Winter Clothing - Outerwear

[Mr_Scrogg]

Did a search,   Didn't find what I was looking for. 

 

 

What kind of outerwear do you wear when it gets down right cold in the winter.  I fish year round, (as long as the water isn't hard).  I know of a couple people that have 100mph Parka and Bibs from BPS.  I know you get what you pay for, but dropping that much coin is painful.  I've looked a little at the Guide Series at Cabelas, But not really in depth.

 

Location is everything, here in Kansas, doesn't get super frigid, but with the wind, it can get down pretty good. 

 

Coming from kayak fishing, layering was everything.  Non-Cotton is the staple. 

 

 

Thanks

[5fishlimit]

The cost for the BPS 100mph gear is very reasonable for what you're buying.

Compare the cost against the Simms gear, and you'll see what I mean.

Frog Toggs has some good stuff, too. $60 for the jacket. I also like Columbia for their PFG line.

[papajoe222]

I go walleye fishing every April out of Muskegon MI and I can tell you that between the cold temps (mid to upper 30's) and the wind on Lake Michigan it's the worst I've ever delt with.  I purchased my 100mph gear three seasons ago and have only used them four times.  They're worth every penny.

If you're not inclined to pay the price for them or Cabela's equivelent, a set of Carharts along with a decent base layer will do you good.  Add a couple of those chemical pocket warmers in the pockets of your flannel shirt and except for your fingers and toes, you should stay fairly comfortable.

[TiNuts]

Cabelas puts their guide wear on sale every now and again. That's the time to go bargain with the manager at BPS. I got about $100 off the entire 100mph suit that way.

You can usually find the 100mph pieces on eBay also.

[Bluebasser86]

Check the bargain cave at Cabela's, you can find returned suits in like new condition pretty often. I didn't like my Guidewear quite as much as I like my 100mph suit but they are very nice. Being warm is a huge part of catching fish when it's cold. If you're cold you'll lose your focus and you'll be much less effective. 

[Loop_Dad]

Here at my local lakes, the winter mornings can be at freezing or tad colder. Not sure how cold in Kansas, but I'm sure colder than here.

 

A ski / boarder jacket and with layers with ski thermo underwear do that job for me. Actually after sun comes out, usually I am already too warm. The local sports stores all have sale on those items and I never  pay retail.

 

I also wear ski pants with side zipper on top of the pants when I predict the temp remain near freezing.

[martintheduck]

I'm in a similar situation to you - need some cold gear but don't want to drop the money on it. For now I'll just layer longjohns, sweats, jeans, bibs, and then some heavy upper gear.

[awefvawervwae]

We fish year round here as well and a lot fo guys use the Artic Armor bibs and jakets. REALLY warm and floats. I use a differnet brand but the same concept.

[J Francho]

I use the same uninsulated rain gear I use in the summer.  The under layers are where I insulate.

[Master Bait'r]

I just use my ski gear.  Makes that 100mph stuff look like it's just about free but there's no denying the merits of 3 layer Gore Tex Proshell, synthetic down and wool or poly base layers in proper conjunction in any cold weather activity.  

[Brian6428]

I just use my ski gear.  Makes that 100mph stuff look like it's just about free but there's no denying the merits of 3 layer Gore Tex Proshell, synthetic down and wool or poly base layers in proper conjunction in any cold weather activity.  

Same here. Mainly just because I already have a ski jacket and pants lying around, but they work great either way.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I wear my carhart and thin pair of gloves to keep the wind off my hands.. if it gets bad I put a few hand warmers on the top of my hand...  oh yeah and a beanie of course

[wnybassman]

I use the same uninsulated rain gear I use in the summer.  The under layers are where I insulate.

 

 

That

[bigbill]

I was hunting in a long John upper shirt and a woolen shirt for most of my life until

old age blind sided me. I now wear insulated hunting camo. The one piece suits or the bibs with the jackets. Anything that's one piece so our lower backs are covered from the cold. I been buying the marked down insulated camo clothes from BPS, CABELAS and SPORTSMANS GUIDE. The sportsmans guide gear insulated clothes are very warm too. On sale the bibs can be found for as little as $59. The one piece suit for around $99. Don't forget the long sleeve camo tee shirt to wear underneath. There very warm too. Even the camp sweat shirts are warmer too there tighter woven. I also wear 1,000grms of

thinsulate boots too. These are very warm even on the ice, fishing too. I layer my clothing under my insulated bib or one piece suit if I'm sitting. My uncle would always preach to me to put on enough warm clothes, if it gets too warm you could remove some. If you don't put enough warm clothes on and you get cold you can't add anymore.

