Sleeping outside in the rain

[TruthWalleyes]

What do you do when you are spending the night outdoors. It's cold and raining. You want to get some sleep but aren't going to set up a tent. It's 40°and windy.

I've been there a few times on weekend fishing trips. I've done a few things in the past.

#1 setup a tent and get out of the rain

#2 rain gear and get marginal sleep sitting up.

While fishing weekends on the st Croix I like to be able to tend two live bait lines for flatheads while I'm trying to catch some zzz's at night. Sleeping in the boat allows me to respond quickly to a bite. I usually don't run lines when I'm in a tent and not sleeping in a tent during the rain is rather undesirable. However, if there's no rain- I'm comfortable sleeping under the stars.

Any other outdoorsman got any tips for a cold rainy night out in the open?

[traveler]

Honestly? Not gonna happen!

Closest I would come would be staying up and out all night fishing, in which case I'd have my best raingear and whatever other gear I'd need to be reasonably comfortable.

And if it were 40 and windy, that would mean save it for another night for sure.

[leech~~]

If you have a good snap on cover for the boat. Snap half of it on an roll up the rest to sleep under it while still fishing with the other end open to check rods.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Imo, fishing is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

[leech~~]

Imo, fishing is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

Panty-waste!

[magnum mike]

Imo, fishing is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

That hits it on the head!

[Greenhornet84]

My best fishing/hunting is when you have some kind weather to battle against. Maybe I'm a little weird but I'm hardly ever wishing for a calm sunny day, unless it's late season ice fishing! I go when I get time regardless of weather for the most part. Back to the original question, ice armor and a mounted golf umbrella to hide under during down pours.

[DooWap]

What do you do when you are spending the night outdoors. It's cold and raining. You want to get some sleep but aren't going to set up a tent. It's 40°and windy.

I've been there a few times on weekend fishing trips. I've done a few things in the past.

#1 setup a tent and get out of the rain

#2 rain gear and get marginal sleep sitting up.

While fishing weekends on the st Croix I like to be able to tend two live bait lines for flatheads while I'm trying to catch some zzz's at night. Sleeping in the boat allows me to respond quickly to a bite. I usually don't run lines when I'm in a tent and not sleeping in a tent during the rain is rather undesirable. However, if there's no rain- I'm comfortable sleeping under the stars.

Any other outdoorsman got any tips for a cold rainy night out in the open?

You could get a bivy sack, it's basically a waterproof shell that goes over you and your sleeping bag.

[CANOPY SAM]

Just always bring along a little chuck of plastic tarp.

If I forget my little tarp, I just call Bear Grylls.

[TruthWalleyes]

Nice responses guys

I'll look into a bivy sack and will probably pick up a small tarp which would be nice to have anyway.

I'm a little like GreenHornet84...Endured some nasty conditions only to come out of it with good memories and sometimes big fish to boot.

I don't fish 110+ days a year and hunt 20-30 days by letting the weather decide my plans.

This weekend last year it was 28 degrees. I endured a long weekend of cold and wet, but made a great memory with a PB 61" sturgeon. Besides, there's something about really crumby weather that tends to put a smile on my face...

[nofishfisherman]

I'd look into rigging up some sort of tarp in the boat. If you can find a way to secure two vertical poles in your boat you could run a rope bewtween the poles and drap a tarp over the rope. Then just pull the rope tight and tie the 4 corners of the trap off to a cleat to bascially form a small A frame shelter. Would be quick to set up.

If won't be the worlds greatest shelter but it will keep the rain off your head.

[Alagnak]

Do you have a bimini yet? You can get one for about $150 and it's a lot easier than screwing around with poles/tarps/ropes/bungies/umbrellas. It's a good start to keep a lot of rain and even dew off of you. If you have a good driving side rain you can put a small tarp up on the side with a couple spring clamps. If you have a hard blow to the bow just loosen the back straps and tighten the front ones and cinch it down towards the bow.

[BoxMN]

Do you have a bimini yet? You can get one for about $150 and it's a lot easier than screwing around with poles/tarps/ropes/bungies/umbrellas. It's a good start to keep a lot of rain and even dew off of you. If you have a good driving side rain you can put a small tarp up on the side with a couple spring clamps. If you have a hard blow to the bow just loosen the back straps and tighten the front ones and cinch it down towards the bow.

