Across the country's northern tier of states, the term "fishing" is now used to describe what you do through a hole in the ice. Everything else that involves a rod and reel is called "summer fishing."
Yet much of my "summer fishing" has occurred when temperatures were so cold the rod guides clogged with
ice and reel gears turned about as easily as chilled roofing tar. During much of my "summer fishing," it rains, sleets or snows. That's why I'm cheered whenever I learn of innovations that make fishing in water that's barely
liquid a heckuva lot less painful and
a good deal more effective. Consider a few of my recent finds.
Fast as You Want to Go
In winter there's a certain proportional comparison between Formula 1 race cars and open fishing boats. While we're not about to match driver Michael Schumacher's 220-mph speeds in an 853-hp Ferrari, surviving boat rides at speeds over 50 miles per hour in 30-degree weather borders on the heroic. The wind will ream your sinuses and zoom past your pain threshold in short order. I've sought protection for my face by wearing everything from oversized goggles to ski masks, but sooner or later the cold finds its way inside. A new item called Fish Hedz promises better results. Essentially a hard mask with interchangeable lenses in several tints, the Fish Hedz is far less expensive and less confining than a snowmobile helmet, and the lenses are non-fogging. The Fish Hedz should be great in summer as a foil against love bugs and cicadas, too. (From $110 to $150; Save Phace Corp.; 866-783-3223; www.fishhedz.net)
Coldproofing Tackle
I wear wind-blocking fingerless gloves in cold weather to keep my hands from going numb. I also might cover a spinning rod's reel-seat threads with electrician's tape or foam tape for a bit more hand comfort. Some rod makers are producing seats with cork spacers and no exposed threads-good news.
Your fingers aren't the only things that might not function properly at freezing air temperatures. You can expect rod guides to ice up a bit, even if they're coated with one of the various dressings sold to prevent such occurrences. The recently introduced NiTi Recoil guides freeze at a slower pace than insert guides, and because they can be twisted with your thumb, they shed ice quickly. Steelheaders love them.
Spinning and casting reels can be adversely affected by the cold, too. A reel that is difficult to crank because the
lubrication inside it is getting gunked up drastically reduces an angler's sense of feel. When you're dragging rigs and lures on the bottom or retrieving crankbaits, you need all the sensitivity you can get. Because fish aren't voracious eaters in winter, their strikes
often take the form of what I call "pressure bites," and a half-frozen reel won't let you feel them. That said, if you do tweak your reels for better
performance in cold weather, be prepared to maintain them after every fishing session or you'll experience
serious parts wear.
First, degrease the reel bearings and gears by using the right solvent. Kerosene and similar solvents work, but the stronger stuff can destroy plastic parts. Products such as Reel Saver Cleaner or Hot Rods Super Duty Cleaner & Degreaser (both from Fisherman's Headquarters, 877-984-5400; www.fishermansheadquarters.com) are gentler but just as effective. Pay special attention to getting the grease out of shielded (not sealed) bearings. You'll know what shielded bearings look like when you see them.
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