How do you keep warm??

[ragibby]

So these last couple of weeks I've been fishing in start up on the skykomish. This is the first time Ive fished passed pink season so there are alot of new things i have learned and there is still alot of things that i still need to learn.

There is one thing that i cant take the time to learn by myself. How do you all keep warm while out there fishing in 40 or less degree weather? More specifically your feet.

Last weekend i tried some toe warmers that didnt work at all. each time i go out i throw on about 4 or 5 pairs of wool socks but that doesnt seem to be the trick. Last week i was out there for 8hrs and my feet literally hurt they were so cold.

Is there a secret trick that anyone can share with me to keep my feet warm because 8hrs of fishing isnt nearly enough for me to get my fishin fix, especially if im catching fish. I could spend all day out there if i could just keep my feet warm. Any info or suggestions would be much apprieciated.

Stay warm and good luck out there guys.

[BentRod]

I just let me feet go numb and focus on keeping my core temp warm, but not everyone can handle that. I grew up wading the cold trout streams in shorts and tennis shoes, so got used to numb feet. You might invest in some electric socks. I've never tried them, but wondered how'd they do in the waders.

[Gringo Pescador]

I found less to be more. I used to wear a couple pair of socks + the toe warmers and the problem was my feet would sweat on the drive out, then the sweat would get cold and stay cold and with so many socks I couldn't move my toes to try and get circulation.

Now I wear 1 pair of socks and no toe warmers. For most days I wear a pair of these

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Under-Ar ... l+Products

If it is down into the 20s I will bump up to a pair of wader socks like these
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas- ... l+Products

What you find with both is the fabric at the top of the foot is almost a netting which lets your feet breathe and not sweat.

My feet still get cold, but I can walk in place and warm em up, where if your feet are wet with sweat and cold and you can't move em, they stay cold.

[chongo469]

Wearing to many pairs of socks and your feet will sweat. When they sweat you get cold , so as Gringo said, sometimes less is more. I wear thick Merlino wool socks and don't freeze... My feet get cold but not frozen. Also I wear polar fleece pants that insulate well and thermal tops. As for the hands , you cant go wrong with Rag wool gloves... Ragwool will keep warm even if they get damp.... As for waders, I have a pair of breathable and neoprene for cold weather... Hope this helps

[natetreat]

I wear one pair of wool socks, waders that fit and boot warmers. I don't put my wader on until I'm at the river, so my socks aren't sweaty. Get yourself a pair of long underwear, and some fleece wading pants. Long john top, a good insulated jacket with a nice rain coat. I wear nitrile gloves, underneath either wool or glacier gear fingerless gloves. If my hands get cold and I'm not rowing, I stick a pair of hand warmers in there. Socks too tight in your wading boots just compact and make your feet colder. When it's really cold, I just don't go in the water. Standing in one place all day isn't the way to steelhead unless you're at the hatchery anyways, so keep moving. Or get a boat and put a heater in it, you'll wonder why you'd ever bank it in the snow.

[rcthepirate]

I found less to be more. I used to wear a couple pair of socks + the toe warmers and the problem was my feet would sweat on the drive out, then the sweat would get cold and stay cold and with so many socks I couldn't move my toes to try and get circulation.

Now I wear 1 pair of socks and no toe warmers. For most days I wear a pair of these

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Under-Ar ... l+Products

If it is down into the 20s I will bump up to a pair of wader socks like these
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas- ... l+Products

What you find with both is the fabric at the top of the foot is almost a netting which lets your feet breathe and not sweat.

My feet still get cold, but I can walk in place and warm em up, where if your feet are wet with sweat and cold and you can't move em, they stay cold.

Couldn't agree more. Getting moisture of any kind around your feet is bad news. In addition to sweating being a problem though, circulation is another very important factor to consider. If you are wearing five pairs of wool socks, chances are you are going to have a very snug fit in the neoprene boot foot of your waders, and depending on how big your wading boots are, you may be squeezing into those as well. This will result in poor circulation in your feet, which is going to cause them to get colder faster. Also, I would recommend wearing wading boots that are about a size bigger than a perfect fit.

[gonnahookit]

Something I found that helped my feet last winter was switching things up, somewhat as Gringo said less is more. I had been wearing to pair of Smartwool socks (they are awesome by the way) one light pair, one heavy pair when it was really cold, say down into the 20's.

Had the room in my boots, but my feet were still getting very cold. I ended up buying a pair of liner socks. VERY thin, they do an excellent job of removing the moisture from your foot, allowing the outer, heavy wool socks to do their job better. An added bonus to the liner socks is they keep your feet from chafing in your boots. Think of them as a layer of grease on a bushing.

Also, as mentioned above, moving around helps, as well as staying out of the water unless it's absolutely necessary.

[spoonman]

Catch fish. Youll never worry about your feet If that dont work try whiskey.