Yep. You can also attach tarps to it to cover more, break wind (hehe, I said break wind...) or keep just a bit more off of you.

Though, my duck hunting mentor also told us, when we asked if he had Goretex jacket/pants... "THe only way I am shooting a duck in the rain is if it flies through Cabin 10".... haha! But I was with him in downpour as we were dropping geese, cans, redheads, and mallards all in the same spread

[TruthWalleyes]

Last fall i told myself - and even developed a plan (concept) to construct a tarp in the front deck of my boat to sleep under...Never happened Of course now it's the same time of the year when i thought that would be nice to have last year. lol

ahh screw it. I'll just put my rain gear over my ice suit. recline in my zero gravity chair on the front deck of the boat...Grin n' bear it as they say. I think i'll get a tarp to keep my chair dry until i need it. Better remember to wear more than tennis shoes this weekend too - made that mistake last weekend in the downpours It's better than listening to skeeters buzz your 99%deet soaked head in the summer.

[Rick G]

Throw a 1 man fish house like the Clam Scout in the front of the boat been tempted to do this a few times on the late fall outings.

[TruthWalleyes]

I do have a gander mountain tent cot, which does fit in the front of my boat. It's not that hard to open a zipper and tend a line but i prefer to not bring that if i really don't have too...even if it does setup in less than 2 minutes.

[tunrevir]

Sounds like you have a fairly large boat so why not get a patio umbrella and put the pole in the hole for the front seat holder to keep all the rain off you. Bivvy sacs are a great option for sleeping out in the elements and tend to keep you a bit warmer when it is cold outside. Just a couple thoughts. Nice thing about the patio umbrella is when your done fishing just fold it down and stow it and head on your way. Most of those will cover the area slightly wider then the bow of the boat.

Tunrevir~

[kfk]

I'd rather fish than do just about anything else, but if it's 40 degrees, windy and rainy, I'm going to be home snuggled up to my wife. Fishing is supposed to be enjoyable, not a test of how much misery one can endure. I've been there and done that and it never was enjoyable being cold and wet all night just to say I'd done it, but to each their own.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I do have a gander mountain tent cot, which does fit in the front of my boat. It's not that hard to open a zipper and tend a line but i prefer to not bring that if i really don't have too...even if it does setup in less than 2 minutes.

I was just going to suggest that.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Heck, get a houseboat... Problem solved!

[BigDogRob]

Truth have you thought about using a deer blind that folds out. you can get them in square or round versions. I know I have a semi-round one and have even put it up one year up in my perm deer stand when it was raining! I would think that would work well and there are windows on all 4 sides that you could open if needed. set it right over your chair so you can recline back and relax also. I would think it would work pretty well... I am actually thinking about it, and I think this weekend would be a great time to try it out for myself up here! open the back window for motor use, the door to the side with the pole sticking out, and front window slightly down for visibility... hit a hotspot and anchor up and just jig for a bit. less need for the bulky rainsuit use non-stop and quick to fold down and toss under the bow and tonneau cover for the ride home...

[TruthWalleyes]

I'd rather fish than do just about anything else, but if it's 40 degrees, windy and rainy, I'm going to be home snuggled up to my wife. Fishing is supposed to be enjoyable, not a test of how much misery one can endure. I've been there and done that and it never was enjoyable being cold and wet all night just to say I'd done it, but to each their own.

I can tolerate a lot, which is all i'm doing on a rainy weekend. I don't find it to be miserable, just a little more to tolerate than a 60 and sunny weekend. Like my old man always told me "It is what you make it".

House boat, or even an enclosed section on a pontoon would be the cat's meow to have for certain situations. Someday.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I just thought i'd toss this oddball post out there to see if there was anything that I was missing...There are definitely a few things that could be done/modified to make a cold rainy weekend more tolerable..

Anyway, i'm off to the river till sunday. Good fish'n.

[DTro]

I know someone who will be all toasty and dry all night in a big pontoon day enclosure.

[TruthWalleyes]

Punk!

[TruthWalleyes]

That is quite the pontoon!