Have you ever went trout fishing when it’s cold outside? If you have you know that it’s a little different than trout fishing when the weather is more tolerable. The last time I went trout fishing, it was 39 degrees outside, and after catching a trout and subsequently releasing it, my hands became so cold I thought I was going to have to shoot myself just to stop the pain!
Cold hands is just one of the problems that occur when we are fishing when it’s cold outside. In this article, I’m going to discuss some tricks and tips to help you not only stay warm, but also catch more fish when the weather isn’t cooperating like it does during certain times of the year.
Staying warm is a key to fishing when it’s cold outside. Not only your hands, but also your body. That’s why layering is so important. I realize you’ve heard this about a million times, but it’s still true. You can always take layers off, but it’s much more difficult to add them when you’re already cold. I’d always rather be too warm than too cold.
The first tip is concerning your bait or lures. The rule when the weather’s cold is this: upsize or downsize dramatically. We either want to use very large lures/bait or the opposite end of the spectrum, very small bait/lures. Many Ice fishermen realize this (as you may know). The basic reason is this: fish are cold blooded, and as water temperatures cool, the fishes metabolism slows down. As the fishes metabolism slows down, their inclination to feed is less. Therefore they want to expend as little energy as possible getting food. Thus, eating big meals so they don’t have to get food as often, or small meals that are east to catch.
The bottom line is that cold weather means fishing is normally more difficult. Another great tip is to make sure that you’re fishing when the fish are the most active. What do I mean by this? There are certain times of the day and month that fish are more active (thus feeding) than others. These times of the day and month are tied directly to the moon phases and the weather. So understanding how the weather and moon affect fishing is of the utmost importance to any angler, especially in cold weather.
Let’s go back to our hands for a moment. The scenario I started this article with is no fun at all, and one of the best ways to avoid a situation such as it, is to wear a quality pair of fingerless gloves/glove liners. If you fish like I do, you need the use of unfettered fingers when fishing, yet your hands need protection from the elements. This is why quality fingerless gloves are such an important part of my fishing repertoire during cold weather.
The bottom line is that fishing during cold weather simply means that the rules have changed a little bit. All you have to do is vary your approach a little bit, and you’ll be fine. Try one or all of these tips and your cold weather fishing excursion will be much more comfortable and successful.
By: Trevor Kugler
