How cold is too cold (for you?)

[BLACKJACK]

Had to respond to this post because I'm also bumming about the weather tomorrow. I've got a hot tip on a lake about 20 miles from here, asked the wife if she wanted to go - yes!!! - but with a high predicted of -1 and windchill of -20 the margin for error doesn't set well with me, get stuck, have the truck stop, fall on some slippery ice.... Yes I could do it but if we have a bad experience then it will be harder to get her to go next time.

There will be better days. I've sat in my portable at -8 and sat in a deer stand at -5 but I was younger and dumber then. Plus I have this nice heated shop, why not use it??!

I keep telling myself I'm getting older and wiser.

[Chad Holst]

BlackJack, there are times to fish (almost all the time) and then there are times to build the things for when we fish. I would think with a heated shop, it may be one of those "time to build" days.

MacGyver made a 20 foot perm house out of a shoe box and duck tape and fishing poles out of tooth picks and a swiss army nife. Be sure to let us know what you ended up making. There may have been a belt buckle involved somewhere in there too, but i can't be sure.

[amateurfishing]

I was out a week and half ago on Monday afternoon with 40 mph winds in 20 degrees, it was nice & I enjoyed it outside, love being out in the elements

sunday am was -10, drilled 2 holes and sat with back facing wind. I was fine but lines, reels, & 2 drilled holes were freezing up with no protection and I could not keep the equipment in check so had to call quits after 20 min. do to equip issues, was not gonna take any chances wit my TB rods and okuma reels, had bad ice build up on line anyway, not sure if a flip over with portable buddy heater would have fared any better or not

[kfk]

I'm with you Blackjack. I've been out in dangerously cold temperatures many times to catch fish, but now I ask myself why? I don't mind the cold so much but the cold with wind is a complete turnoff for me. I guess I'm now more of a quality of fishing trip guy than quantity of fishing trip guy like I once was. There'll be better days to spend my money on all the expenses involved and the fish will still be there.

[Bobby Bass]

I considered it to cold when the lake freezes back over before you can launch your boat in the hole you just chain sawed open.

[FishFindHer]

We'll guess where we are? Lol. Just got too bored sitting at home. Had a few issues...door was frozen shut when we got up here...some guys helped us pry it open. Generator wouldn't start, but we put it next to the heat vent in the house & warmed her up a bit, back in business. (Good thing the battery that's been sitting out all week worked, we forgot the spare at home). -28 right now, but so far so good...two fish in the bucket so far.

[fishwacker1]

I work outside in the arctic circle. When I get home it's harder to get motivated when it's winter. My bones are frozen for two weeks at a time.

[FISHINGURU]

Nothing is too cold for me.

[Hydropillar]

its cold this morning... but we found a way to get back to our honey hole after getting blowed off and boat landing blew shut..farmer gave us access across his pasture , honey hole is a old stock dam in the middle of the lake..its like fishing in a aquarium . willing to trade gps cordinance for winning powerball numbers

[Down Deep]

I had a wheelhouse for several years and didn't have any inclination to allow cold temps deter me. I spent many days and nights on LOW with temps well below zero. Since my wheelhouse partner moved south and we sold the house I now use my Otter for trips to local lakes. I'm not apt to venture out when the temps dip will below zero. or more especially if the wind is blowing. In extreme cold there isn't much room for error and it's tough on equipment. I also find that cold temps limit my desire to relocate if I'm on a dead hole. Extreme cold temps mean "high pressure" and clear skies which has the same effect on limiting the bite as it does in during the open water season. I'll sit today out, but temps will be on the rise Friday onward and I'll be out again trying my luck.

[WalleyeChaser]

I'm not the type to sit in a shack for very long, so I look for temps at least in the upper single digits and no wind. I prefer at least mid teens if the wind decides its going to blow. I live to hole hop and it without a doubt increases catch rates. I will have the shack up to warm up for periods of time though. Unless I'm lucky enough to put the shack up in a hot spot where the fish come to me! That doesn't happen very often though.

[CANOPY SAM]

How cold is too cold (for you)?

Now, oh, and the last 4 weeks!

Honestly, when we're approaching -10 everyday (or worse) it gets pretty depressing. I love to be outside, and I love winter, but my old bod can't take the extreme cold like it used to.

fishwacker1, I used to be just like you. Believe me, your joints are gonna pay for this weather in the future. My hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles all snap, crackle and pop every time I move now. And it hurts! It sucks!

[leech~~]

"How cold is too cold (for you?)"

Here's mine.

Age / Temp

20's -40 To stupid-needed to prove something to buddies!

30's -30 Learning more about dying on ice / wife and kids.

40's -25 Getting better equipment learning more catching more fish don't need to go as much when as cold.

50's -15 Screw it, I still have fish in the freezer!