I don’t think most anglers think about this while fishing in the cold winter!
I not only make sure the boat and trailer are best as they can be before hitting the water, but I always make sure that my personal gear is appropriate for what I am doing and the location of where I’m fishing. I know, we all do this, I hope, however I think one step further, because I have a family at home that relies on my safe return. So other than the gear I’m wearing, I also pack another overnight bag, or a soft backpack that has a whole new change of clothes in it. This is everything, shoes, socks, under wear, pants, T shirt, and a warm sweatshirt.
If you are accident prone and fall overboard, no matter what the circumstances are, like our own Bobby Tyler, it’s a long cold ride on the water back to the truck, just ask him. If you make it there, and we all hope you do, at the very least there is a set of dry warm gear to quickly change into. I know this first hand from a hunting experience (tale of another time). Hyporthermia sets it quickly in the winter, on the best of conditions, then that boat ride back quadruples your chances of getting it or not even making it.
So, this winter all of you anglers put an extra set of clothes in your truck….it doesn’t hurt to have an extra dry sweatshirt on board as well. If you’re running solo this is even more important, and I know it’s a pain, but if solo, fish with your PDF on, and always let someone know where you are and what time you estimate to return.
Tip: If this ever happens to you, put on every wet and/or dry item you can. Do some sort of physical workout, push ups, sit ups, whatever it takes to get that blood pumping and body heat going to heat up the wet clothes.
To learn more about Hypothermia, click here:
Stay safe my friends!
