Spey Pages banner

fishing in fleece gloves

2K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  YORKIE 
#1 · (Edited)
Flows drop late in the year but so do the temps. I find myself wearing fleece gloves often and prefering integrated lines with a little longer head to avoid rod-tip freeze-up (going straight swing presentation here to simplify line management and keep rod and reel dry). The fatter, easier-to-grip running line definitely puts a ceiling on cast distance but is a good trade off in my mind as I don't have it slipping out of my gloved hand or twisting up. Glove off for fly removal and sending the trout on its way then back on for more fishing.

Anyone else do any changes to setup or technique when temps drop below freezing?

Tyson
 

Attachments

See less See more
4
#2 ·
Wonderful photos !!
Very cool scenery and really nice fish, thanks for sharing :)

As far as changing when the weather does, absolutely :)
When the air temperature drops down to the freezing mark or lower, I say bye-bye to all shooting heads. I change to longer belly lines that best suit the rivers I fish. Most times (80%) I go for intermediate belly, multi-tip lines. No shooting line, no stripping line. The other times (20%) I switch to the traditional salmon DT's. Again most of the times it's full intermediate that has been converted into a multi-tip on one end. Again, no shooting line, no stripping line. Keeping your hands dry and the rod guides dry are key factors in happiness in freezing temperatures :D
Nothing more frustrating than frozen guides and finger tips on the river.


Mike
 
#3 ·
I'm facing a similar situation here in CO - frozen guides and finger tips definitely take the shine of my enthusiasm, so I really like the idea of fishing a straight swing with no extra stripping. I'm fairly new to this, so I assume that while you don't do any stripping during the swing, you still strip in line to get to the weighted head before you make the next cast, right? Or do you just fish shorter swings?

I'm really curious what the hard-core Spey enthusiasts on the Mile and Grey Reef do during their winter outings - they face some seriously cold weather and wind up along the North Platte.
 
#7 ·
I was using a shorter rod 10'6" and short head of about 14' I think
+ 7' of type 3 versileader
+ 3' leader.

I had to strip some line in to cast most of the time but tried to keep it to minimum
+ 5-10' of running line

So my radius of presentation was probably around 40 - 45'. I like Mike's idea a lot of just taking the shoot out of the equation. Next time I may try a longer rod and more of a scandi style line. Might depend on the streamer I am using which line is more 'fun and relaxing'. Most of my streamers are medium size and not too heavy.
 
#4 ·
FishDr, I do not fish any of those areas that you mentioned, however I do not strip during the swing, nor do I strip anything for set-up to cast. The lines that I use during this time can be handled by a "pick-up, cast, swing" method. I may add a downstream roll cast at the beginning to raise the sunk line and fly to the surface, but still no stripping involved and no shooting of line. Longer belly lines and DT's are the "go to" for this method.
What is demanded is the area must be conducive to aerialize the length of line for fishing distance and the outfit being used can absorb the demands of casting that length of line.


Mike
 
#5 ·
Heads are only an occasional occurrence for me. Today was an exception, cold water and freezing air and I still looped on a new to me Gaelforce "head"(thanks Mike). I couldn't resist the temptation to play with it but I paid for it with ice in the guides and a temporarily frozen reel. Still a tonne of fun though.

Dan
 
#6 ·
Ah, I forgot to mention resisting the urge to shoot line :hihi::hihi:

I reward myself the last 1/2hr or so of the day to shoot line and it's a good reminder of why I don't shoot during the fishing day. I get to scratch an itch and get to fish mostly ice free for the whole day. Unless I'm fortunate enough to find a player, then the guides get icy. But that's a good thing :D


Mike
 
#8 ·
Okay, sounds like if I want to keep my hands moderately warm, stripping line is verboten. I've got an integrated OPST Commando Line that has about a 15' head, so adding that to a 10' head and then maybe another 5 - 10' of leader would give me around 30 - 35' to work with. I'd likely want to work a little farther out than that, so it sounds like I might need to get another line. Oh shucks. :smile2:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tyson
#9 ·
Tyson, in my opinion, it sounds like a DT may work for you.
The DT will have enough mass at the tip to turnover a poly or Versi-leader with those streamers you are throwing, no issues.
You can then regulate your own distance you need without being restricted to head length.
You can easily roll cast a DT, Single spey, Double spey, Snake-roll, heck I've even done a Snap-T with a DT just to see if I could :chuckle:


Mike
 
#11 ·
Caught a nice little hen last week, when I came up on her all the ice in the guides shattered into a cool little cloud. I was using a 50ish' head and was pretty iced up. Good thing Stren Catfish is cheap.

For me, I prefer a long shooting head like an FF70 or BOSS or whatever when it's cold, I can shoot a rod length without icing up much if I keep the tip up during the swing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tyson
#12 ·
Yeah, I do that.

I fish mono running line and wear gloves with either leather or some other friction material on the tips. I shoot and strip line, but essentially only as far as I can keep off the water and thus avoid icing. I don’t mind shooting more line, since the mono holds little, but there are times I do have to de-ice. I think it’s just the matter of finding gloves with a little traction in the tips and then getting used to fishing with them.
 
#13 ·
I don't pitch products and am not doing so now. I do pass along information on stuff I use and believe in. Try the Sealskinz waterproof wool gloves. They have a breathable waterproof membrane and fit, well, like a glove. They also have embossed material on the palms (rubber or more likely vinyl). Just don't strip or shoot line. You'll eventually wear through the wool outer and might cut the membrane. The nice added feature is a long or short version. The long wristed option fits nicely up the sleeve of a wading jacket. I fish mostly in salt water and rinse them every time. Warm water and a gentle squeezing is all that's required. Don't wring or twist them. I bought mine at Bass Pro. But I'm sure they are available online.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top