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Posted: 7/2/2016 11:10:49 PM EDT
if any of you fish cold water, I mean so cold that you have to keep an eye out for large ice sheets floating down river, or so cold that  you have to walk out on the ice on the edges of the river just so you can get into it.
Or so cold that the river is nothing but slush and you have to wait till it warms up enough and the slush disappears.
Like 33-35 degree water.

What do you wear to keep your feet warm enough so that you can keep at it for more than 5 minutes?

I wear one pair of wool socks and a set of slipper like booties that I slide on. Thats it. If I wear more stuff it doesn't seem to help. I think it's cause I loose circulation in the feet. I use 1 1/2 sizes larger boot foot waders than my street shoe size. I think maybe I should go maybe 2 1/2 sizes bigger next time. I can hack it for maybe 30-45 minutes then I gotta get out and walk around to get some feeling back in my feet. Of course the second time back in I can't  hack it that long.

Any words of wisdom from the more experienced?
Link Posted: 7/3/2016 6:55:47 AM EDT
[#1]
I spent 10 years exiled to NE Ohio from Texas. To fish their rivers in the winter, I went with 5mm bootfoot neoprene waders. They were much warmer than stockingfoot. I'd layer thermal underwear and thermal socks.
Link Posted: 7/4/2016 11:00:43 AM EDT
[#2]
Try 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

"Uncle Dave, you do see it's snowing, right?"

Ice freezing in the guides is a punk.  Trout ain't bundling.

Merino socks are a must.  If it gets ignorant cold I'll put on my 200-weight polypro bib suit.
Link Posted: 7/4/2016 1:30:37 PM EDT
[#3]
Much of my fly fishing is in winter, and after years of freezing I finally pulled the trigger on some 5mm boot foot waders from Cabelas/BassPro.

I went through a few pairs of the "spring run" wader (1000 mg thinsulate in the boot) which has a felt sole - pain in the ass in snow but warm.

Last winter I bought a duck hunting 5mm neo boot foot wader from Cabelas with 1600 mg thinsulate in the boot and they were great. No issues whatsoever. Only drawback is that they're rubber sole so wading can be tough. To fix that I bought some of the Patagonia "river crampons," which have the aluminum bars that are unreal on slick river rock.

The 5mm neos definitely get a few sneers from some guys in breathables but around noon when it's 9°, I'm the one laughing as I'm comfortably sticking fish in the face.

Unless your feet just stay warm no matter what, I've found that fishing in a stocking foot wader in winter is the fastest way to nuke your feet. Too much compression underwater which leaves no room for air to circulate around you feet. The boot foot wader boot is too stiff to compress, hence the warm feet.

One other pro tip - I tried all manner of fingerless fishing gloves with the flip over mitt but finally ditched them a few seasons ago and got some Kinco gloves to fish in. They have minimal cloth on the top and a leather palm with leather fingers. A generous helping of Snowseal and they're GTG.
Link Posted: 7/4/2016 10:06:27 PM EDT
[#4]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Much of my fly fishing is in winter, and after years of freezing I finally pulled the trigger on some 5mm boot foot waders from Cabelas/BassPro.

I went through a few pairs of the "spring run" wader (1000 mg thinsulate in the boot) which has a felt sole - pain in the ass in snow but warm.

Last winter I bought a duck hunting 5mm neo boot foot wader from Cabelas with 1600 mg thinsulate in the boot and they were great. No issues whatsoever. Only drawback is that they're rubber sole so wading can be tough. To fix that I bought some of the Patagonia "river crampons," which have the aluminum bars that are unreal on slick river rock.

The 5mm neos definitely get a few sneers from some guys in breathables but around noon when it's 9°, I'm the one laughing as I'm comfortably sticking fish in the face.

Unless your feet just stay warm no matter what, I've found that fishing in a stocking foot wader in winter is the fastest way to nuke your feet. Too much compression underwater which leaves no room for air to circulate around you feet. The boot foot wader boot is too stiff to compress, hence the warm feet.

One other pro tip - I tried all manner of fingerless fishing gloves with the flip over mitt but finally ditched them a few seasons ago and got some Kinco gloves to fish in. They have minimal cloth on the top and a leather palm with leather fingers. A generous helping of Snowseal and they're GTG.
View Quote


Excellent Pro tip, one I will try.

One Pro tip deserves another, For excellent studs in rubber boots try Kold Kutter screw in studs. Made for Motocycle Ice racing. These guy last a long time, you can buy 250 for like $20, they just screw into the bottom of your boot and stay there and they are sharp.
Link Posted: 9/22/2016 9:19:32 PM EDT
[#5]
I used to fish the south platte in Colorado in the winter.  One particularly cold day I noticed all this cloudy stuff on the bottom of the river.  As I walked over it I noticed it would float up and then figured out that it was actually ice!  I've fished a lot with snow and ice on the top and sides of the water, but that was the first time I've ever experience it so cold that the bottom of the river was forming ice.  You couldn't even fish because the flies would just turn into little ice cubes and the line and leader would get encapsulated with ice.  Was ridiculous.

Here's my tip.  I started using this knot in the cold so that I wouldn't have to take my gloves off while tying it.  It's real strong too.  My buddy challenged me to a knot war the other day and this knot beat his palomar.  I highly recommend it and now use it regardless of temperature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDUm9iZi4qg

I think it's better to keep slight tension on the main line when you're doing the wraps.  But the way this guy does it works too.  Another nice thing about this knot is that you can tie it with a really short tag end so you don't waste much tippet.
Link Posted: 9/26/2016 11:22:06 PM EDT
[#6]
A little late but; hot hands toe warmers!  Try one per foot at first. Also try not to get too sweaty getting to your fishing spot; sweat helps transfer heat away once you stop moving as much.  Of course thick but not constricting wool socks with a liner sock.
Link Posted: 12/10/2016 8:35:36 AM EDT
[#7]
Link Posted: 12/14/2016 4:09:03 AM EDT
[#8]
I run breathables and wading boots year round ( I fish 100 days a year average). You just have to learn how to layer correctly and find the right sock combo for u. Way better than neoprene or not fishing.

J-
Link Posted: 12/14/2016 10:40:13 AM EDT
[#9]
Link Posted: 12/15/2016 1:13:18 AM EDT
[#10]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


OK, how do you size a wading boot for stocking foot waders and wool socks (compared to a normal boot size)?  I pretty much have to buy online. <img src=http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_thinking.gif border=0 align=middle>
View Quote


Obviously it's best that try on first but for me I go 1.5 sizes up. I wear 8.5 normally and my wading boots are 10s. Fit well in the warmer months and perfect with thick socks in the winter.

Hope this helps

J-
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