Winter clothing

[markt1225]

Just getting back into it and trying to get equipped ready for Winter.
Looking for some recommendations from real sea fisherman not what magazine trying to sell as not always what's on the tin.

Looking for thoughts on: -

1. Good value headlight
2. Boots
3. Is it done thing now to wear waders and jacket or flotation suit

Any other winter tips/must haves?

Cheers!

[Philysafc]

Get a headlamp off eBay from china or Hong Kong cheap and really powerfull , boots , waders or floatation suit ?? All depends on where your fishing , I use all 3 , if you have a long walk waders and floatation will make you sweat so carry them if possible .

[markt1225]

Cheers - any particular make/type of headlamp that you think does the business mate?

[g-force]

A lot of lads these days are buying Cree headlights - cheap enough but I've heard of quite a few problems with them; battery issues, breakages & reliability issues etc. Last year I spent £50 on a Fenix HP 11 headlight & reckon it's about the best I've used - the Tiga & Speleo's are pretty much retired now, but I still carry a LED Lenser H7 as a back-up.

I'd always opt for the chesties & coat combination - you can fish anywhere, whereas a boots & waterproofs will limit you & are no good on rock marks where a bit of wading might be required. Fine on some beaches & for most pier & riverside-type fishing though. A good coat is a must as you'll get pretty miserable if you get soaked. I've got quite a few to choose from, some not so good in bad weather but ok for showers or summer use. I love my Barbour coats but they can be a bit heavy at times - I've got a couple of Vass lightweight jackets that are very good - waterproof & roll up pretty small, making them good in the summer. Also have Greys Apollo & Daiwa smock - both ok but not good in heavy rain. Nice & warm & windproof though, and breathable too.

Gary

[markt1225]

Excellent info - cheers Gary will have a look at web for stuff you have mentioned.

[g-force]

Here's wher I got my lamp from:

Fenix HP11 LED Head Torch | FenixTorch.co.uk

Ordered one afternoon and arrived the next morning - you can order from Hong Kong and save around a tenner, but risk getting a cheap knock-off & waiting weeks for delivery. I fished the whole of last winter on the one set of batteries that came with the lamp & in fact fished two matches this week with still the original batteries, but I did notice the full power setting wasn't as bright as it should be, so time for a fresh set methinks! Mind you, most of the time I use it on it's lowest setting or the next one up - I'm not one for keeping it on any longer than necessary & don't appreciate looking like some walking lighthouse with those high powered things - many's the time I've been dazzled by people half a mile away & it's annoying!

Gary

[Philysafc]

Cheers - any particular make/type of headlamp that you think does the business mate?

I've got one like this http://bit.ly/SaKpdj
Now in the uk I see and you can buy spare battery packs its been spot on , but don't let the battery's go dead it f@@@s them , that's why I bought a spare pack , very powerful so watch people's eyes :-)

[markt1225]

If going for chestwaders are more people getting separate boots rather than those all in one numbers with studs on?

[g-force]

Get some "all-in-ones" I'd say. I've got some lightweight breathable waders that I occasionally wear in the summer which require a separate pair of wading boots and although they're good, they're expensive and the boots, despite thorough cleaning after every session, still corrode around the eyes where the laces go and they do tend to get clogged with sand etc.

It then comes down to neoprene versus PVC - both have their advantages. Neoprenes are warmer & snugger fitting so good for winter, PVC are lighter and more roomy & you sweat less if using them in the summer (although I must admit I don't see the whole sweat thing with neoprenes as too much of a problem at all - guess I just don't sweat as much as some people!).

Studs are good if you're going onto the rocks & probably the best all-round option. For PVC I'd look at the Ocean or Vass-Tex ranges; neoprenes are a bit pricier - I'm very happy so far with my Sonik ones, but I don't think they're available any more. I've heard good things about Bison's, but no direct experience of them. I've had issues with Greys waders in the past, and I'd stick clear of Snowbee Granites - everyone I know who bought a pair regretted it - leaks & faulty boots galore, in fact my local shop had so many pairs getting returned that he stopped stocking them.

Gary

[mooseboy65]

I wouldn't buy any other lamp except a cree now,ive had mine 3 year now,still spot on and if it breaks tomorrow it stands me £3 quid a year,wheres the sense in spending big bucks,no need,i bought 2,only problem is after a while fishing big seas all the salt/water/sand corrodes the on off switch,just loosened back of lamp up,quick spray wd-40 and it sorted,make sure you get the lamp with the big blue ultrafire batteries,cant vouch for the 1s that take AA

[FISHERMAN]

Cree head light very bright for the money and if it breaks i say if coz ive owend one for 3yr never and any bother with it. Imax flotation suite very good at keeping the condations at bay keeps you warm and dry. And a pair of wellys fur lined from frazers do the job ok they look like moon boots but do keep ya feet warm. And a must is a good thermal hat and pair of decent gloves nowt worse in the winter than for getting ya gloves coz its cold on those piers and rock marks but hey that winter sea fishing. Ive went for a goid pair of mittin style glives this year as it can be a pain in the backside putting your fingers in to gloves just of previous experience.

[the cod one]

Get a zippo handwarmer off ebay very good m8

[wavy davy]

Floatation suit for fishing the rocks or thermal suit for beach fishing, good thermal boots, I use a onesy under my thermals and it keeps me very warm, peacock handwarmers one for each pocket, good thermal hat that covers your ears, gloves and above all a flask of bovril with loads of pepper in.

[Davyred]

Some top advice from Gary there.

Personally, I use Ocean chesties and a Titan breathable coat (heard bad stories about them, but had no bother with mine) most of the time, but for the piers I got a pair of thermal goretex walking boots years ago which I paid about £85 for years ago but are still going strong, along with salopettes.

One thing I bought last year was a Sundridge sleepskin. They're about £25 and well worth the money.

As for my hands, I use Damart fingerless gloves. I've tried mits, gloves etc, but they're too much of a clart on.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned regarding keeping you warm is a flask of tea/coffee. I take a flask of bovril with me, always good to warm you up on even the coldest night.

[g-force]

Yes, I wouldn't leave the house, even in the summer, without the flask of coffee! On a personal side, I never wear gloves or use hand warmers when fishing - just don't seem to get cold hands like some - but my ears burn at the slightest hint of cold so a good hat pulled over the ears is another essential for me!

Gary