Let's talk cold water gear

[ronbo613]

Anyone know of some cold weather gloves that still give enough manipulation to tie knots?

I don't believe there is such a thing. I have pretty flexible, mostly waterproof gloves, but casting and reeling is about as good as you can do with them. Sometimes I wear nitrile gloves underneath them. Some guys use those fingerless gloves.

Neoprene is OK to a certain temperature, about 40° in my opinion. Also, it does not breathe so eventually you'll sweat and get cold. I use 5mm waders in the winter, my feet get cold because they sweat and wet = cold. I wear polarfleece long johns under the waders. I've surfed in 50° water in a 4/3 mm wetsuit, but surfing wetsuits work because there is a layer of water, warmed by body heat, between your skin and the rubber.

A base layer of polypropylene or polarfleece is important because they breathe and are relatively warm even when wet. Layering is a no brainer; poly-something underwear and waterproof shell, additional items depending on temperature.

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you wear. I got up to go fishing this morning and the temperature is 15°, most of the fishing time would be in the low 20's. I really want to go fishing, but that is just too cold. Fly fishing is out and casting is difficult due to iced up rod guides. Rocks that are already very slippery now have ice on them, very dangerous. Plus, it's kind of miserable. I can handle wet, I can handle cold; wet and cold is where it starts to suck. Sometimes, Mother Nature calls the shots.