Beat the heat!

[riverbasser]

Just curious how yall beat the heat in the summer? I feel like I can handle a good bit but middle of the day in south Alabama is hot! Especially when there is little wind. I have a Bimini top but it is useless for me on the front deck. 

[Scarborough817]

drink a lot of water, throw your buff in the water & put it back on, put some ice down your shorts. do whatever it takes

[scaleface]

I get in the water. Even on lakes where it is prohibited . I'd rather break the rules than get heat stroke .

[A-Jay]

Fish at night.

A-Jay

[Lanier Sealy]

I hear ya on that one! Also it's a pretty steep hospital bill for anything heat related (I know from experience from sports). I can tell you several things I've picked up most from my trainer. He said drink plenty of water and keep your electrolytes balanced, also carry around a jar of pickles. It may sound silly but trust me on this if at any point you feel nausea, pale skin, cold sweat. Immediately eat some pickles and make sure to drink all the juice as that will replenish your body with sodium chloride. I think there's something else I'm forgetting and hopefully someone will back me up on it. I think it's saltines but I could be wrong. Anyway stay cool and happy fishing. 

[riverbasser]

all good information. My job requires me to work outside all year long so im well aware of heat related safety. I was mainly wondering if anybody had any tricks to just stay comfortable? Think I might get a buff this year and try to keep it wet, that seems like it might help stay cool. I also saw some kind of sports towel that supposedly stays cold when wet, might try it out as well.

[nosdog2]

Drink plenty of water, I wear a big straw wide brimmed hat, I have one of those neck gators that you soak in the water every so often to keep you cool (works wonders), and lastly I wear loose long sleeved "under armor" style t shirts.  I get them off eBay, some non-name brand that works awesome and I don't care if they get all fished up and nasty since they don't cost $40+ like the UA gear does.  

[Ktho]

It get's hot as hell here in Socal especially since most of the lakes are desert lakes without a lot of shade. I recommend drinking cool beverages. Wearing a hat and sunglasses is mandatory imo. Wearing the performance shirts help a lot in keelping cool. I like to splash water on myself every once in a while as well. Sometimes I purposefully only fish shady areas to get a break from the heat. 

[blckshirt98]

The quick dry shirts keep you dry so your sweat doesn't weight you down.  Also I've found that using a boonie style of hat makes a huge difference because it keeps the direct sun off your head and most of your neck (depending on the sun's position) and you can also "aim" the top of your head at the sun to keep your neck shaded.  Keeping your head/neck area cool, and a dry shirt, works the best for me.

[Jd_Phillips_Fishin]

1 hour ago, riverbasser said:

all good information. My job requires me to work outside all year long so im well aware of heat related safety. I was mainly wondering if anybody had any tricks to just stay comfortable? Think I might get a buff this year and try to keep it wet, that seems like it might help stay cool. I also saw some kind of sports towel that supposedly stays cold when wet, might try it out as well.

Make sure you get one that you can soak in the water and will keep you from burning up. My favorite is the one from Strike King. I just dip it in and it'll hold that water for a few hours, keeping me cool and comfortable. 

[etrout72]

I live and fish in Las Vegas where its over 100 degrees about 4 months of the year. I have the bimini for my boat, but have found that an umbrella gives you a lot more room to fish, while still providing shade. That and lots of water!

[MassYak85]

buff, sunscreen, lots of water, hat

Also just wearing swim trunks and jumping in, but for you southern guys I wouldn't want to be swimming with the gators just to cool off. 

[riverbasser]

49 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

buff, sunscreen, lots of water, hat

Also just wearing swim trunks and jumping in, but for you southern guys I wouldn't want to be swimming with the gators just to cool off. 

Yea we got plenty of those lol bit they don't bother you. 

@etrout72  I've seen those umbrella that mount on the back of seats. I've been seriously considering selling my Bimini and getting 2 of those. 

[Catt]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Fish at night.

A-Jay

Full moon on the horizon

["hamma"]

I usually soak my shirt and hat in the water, and wear swim trunks to dunk myself when it gets to stifleing

[avidone1]

Florida bass love the heat, so I'm familiar with the issue.  I used to fish often off a good sized boat and would put a bunch of wash cloths in the freezer the night before.  Then throw them in the cooler with the ice.  when you get good and hot, pull out a wash cloth and stick it on your head under your hat while letting the cold water slosh all down your shirt.  Cools you right down.  Also don't cheap out on coolers and jugs.  Yeti brand is a wallet crusher fer shure, but this is a safety issue and you should with the best.  When it comes to keeping things cold there is Yeti, and then there is everything else.

[soflabasser]

Like others have said,drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Wear lose clothing and try to fish in areas with shade if possible.Go under a tree or a area with shade when you feel hot and don't over exert yourself when it's hot.Heat exhaustion and heat stroke is no joke,so you have to be very careful when fishing when it's hot outside. 

[Surfcaster]

I received one of those cooling towels as a gift last year and I keep it wet and on my head with my hat.  It does a good job keeping me cool during summer tournaments or just working outside in the yard.

[2tall79]

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Mate-692-Solar-Safari-Cool/dp/B0002SNPDO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

[lo n slo]

another vote for night fishing when it gets hot and humid but you gotta know your water well enough to not get lost or have an accident. around here, several times a summer, somebody hits a dock or a bridge or somebody else. we try to avoid long runs and fish areas where we can "hide" from the drunks in their bow riders. i love lit-up docks and structure around channel markers and islands. wear your life jacket! 

[RAMBLER]

19 hours ago, Lanier Sealy said:

I hear ya on that one! Also it's a pretty steep hospital bill for anything heat related (I know from experience from sports). I can tell you several things I've picked up most from my trainer. He said drink plenty of water and keep your electrolytes balanced, also carry around a jar of pickles. It may sound silly but trust me on this if at any point you feel nausea, pale skin, cold sweat. Immediately eat some pickles and make sure to drink all the juice as that will replenish your body with sodium chloride. I think there's something else I'm forgetting and hopefully someone will back me up on it. I think it's saltines but I could be wrong. Anyway stay cool and happy fishing. 

Gatorade tastes better.  But, I understand the pickle thing is a first aid type of thing.  Gatorade is good for the electrolytes.

[BassinLou]

Great tips on here, I will also like to add, I like to start hydrating the day before I go out on long hot fishing day. Lastly, a good measure of hydration while outside is how often is the person urinating during an outing. If your peeing often its a good thing, if your not peeing at all you are dehydrated. Thirst is one of the last signs of dehydration believe it or not. 

[Brew City Bass]

Wisconsin summers can get brutal, or be great. I was out yesterday and it was 85* which is pretty warm for Wisconsin. I force myself to drink 2 bottles of water an hour, you're gonna be sweating more than that out. I also try to eat healthy snacks like nuts, and lastly, I'll drink gatoraid or powerade to resupply electrolytes.

[wytstang]

This is the time of the year when I start fishing at 3am to maybe 11am and call it quits. Water and Gatorade if I'll be fishing into the afternoon time. I will also be bringing a small (12oz or larger) spray bottle of cold water (left in the cooler) to spray myself with on those 100 days.

[crypt]

been fishing in Florida my whole life,so here's how we've been doin it. keep 2 hats,1 in the cooler on ice at all times,switching out throughout the day.same tactic with Buffs keep 3 or 4 with me at all times. lots of water,gatorade,fluids etc. then when it gets real hot,fire up the big motor and take a quick ride,cool things off for a while.also clear your head.