Wear several layers of clothing to insulate and keep you warm while fishing in cold weather. Clothing layers trap air between them and offer great insulation. As it warms up during the day, you can always take off some of the clothing. Long underwear, a warm shirt, and warm pants help to hold your body’s heat. Additional layers of clothing can include an insulated vest and a rain parka, which are also good for keeping you warm on cold, windy days. Caps and hats are important. They prevent loss of body heat from your head-and-neck area. Headgear used for fishing during the winter should protect most of your head, including your ears. Fishing is difficult with most gloves. There are gloves, however, that let you tie knots and handle fishing tackle. They include lightweight rubber gloves and “hunter/fisherman’s gloves,” gloves that have a flap so you can expose your fingers. Do not fish on ice unless it is at least four inches, and preferably more thick.

Before fishing on ice, it is a good safety practice to check the thickness of the ice. Drill a hole with an ice auger near shore and along your route of travel, measuring the thickness of the ice as you move. Do not fish on ice unless it is at least four inches, and preferably more, thick. Thinner ice is dangerous because it can break easily.

You need warm clothing, long underwear, pants and shirt for cold weather and ice fishing. A snowmobile suit and insulated boots with thick soles are ideal. A warm hat, heavy gloves, and a skier’s mask are also needed. Hand warmers are also helpful. A personal flotation device, when worn under clothing, provides extra warmth and also emergency flotation if you go for an unexpected icy plunge.