Darn Tough over the calf mountaineering socks.

Upper I like a poly layer, one or two wool layers of different weights depending on weather, then puffy jacket under rain shell. Depends on temp and walking vs floating.

 

Bootfoot waders.

 

A strong second on the Darn Tough over calf, heavyweight, mountaineering socks. Best socks I've ever had. They're not cheap at $35 a pair, but worth every penny.

Darn Tough over the calf mountaineering socks.

Upper I like a poly layer, one or two wool layers of different weights depending on weather, then puffy jacket under rain shell. Depends on temp and walking vs floating.

 

I agree with Han. The single best way I've found to stay warm is bootfoot waders.

 

My setup

Redington I/0 fleece pants
Merino wool or Under Armour cold gear 4.0 long johns
Ice breaker merino knee high midweight sock with Simms Guide thermal OTC heavy merion wool sock over the Ice breaker sock.

Merino wool or Under Armour cold gear 3.0 baselayer top
Merino wool or fleece midlayer top
Simms fall run hooded jacket
Simms G4 gortex shell

Simms extreme folding mitts or Simms merino fingerless gloves.

This year I am thinking I will try the new Simms bulkley booties.

 

Darn Tough heavy weight wool mountaineering socks, merino wool baselayers (250 weight) from Smartwool, flannel shirt, lightweight synthetic hiking trousers, thick wool sweater or heavy fleece jumper (wool stays warm when wet), and Simms Bulkley covers me for a shell and insulation (100g Primaloft in the body and 60g in the hood and arms keeps me cosy). I add handwarmers in the pockets on the Bulkley. Also, a pair of wool gloves that are fingerless in the first three fingers gives me dexterity for line management. My fishing ballcap gets a wool hat added over the top of it to cover my ears, and I also sometimes add a merino wool buff to close any gap between my coat collar and neck.

I've used this system for cold weather fishing, but also in some of the coldest winter conditions I've ever experienced mountaineering in the Scottish highlands with deep snow and winds over 50 mph. This year, I'm looking forward to trying some even heavier merino wool layers than the 250 weight set I already have: Skwala's Thermo 350 jumper and under wader trousers. 350 weight merino is pretty unheard of, so can't wait to see how it performs for winter steelheading when I come home for Christmas break.

 

You guys in the PNW have no idea what cold is. Other than @SLSS who I think has softened since his move west. I'm on the east coast of Lake Huron at the bottom of the Bruce Peninsula. About 2-3 hrs north of Toronto. Right now it's not bad We're just about to touch freezing temps over night. Likely in about a month we'll see sub freezing most days not just nights. If were fortunate enough and the temps cooperate we'll be able to fish until the close of the season December 31. The rivers usually start to freeze up by then anyway. Fishing in 0 deg F is not an uncommon activity. At those temps there's not much you can do other than get out of the water and warm up somehow. Many times the water is far warmer than the air and jumping out just freezes you solid.

 

Cold is 33 degrees and heavy slushy rain. I'll take snow over that any day of the week. If I can stay dry I can stay warm.

 

I'll second the wool stocking hat over the fleece ball cap to keep my bald head warm. Recently I added electric hand warmers in the side pockets of my wading jacket. Just the thing for warming those frozen fingers.

 

It’s pretty simple for me. Redington fleece pants with a simms extreme jacket and the
Most important item is my bootfoot waders. The bootfoots allow me to wear a street sock and fish in 33 degree water and still have worm feet. The less layers I have the better. The hands and the face always are gonna Be cold but I’m warm everywhere else. The coldest parts of the day is usually putting and taking off the fishing gear.

Andrew

 

In the past I've used foot warmers. I would stick one on the cork where I hold the rod. Worked great.

 

Boot foot waders changed my cold weather fishing. I am not sure why so many fly fishermen look down on them. When your feet are warm the rest of your body stays warmer.

To reduce bulk on my upper body I’ve gone with Sitka layering system.
Midweight layer
Heavyweight layer
Vest
Puffy jacket
Simms guide jacket if wet out.

On my legs
Costco 32 degree pants
Mountain Hardware puffy pants

Feet
I pair of simms wool socks.

 

You guys in the PNW have no idea what cold is. Other than @SLSS who I think has softened since his move west.

Definitely have. I used to end my fishing around Christmas and start up again late march or April. The sub freezing weather was for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing- both I've done in temps well below zero, and never been cold. I've completely neglected all that gear since getting home.

I do miss late night skiing and snowshoeing under a good moon. But I don't miss the cold.

 

Bootfoots and proper layering. A cold morning can turn into a warm afternoon real quick, and vice versa.

