How to Stay Comfortable On The Water

November 28th, 2009 Posted in Travel and Leisure

Even if the idea of roughing it to you means getting dirty and being happy no matter what is thrown your way, there’s no point in tolerating bad weather without being properly prepared for it. How can you expect to have a good time fishing if you’re dripping wet and freezing cold? You can take some time to prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws your way and be comfortable while you fish.

Unlike much of the rest of the U.S., the northeast often experiences rapid weather changes in a short period of time. While summers are hot and dry, winter can be freezing and wet. For the best approach, it is best to use a layering system to stay comfortable. With temperatures fluctuating as much as 30 degrees in an eight-hour stretch, you should take advantage of layers to be able to handle it all. Staying comfortably dry is easy when you can add or subtract layers as needed.

You can often head out on a summer morning and see cool, crisp weather, even when forecasters predict 90 degrees. At 5 in the morning, many fishermen expect closer to 65 degrees, and wear a t-shirt with a flannel buttoned over it. Sound familiar? What happens when you hit the water and the boat speeds up? Instead, add a light jacket or windbreaker. Nighttime fishing is about the same. When you leave the dock, the temperature is nice and warm, and you dress accordingly. However, as the temperature goes down, you get cold.

Light jackets and windbreakers are smart because they are lightweight and easy to stow. They do not take up much room, and can easily be stuffed in to a corner, backpack, tackle box, or even cooler. As the sun goes down, the temperatures follow suit, and you will soon be glad for that light jacket to seal out the cold and seal in your body heat. Rain jackets often are dual-purpose, with the ability to protect you from water (spray and drizzle) and break the cool wind, too. If you utilize a light jacket, make sure that buttons or snaps protect the zipper, since zippers tend to leak when they get wet.

If you compare fishing to snow shoveling it’s pretty simple to see the theory behind layers – anyone who lives in a climate prone to winter snowstorms knows well how easy it is to get too warm while shoveling. The same theory is true when you’re fishing. And like shoveling, you remove layers, the cooler air begins to cause your sweat to evaporate and before you know it you are too cool. Unlike shoveling however, it’s pretty simple to keep your activity level fairly moderate fishing. Even then, layering remains your best option as you can remove layers if you get to warm and you can add them back as you cool down.

Use layers to stay comfortable during the freezing winter months. Make sure that you create a layering system that works for you in your fishing conditions. When a fisherman is comfortable, he or she will fish longer, increasing the likelihood of catching bigger fish and more of them. Making better decisions is much simpler when you are comfy, and any fisherman knows the importance of using any advantage possible. After all, why would you choose to be cold and miserable?

Clothing is not the only important thing to consider, you should also consider your fishing supplies. Some of the most popular fishing equipment is Penn Fishing Reels including Penn International 965, Penn Slammer 360, and Penn 975 LD.