Gloves To Keep Hands Warm During Winter Fishing...

[Gavin]

I've never found a decent set of gloves..for the most part I use a pair of Simms fingerless fleece gloves, but your hands will still get cold...fingerless fleece for when I'm fishing and a pair of gore tex ski gloves to switch out when my hands get cold. If I have the canoe out when its below freezing I keep at least 3-4 pair handy, when I'm wading its always two pair and a couple handwarmer packs.

Gavin

[brownieman]

I've tried many different gloves over the years because the bulk of my fishing is in the winter months.

I always go back to the wool gloves with the mitten pullovers.

I have always tried to reach down and release fish with a long pair of needle nose pliers and avoid getting my hands in the water.

When it's 10 degrees, rod eyes freezing up almost every cast my hands get cold regardless. I have to have my index finger uncovered or have never been able to cast well. Wool itself seems to retain a little heating quality even when damp or wet where as nothing else I've used has.

I have built many a little fire on the banks to thaw my hands out...have built a few bigger fires also to thaw out a friend after taking a dip in the cold...can be dangerous to say the least. The action of casting always ups the wind chill factor on your hands and rod.

I'm surprised someone has not manufactured heated rods with a circuit running the length of the rod that heats the eyes and possibly even the handle...would be great for winter fisherman. If there is such a rod I have never seen one and would be glad to own one...dipping your rod in the water every cast sure gets old but it beats fishing amoung the crowds, seems frigid weather beats most off the water and with good reason.

bm

[Don]

My favorite gloves are the ones that have mittens that drape over the fingers and a little pouch that holds a chemical hot hands pad in the finger section of the mitten. I like those best when duck hunting in extremely cold weather. When it comes to flyfishing, I can't stand to wear gloves. I feel a need for bare hanbds on the rod, reel, and line. At times like those, I try to keep some hot hands packets in pockets that I can slip my hands in every now and then to warm back up.

Don May

[strangercreek]

Using a Ketchum release will help you keep your hands out of the water and off the fish which helps (but doesn't help with getting wet from handling the line)

[Paola Cat]

In extreme conditions, I use a pair of Glacier gloves under a pair of Hodgman full fingered neoprene gloves. The Hodgman gloves are a full size larger than the Glacier gloves. Everything stays dry with the (2) gloves. This can be a bit bulky and you definitely lose some "feel" but is warm. PC

[JCWolfe]

I know this is an old thread but have to add to it. I use cold water scuba diving gloves. 3mm has been the best for me and it does take getting use to to tie on flies. Since finding them that is what I always will use having tried many pairs of gloves. Once on, the gloves stay on till I quit fishing. They make them in several different thicknesses, 5mm is way too heavy to fish with, you lose dexterity. I know because I bought a pair to try, nice and warm but too heavy. JCW

[FlyFishinFool]

Old thread - but a quick comment and an opportunity for someone.

Comment - I use the Glacier fingerless gloves and then ALSO use a Ketchum Release - keeps the hands (and gloves) dry and warm - only the exposed fingertips get cold or damp from the flyline.

Opportunity - As of Monday 6/13 FeatherCraft in St. Louis has 2 pairs of Simms WeatherStopper fingerless gloves, size XL, on the clearance rack for 1/2 price - original price $35...these are last year's design (I don't know if you can get these via mail order - may be in store only). The new design has increased the price to $44 in the FC catalog. So first come first served - 2 pr XL Simms WeatherStopper fingerless for $17.50 - really good price!

[Ill Trout Bum]

I use Seal Skinz. Make sure you get the chill blocker model as they are insulated. i have fished in them all the way down to 5 above and never had any issues with cold fingers. Look for a pair on Ebay and save some money.

[3wt]

I've really struggled with this ever since I started fishing through the winter 3 or 4 years ago. I can stay fairly warm even in the coldest weather except my hands. I've tried fleece, tried wool, and tried neoprene. Nothing works great for me. But the best I've found so far are "glacier gloves". That company makes several types but the ones that work best for me are the ones that are fingerless (like 3/4 finger length) and are a combination of fleece on the back and neoprene on the palm. I used them the last couple of weeks and my hands stayed reasonably warm. They didn't cost much either. I think they were about $10 at Bass Pro.

It's when the gloves get wet that I run into problems. There were a couple of really good tips from the other posters. I think a backup pair is a good idea. And I like John's idea of taking them off when you land a fish. I'm going to try both of those. Something I've done also is if I have to touch the fish to get them off the hook - I use a net rather than my bare hand. It seems to keep my hands a little drier.

Good luck,

Greg

I second this. I keep a pair of fingerless wool rag gloves as backup. They suck in the wind, but better than nothing.