[chrome_chasin]

I have trained in extreme temps on both ends of the spectrum and the number one rule is always, to many layers is a very bad thing. Circulation is vital. Keep dry and keep moving and you will be fine. Like BentRod I just let things go a bit numb and always, Always, keep moving my feet/toes, even if just flexing my toes, I always keep them moving. Gotta keep blood flowing. With that its time to take a break once things become painful. One pair of wool socks, some fleece pants and catch some fish. Also, do not tie your boots on too tight, number one mistake by guys is wearing things to tight, there has to room for adequate circulation, keep clothing/boots snug, not loose by any means but never tight as can be. And avoid sweating, sweating is a very bad thing. Eat light, high protein meals and stay hydrated.

Edit*
Just in case I gotta clarify what I mean by training, high altitude extreme cold weather training, as well as many trips to Death Valley for desert/mountain training during the summer months and winter months while I was in the Army. Keep it minimal, keep it loose and keep moving and you will stay on the water for longer periods.

[MotoBoat]

My experience when wearing anything rubber on my feet, in cold weather or water. Is that, any boot to small in size or to small because of to may layers on the feet. Causes cold transfer. Since there is cold contact between layers of socks and inner layer of rubber boot. The "less is more" theory will leave an air space between outer foot layer, and inner rubber boot surface. The air space is heated by body heat through the foot. Plus, as mentioned, unrestricted blood circulation,and movement will help. The single most important tip is after socking the feet, having air space in the rubber boot. I've found this works with insulated leather boots as well.

[strider43]

I used electric socks two years ago and they worked great, although where the battery is stored is at the top of the sock and they pulled the socks down and were very bulky against the wader wall. They only worked for a few trips then stopped working. I have have some luck with toe warmers, some work and some dont. Moving around seems to be the best solution.

[racfish]

Catch fish. Youll never worry about your feet If that dont work try whiskey.

We have a BINGO!!!!! Adreniline is the best warmer.(liquor is good too) If your not catching and still freezing then I buy those hand and toe warmers. I open two ,keep them in my wool gloves. The other is Long underwear. I wear my longjons from Nov -March in the N.W. The last thing is get diabetes. My feet and hands are numb before I start.

[Gringo Pescador]

Something I have found with the toe warmers - they are peel and stick...
I buy them by the box at costco and will use 2 packs per trip.

Pack #1 I take my fingerless ragwool gloves, turn em inside out and stick the warmer to the inside of the glove so that when you turn them right-side-in and put them on, the warmer is sitting on the top of your hand. This way they warm your hands, but you can still USE your hands.

Pack #2 I put on whatever undershirt I am going to wear, then take the warmers and stick one on each side of my spine, right below my shoulder blades, then put another shirt over that one. Really helps to keep your back warm - and for me if I start to get cold, my muscles in my back will cramp up, so this helps that as well.

[racfish]

Hey Gringo? Did you see the large one now in the box. I got my box from Costco and it had a chair covering heat pad. I plunk alot and sit alot. Cant wait to try it.

[Mordalphus]

If you have Wading shoes and Stockingfoot waders, be sure not to tighten the boots too hard, it cuts off circulation and makes your feet cold. You don't want them loose, because you need ankle support, but don't ratchet them on.

[tnj8222]

Got to lol at 8 pairs of socks. Huge mistake. I stay warm by drinking coffee and running in circles lol jk I just deal with it like every other steelhead fisherman. If I get really cold I build a small fire and warm up.

[jd39]

If I'm not going in the water past my calve I like Muck boots, pair of good socks and those boots have always kept my feet warm, I also bought them a size too large on purpose. I took water in my left boot once and my foot was only cold 30-45 minutes then was fine. This was while fishing from my livingston and not able to move around a lot.
They are a little pricy but seem well made and have been the most effective so far at keeping my feet warm.
For waders the neoprene sock and a pair of wool socks has worked ok.

[SkyRiverMan]

long undies, toe warmers, gloves and a wool hat....gotta have a hat - putting it on/taking it off is the fastest way to adjust your body temp if too hot/cold - cover your ears. A little flask of "cold remedy" (for medicinal purposes only of course) can give you a quick shot of warmth, however, too much is detrimental (and makes you stupid, then you fall down and you are wet, and.... well.... then it really doesn't matter what you are wearing....
if I am wading (usually), i stick with the same setup, but, swap out the cotton long johns for some poly ones - cotton is rotten once it's wet....
if it;s not raining, sweat shits are fine, if it;s raining, (once again, remember cotton is rotten) I throw on a sweater.
Carry an extra pair of DRY socks in double ziplock bags (suck the air outta the bag - vac pak) and they take no room, and nothing beats a dry pair of socks when making the ride home.

[Mike Carey]

Hey Gringo? Did you see the large one now in the box. I got my box from Costco and it had a chair covering heat pad. I plunk alot and sit alot. Cant wait to try it.

Just don't burn your butt. I hate doing that kind of wound care.

[Bodofish]

Hey Gringo? Did you see the large one now in the box. I got my box from Costco and it had a chair covering heat pad. I plunk alot and sit alot. Cant wait to try it.

Just don't burn your butt. I hate doing that kind of wound care.

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