Tips on dealing with the extreme cold

[solbes]

For me it's mostly about getting used to the cold. Like how 40 feels like heaven in March but feels like dump in October. So if I can go jogging or take the dog for a walk in the winter everyday, your body just sort of adapts to the cold.

Of course you still need to dress apprpriately. If I can keep my core and feet warm, I'm good to go in most conditions. If either of those get cold, I don't last very long.

[Chad Holst]

Quote:

Just a simple tip that hasn't been mentioned. Spray your feet with antiperspirant before gearing up.

I was born under a rock, grew up next to the railroad tracks (the other side) and now live with all woman...I've seen it all and heard even more. Yet, i have never heard of this trick. At first i was thinking..what the.. but it does make sense. Keep your feet from sweating, keeeps them dry...keeps them warm.

Anyone else try this? It works? What style of antiperspirant do you use, just anything in a can?

[rockman]

Bringing out a cocktail, or a cold beverage of your choice, won't probably make a big difference. I think keeping a limit to it, does. In addition to those beverages, bring water with, and drink it. I work an outside job. One of my co-workers became so dehydrated one winter, he ended up in the ER. He didn't drink any water that day. It was as cold as it is right now. Cold, dry air, will dehydrate you quickly. The body will most likely have issues keeping warm when it's dealing with dehydration.

[Dogzlife000]

I use any unscented I can find in a can. I think "Sure" is what I currently have. If I have a long walk, whether to a tree stand or on the ice, I'll spray it on more than just my feet.

[NoWiser]

The best thing you can do is just invest in good clothing. Bring two pairs of gloves. Keep one stuffed in your bibs next to your chest. When your hands get cold, swap them out and your new gloves will be pre-heated. Since I invested in good clothing, I very rarely fish out of a house anymore, choosing instead to be more mobile. In Canada we often have 5 day trips that never get above 0 the entire time, and morning temps of -35 are not uncommon. With good clothing we fish outside from sun up to sun down and don't even bring portables with anymore. Good boots are essential. I'd recommend Cabelas Predators. Wool long underwear, wool pants and sweater, a good suit, and you should be set. When all else fails, drill a dozen holes and you will warm right up.

[bobbymalone]

I'll spray it on more than just my feet.

The ol' hooker shower, blast your crotch with some spray deodorant.

[Kodiak]

stay home

[bltbowhunter]

Ever since I learned about the 3 W's I've been very comfortable when doing anything outside in cold temps for extended periods. 1st W is a wicking layer to keep moisture off of your skin. 2nd is the warmth layer. Wool preferably, but fleece seems to work OK too. For my top half I wear a wool sweater, and a fleece vest. 3rd is the wind layer. Any type of coat and pants that the wind will not penetrate. Waterproof is best, because it will keep your knees dry if you kneel down.

A good face mask is a must for me. I use the same one I wear under my snowmobile helmet. If it's real cold, I like a neck gator as well. Plus a good hat. I normally just wear a carhartt hat, but there are obviously warmer ones available.

[Lawrence Luoma]

One of the best tips I got is from 'Bowhunting Pressured Whitetail'. Buy those adhesive body warmers and stick them on your first layer (Ice Armor or Under Armor) in the kidney area. It will keep your core body temp up.

Here is my clothing list. I have been good up to -28 below during tournaments where we won't use a house.

Ice Armor Merino Wool Socks

Ice Armor Merino Thermal Pant - 1st Layer

Ice Armor Merino Thermal Shirt - 1st Layer

Fleece Pant - 2nd Layer

Fleece Shirt - 2nd Layer

Ice Armor Lift or Edge Suit - 3rd Layer

Ice Armor FaceMask

Ice Armor Timmons Hat

Ice Armor Edge Gloves

Ice Armor Sub Zero Boots

[takingkidsfishin]

Sirlips,

Do you have a picture of your fan setup?

[Chad Holst]

I dont have the hub out yet, but i can take one when i get it out and post it. Its really simple though. Heres what you need.

Fan:

A plastic cup that covers the fan opening, but is smaller than the fan box:

plastic drier tube:

Zip Ties:

Male/female plastic clips:

You take the cup, and cut the bottom of it off. so you now have something to liquid nail to the fan. you then take the cup and push it into the drier tube....something like this:

You then use 1 (i used 2, as my zip ties were not long enough) and put it around the tube where the cup is inserted:

Then all you do is zip tie the clips to the tube and the other end of the clip to the hub poles. You want the open end at the middle of the ceiling, pulling air down, through the fan, and out to the floor. Put 2 of these clips on the end of the computer fan, and plug it right into a flasher battery:

Here is a crude (no laughing) drawing of the set up:

Thats about it. We spent more on the battery, than everything else combined. But a guy could use his flasher battery, we just dont want a long cord running to the hole where our flasher is, so we use a specific battery for just the fan. Some guys run tube light in there hubs, so this would be perfect for the light and fan battery.

Get the cheapest, lowest amp 4" fan you can (.025, .3, .35 amp), the lower the amp, the slower it runs, the less power it takes and the quieter it is. You dont need a fast fan for this. The first one we tried was a fan out of an old dell computer, it was 2A...WAY to fast, WAY to loud. it would have melted a river on the floor and sounded like a jet engine. A potentiometer will make it adjustable, if you want a speed control..they are about $2.00 at radio shack. We dont use one. Its either on or off.

Also, after last year, i think i will take a 6"x 8# board of some kind, and screw the tube to it, so on the bottom, the fan points OUT rather than down at the ice,and it doesnt move around to much. just to keep the fan end stable. We tucked it around the pole and pointed it out, but it was up off the ice a couple feet then. it would be better right at the floor. 1 day i used the hoop handle of the duffle bag to stick the tube through, to keep it low to ground but pointing out. It worked great lower to the ice.

Hope this helps.

[Iron Cowboy]

Wow "Iron Cowboy," another blast from the past! Good to see you pop in. So many have come and gone, "Jiggle Stick," "Wastewater Guru," among others. I guess all of us around here since the early 2000s are all getting older aren't we?

Thanks! Yea back in the day I was higher strung and not the nicest guy on here,,got booted off for a time and said "screw it" and never came back. now a little older and wiser and more mellow I can appreciate the community of great guys on here with similar interests helping each other out. I mean just look at all the great reply's to this post... I really think this is one of the best community's online. hopefully now i can help contribute to it in a more posotive way. I know there are still some not so nice guys from time to time I just dont let them get my feathers ruffled anymore Looking forward to getting to know the new guys on here along with the few old timers left like you again