 

I have gone to wearing all of my Sitka waterfowl gear for my cold weather fishing needs. I do wear bootfoot waders when I hunt but I still wear stocking waders when I fish

neoprene WetSox under merino wool socks
Synthetic base layer top and bottom
Gradient pant
Merino 320 hoodie
Duck oven jacket
Kelvin aerolite jacket when frigid
Dakota vest (when it’s windy but not frigid)
Delta wading jacket when it’s raining
Kuiu Kenai hat when it’s windy and cold Kenai Beanie when just cold
latex gloves under wool fingerless gloves

 

Burton Wool snowboard socks. All the way to my knees. and they have this shiny material in them that reflects they say. Wool everything. gloves, I wear a wool sweater if there is no precipitation. I hate it under a jacket but prefer to it if not raining/snowing. I carry a zippo hand warmer that uses lighter fluid. Yeah they stink a lil but radiate alot of heat. Move it from your pocket to your pants pocket, etc to warm zones. fleece pants over merino base layer. Good wool headwear.

 

It has already been said several times, but it can’t be overstated…Bootfoot waders are a game changer! You can do all the socks and foot warmers you want, but they will still not compare to the simplicity and efficacy of bootfoot waders. With the added bonus of being easier to take off at the end of a cold day! As someone said earlier, it your feet are comfortable and warm, the rest is pretty easy. Simms Fjord pants are incredible. Worth the expense IMO. Other than that, using an actual layering system designed for cold (and somehow still sweaty) conditions works wonders. Hand warmers in pockets since I hate wearing gloves when fishing. Warm hat and a jacket with an insulated hood. Good to go!

Jake

 

Got all the undergarments, headwear and jacket dialed in, but still have not found a pair of gloves that keep me warm and able to still handle line. Use non lates gloves and have yet to find something that keeps me warm. Have a tendency when reacjhing for wading staff to get glove wet which doesn't help.

Sugestions

 

Wool Power Swedish wool socks with liners
600 weight knee high
Only have one pair but they are incredible and worth the money.

 

I buy toe warmers with an adhesive on one side, and then stick those in my shirt cuffs next to my wrist. This keeps your hands warm, and you can stick them in your waders to keep your feet warm without them shifting throughout the day.

 

I'm a firm believer and user of hand warmers, adhesive whole foot warmers, muff with handwarmers inside (plus a face cloth inside to absorb water from hands). I also put handwarmers in my front pant pockets. I agree with Spey Games - the muff is a great warming zone. These are pretty cheap on the internet. I like the idea of the bungee to keep wading staff handle out of water. I do use fingerless gloves with size larger nitrile gloves over them.

I don't have a pair of boot foot waders, but just may spring for them this season.

I typically look like a Michelin man and sometimes get curious looks when I stop to get gas or a deli sandwich on the way to the river. I tell them I'm going to stand in waist deep in 34 degree water for several hours and fish. I wish I had videos of some of the comments I get, lol.

 

let me the 99th person to recommend bootfoots … get a good pair and only use them seasonally, they’ll last for years. Mine are oversized for layers up top, and a pair of neoprene socks over heavy wool for toasty toes

 

Anyone try this? They have remote control heated foot beds too...

 

Recently purchased a down battery powered heated vest with a hood. Three levels of heat on a rainy, low thirties launch with a light breeze. Had it under my goretex rainjacket for minimal bulk and good casting ability. Very pleased with the performance. Had to cycle it to minimum setting and off to prevent overheating during the day. Your results may vary. Great info in the thread !!

 

Fishing in the Great Lakes region all my life I've learned that being warm is not an option. I start acclimating in the fall when temps start dropping. When I'm out side I don't wear a coat and learn to deal with the fact that I'm cold. When I dress for fishing, it is minimal and I'm a little cold but It doesn't bother me as much. I can stay fishing all day and stay focused on fishing the fly not worrying how cold I am. I've tried every gimmick for hands and feet and found hand warmers the best. As for feet nothing works so I fish with frozen feet. My 2 cents worth

 

Wool socks, Eddie Bauer fleece lined snow pants. These are not bulky at all and the texture of the outer doesn't grip my set of stirrup fleece pants that I put over these. I never feel the cold of the water. I'll wear thermal long sleeve shirt with T-shirt and a hoodie over the top. In the hoodie pocket I have a Thaw rechargeable hand warmer set to the lowest setting. If my hands get cold I'll put the hand warmer in the flip ot pocket of my waders and switch hands while swinging to warm the cold hand on the warmer. I found if I can make the part that is completely submerged warm that my fingers never get cold. If you have to walk any distance in this get up you better hope it's colder than ****.

 

lotsa good ideas here...for upper bulk /freedom of movement I wear over the layers suggested above, an oversized good quality down vest...doesnt bind as fleece does...no arms for freedom of movement...oversize traps more air (insulation) between underlayer...oversided boots allow for beefed up socks...I dont feel liner socks provide insulation so I never wear them.

Steve