SURVIVING BRUTALLY COLD CONDITIONS

BY JOHN BERRY

When I got up this morning it was one degree and there were lake wind advisories for the fifteen to twenty five mile an hour winds coming from the North West. This made the wind chill drop down to minus eighteen when I checked. The predicted high for the day was seven degrees. To make the conditions a bit more interesting there was a two inch layer of snow and ice covering everything in sight. It was the worst winter conditions that I can remember. All of the local schools were closed. Though the road in front of my house had been snow plowed the street was still slick and had a solid glaze of ice. My wife, Lori, had almost slipped when walking our yellow lab Tilley. Even Tilley with her thick fur coat didn’t want to be out in it. Luckily for me there were no clients expecting me to pick them up at 7:30 AM.  

Though I have written about fishing in cold weather, this was something else and represented truly dangerous conditions. The possibility of hypothermia is a very real concern. This is a lowering of the core body temperature and could result in death. Early symptoms are confusion and fatigue which can make things worse. The best way to avoid it is to dress properly and maintain core body temperature. 

Another problem is frostbite. This is when body tissue freezes. It normally happens on exposed extremities and could result in amputation of the affected body part. The first signs are redness or pain in the affected area. Here again the best way to avoid it is to dress properly and take special care to observe exposed skin. 

The best way to survive comfortably under these conditions is to stay inside. Take a seat near the fire and tie a few flies. If you must go outside and go fishing you need to consider just how can you wear enough clothing to keep you warm under these conditions? 

The secret is to dress in layers. Next to the skin you should wear a wicking layer that would wick moisture away from the body. Though polypropylene has been the fabric of choice for the past couple of decades, merino wool is the up and coming fabric. Merino overcomes some of the problems usually associated with wool. It is itch free and can be washed at home in a washing machine. It wicks well, is odor free and maintains up to sixty percent of its insulating ability when wet. Many of the top outdoor gear manufacturers like Orvis, Simms and Patagonia are now offering merino wool base layers. I choose merino for my base layer when the temperature drops below freezing. 

The insulating layer or layers comes next. Fleece is always a good choice but here again wool is coming on strong. My absolute favorite layer for this type of weather is a classic Irish Fisherman’s sweater. Mine is the heaviest warmest garment that I own. I have several wool sweaters in various weights and try to match their weight to the temperature. Pendleton wool shirts are also well suited to layering. For my lower torso I choose a pair of fleece lined blue jeans or a pair of heavy wool pants. Down is a great insulator but can lose its insulating ability when wet. I regularly wear a down jacket or vest and take care to keep them dry. 

The outer layer is the shell which should be wind and waterproof. The best ones should also breathe to prevent the buildup of moisture. For this I prefer Gore-Tex or waxed cotton. Gore-Tex is very water proof and generally much lighter while waxed cotton is generally more durable and can be easily re proofed, which can extend its life indefinitely. 

The feet require protection. I like heavy wool socks coupled with polypropylene liners although heavy polypropylene socks work well. If you wear more than one layer of socks, make sure that your foot wear is loose enough for you to wiggle your toes. Footwear that is too tight will make you colder. Gloves are important to keep your hands warm. If it is above freezing, I wear wool fingerless gloves. When it is below freezing, I wear windproof polypropylene fingerless gloves with pullover mittens attached. Hand warmer pockets on your shell layer are a must. Put a disposable chemical hand warmer in each hand warmer pocket for extra warmth (the hand warmers designed for your feet are larger and put out more heat). 

Don’t forget a good hat. An easy solution is a wool knit cap. I prefer a billed fleece hat with earflaps to keep my ears warm and a waterproof shell to protect me from wind and snow. A hood on your shell is also a good idea. A wool or polypropylene scarf is great to keep your neck and face warm. Buff makes a neck gaiter from merino wool that works well for this purpose. 

In addition to dressing properly, there are some basic strategies to stay comfortable when fishing in this kind of weather. Wading will be much warmer than fishing from a boat. There is nowhere to hide from the wind in a boat. In our tailwaters, the water temperature is constant year round is often much warmer than the air temperature. I have fished many times when the best way to warm up was to wade deeper. You can also escape the effects of a lot of the heavy wind in this manner. 

Consider starting a warming fire streamside. Sometimes you just have to warm up. I always carry a spare lighter with me. There have been several days, when stopping for a few minutes to warm up by a fire, have made the difference between continuing fishing for a few more hours and going home. A thermos of hot coffee or cocoa is always a good idea. Avoid alcohol as it dilates the blood vessels. While it makes you feel warmer, it robs warmth from the body core and can make you susceptible to hypothermia. 

If you choose to go fishing in weather like this, you will have it to yourself. Be sure and dress properly and stay warm. Above all else, stay safe. 

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.