[Fishes in trees]

I have the Cabelas Guidewear Gortex suit and at the time I got it, that suit and the BPS 100 MPH suit were within $20 of each other.  The Cabelas suit just jfit me better than the similar sized BPS suit.  At the time, Cabelas offered the choice of a parka style jacket or a shorter bomber style.  I went with the shorter jacket, because the bibs did an ok job of covering my lower back and I didn't need the extra length that was in the parks.  I would really recommend trying them both on and checking the fit.  Be sure to wear similar clothes underneath it to what you will be wearing when you are fishing.  In reality, I have several different sets of rain wear.   A lighter weight, older 10X suit, frogg togs, and the Guidewear.

 

I carry most of them in my truck and make gear decisions based on that the weather will be like that day.  Another thing to be aware of in both the BPS 100 MPH suit and the Guidewear is that they have so many pockets that you can forget which pocket you used for what.  If you are carrying candy bars in your coat pocket, be sure to put them inside a zip lock bag.  Just saying . . . .

[BuckMaxx]

Look at waterfowl hunting gear. Thats what I use. I fished yesterday in 35* and 20 mph winds. Worked great and caught some fall gorging bass. GREAT day!!

[Hooligan]

As much time as I spend on the water in fall, winter, and spring I finally upgraded to Clam Ice Armor. The Blue suit is bomb proof. I used to wear my 100mph and layer under it, but the blue suit is so much better. It's incredible for cold weather fishing. Better movement, completely wind proof, very warm with little insulation. It fits extremely well with several layers, or you can back off the layering and fish only the suit comfortably through early April. Easily the best money I've spent on outerwear, fishing related.

[Walleye2Bass]

If you are looking to save some cash Academy has the H2O XPRESS Men's Fishing Parka and matching bibs.  They  work relatively well to layer under, they are not high dollar Gore-Tex by any means, but they will keep the wind and rain off and serve as a good shell, bunch of my friends swear by them.  Personally, I use a North Face Gore-Tex parka I bought 8 years ago and it still works fine.  That was back before The North Face became a fashion statement.  You can find some deals online at retailers like Bass Pro or Cabelas in their bargain or outlet areas, I always liked Sierra Trading Post, they have tons of Sims, North Face, etc. items, some are seconds or cosmetic blemishes (that do not effect function) but you can get some steals on that site, it's where I bought that North Face coat for 50% off because it was a bright High-Vis green.  I don't mind the color, it keeps me warm and dry and as a bonus you can't miss me on the water!        

[mikeeasttn]

I have the Caleblas Guide suit and was pleased with it.  After hearing from many people how good the BPS 100mph suit was I purchased one of them  They are really great and will keep you warm but really no difference in it and the Guide Suit.  They are both top quaility suits and well worth the money.  If you fish cold weather this is one area you do not want to go cheap on.

You can not enjoy fishing if you are not comfortable.  Do not forget good socks and some type insulated footwear also.

[ww2farmer]

I like to be mobile, all the heavy winter coats, bibs, etc...make me feel like a mummy. I just put on two pairs of socks, flannel lined jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, flannel shirt, and my insulated carhart hooded sweatshirt. If it's really cold I'll wear a knit carhart cap OVER my dirty, ratty, SK hat. If it's raining or snowing, my rain coat/pants go over everything. I can't fish with gloves on, so I keep a couple hand warmers in the pocket of my sweat shirt for a quick warm up. I have a lot of "natural" insulation, I can tolerate the cold pretty well. I am good down to zero in these clothes...........as long as the wind is not blowing hard. This is pretty much my basic attire when it's cold on the boat, OR when I am ice fishing, but I do have a flip over ice shanty and heater. If I had to sit on a bucket................well no............there will be no sitting on a bucket, I'll quit ice fishing if it comes to that LOL.

[aceman387]

I bought the bps pro qualifier outfit a few years ago and it has worked well for me.

[Catt]

I use the same uninsulated rain gear I use in the summer. The under layers are where I insulate.

Yelp, winter down here is mid-40s & rain

[roadwarrior]

I'm a huge fan of Cabela's Guidewear.

[J Francho]

Yelp, winter down here is mid-40s & rain

 

LOL, well winters here are, well, umm, colder.....

[bigbill]

I also use those one piece red trap door long John's too. I had pneumonia three times in a row working outside in the winter. It was my lower back that was exposed to the cold weather. Once I started wearing the once piece long John's I was never sick again.

I wear the heavy Rocky socks from dicks sporting goods. And the 1,000gram thinsulate boots and my feet are never cold even while ice fishing.

I also use a snowboarder one piece neck wrap too. This keeps the sides and back of my neck very warm.

When we were hunting and walking for miles we were never cold, it wasn't till I got old and can't walk that we'll is when we started sitting

is when we needed the new insulated camo hunting clothes.

Have you ever noticed when were all dressed up in these clothes we look like that little guy on "you'll shoot your eye out" then we need to hit the bathroom before we go out?