski clothing. Fabrics are designed to lift sweat away from skin, provide heat-retaining insulation and benefit from protective waterproof shells.
Nothing prematurely kicks anglers off the river in winter more frequently than cold feet and toes. Layering your foot wear properly will extend your angling time and improve your comfort factor. A thin polypropylene sock will wick moisture away from your skin. Thick wool or sculpted ski socks supply much needed insulation inside your wading boot. Toe warmers placed in boots can be game savers especially for the battle ready anglers who just have to wade into the river.
Wading boots are critical for safety, warmth and foot placement. Rubber soles are king. Felt is a nightmare when it begins to accumulate ice. Give yourself the beneficial room for toe warmers and a little wiggle space by sizing up two sizes. This won’t give you an unmanageable, oversized, clown boot but you will have enough room to maintain warmth. Cramped toes are a preventable issue.
Years ago a thrift store pair of sorels with the liners removed and a handheld power drill to make some drain holes served as effective winter wading boots. I never tip-toed down the river with Bolshoi ballet nimbleness, but my feet were not cramped and the boots were cheap. In all reality, most angling can be done from the bankside without entry into the brisk, watery realm.
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An insulating layer builds comfort. Fleece pants or a suitable pair of long underwear increase your cozy factor. The pile obtained from fleece builds a cocoon against the cold. Shingle your layers for maximum coverage and warmth effectiveness. Wool or my favorite — winter silks — move perspiration away from the skin. Just like with the socks, moisture left against your body will increase your frigid factor. Choose a fabric that will move sweat away from your skin.
Waders pulled up over these layers hold in the heat. Modern day waders are a big step up from the thick, body-hugging neoprene waders your dad used to wear.
A heavily-insulated jacket is a necessity. The jacket must cut wind. It could be an insulated jacket with a wind/rain gore tex outer shell or a couple of jackets like a puffy, down jacket with a shell over top. Hoods are preferred. It’s amazing how much more heat is maintained with a hood.
Hats are key, too — and not a mesh backed baseball hat either. Choose a proper warm winter hat. If you have to wear your billed hat, pull a stocking hat over the top. But anglers are better off with a devoted winter-weather headpiece.
The sun-shading protection a buff delivers in the summertime works wonders for winter warmth. It is amazing how a thin veil of fabric pulled up tight over your neck diverts the cold and increases your coziness in the winter. It really is a game of semantics, as skiers have known this fact for years, only using the given monicker, “neck gaiter.”
Simms makes fold-over mittens for fishing with exposed fingers, which is helpful for knot tying. The mitten portion tucks into a pocket on the back of your hand when not in use. The same pocket holds a small hand warmer too.
Hand and toe warmers are wonderful things. Kept in a pocket, they can be called upon at any time for frigid fingers and provide residual heat to the body.
Winter sunshine can induce brutal headaches if proper eye protection isn’t worn. Goggles on the slopes, polarized glasses on the water. Glare is compounded by white snow. Sunglasses cut out a high percentage of the glare and protect eyes from ice, hooks and whippy willow branches that sting when they flex back.
Dressed for success, cold-weather anglers enjoy solitude while maintaining comfort. Eliminate the intimidation from the cold. Properly dressed winter anglers develop into year-round fly fishers with ease.
