Page 75 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

Setting up for cold weather cod fishing
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cope with the cold.
It looks a bit like a puffer jacket, and I am not nearly trendy enough to pull that off.
launching and retriev- ing the boat, and for fishing without the bib and brace style – top- end outfits, which I don’t own, yet.
I spoke to Carl Jocumsen about this, as he is forced to fish all sorts of weather in the US and has experience dealing with snow, rain, wild wind and, some- times, all three in one day.
Worn underneath a windstopper jacket – I wear one from my work at Wilsons – I was toasty warm, in fact so warm I removed the windstopper when the boat was stationery.
Underneath the neo- prene thigh waders, I still wear thermal pants and trackie dacks with a couple of pairs of socks, and I am yet to feel the stinging numb- ness in my toes that standing on a frozen deck gives you.
This is the prize, a fat Murray cod from a cool night on the water.
Shane was wearing a hunting jacket with a hood that allowed free movement and kept him warm and dry.
His biggest piece of advice was to layer properly with quality gear.
There is also another option for a jacket and this one comes cour- tesy of Andrew Hart from Hook, Line and Sinker.
The emphasis on quality gear was clearly apparent.
On a recent filming trip to Copeton, he had a jacket that had a heat source inside it.
My fishing mates reckon it’s a top idea too, as they don’t need to go anywhere near the cold water anymore.
Most people under- stand the three layers – a thermal bottom lay- er, warm middle layer and an outer shell that will allow perspiration to wick away, but as anglers we need to be able to move freely.
A simple press of a button turned the car- bon elements on, and the jacket warmed itself up.
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This means that an- glers are looking at spe- cific fishing ranges – rather than snow ranges or hunting ranges – in cold weather clothing.
The jacket was from Milwaukee – yes, the tool brand – and is a workplace jacket for tradies, so it’s tough and allows for move- ment.
Why hunting you may ask?
It also reduces the lay- ering need a bit.
It’s pretty simple.
Harty said it was awe- some, but keep in mind this doesn’t solve the head and fingers issues, although one option is a hoodie.
In Australia, we do not have access to the high-end fishing sys- tems that they have in Japan, Europe and the US.
But the end point is to make sure you layer with quality gear.
However, hunters who need to be mobile one minute and static the next do have access to high-end clothing in a vast array of brands.
We’re a funny bunch who will spend $500 on a rod, $500 on a reel and $100 on line plus a box of $80 lures, yet we look for the cheapest clothes we can get.
Only a small cod, but this pic is a good example of layering and protecting heat loss from your head with a thermal beanie and a hooded mid-layer.
Hunting activity is not that far removed from what we do fishing, so it’s mostly a good match.
Good clothing is eas- ily as essential as good gear, especially given you are placing your- self in a situation that could easily lead to trouble.
My good mate Adam Royter who lives in New Zealand, advised me to look at hunting gear made from down for the middle lay- er of the system, and after spending a lazy $550 on a down top, I almost don’t want to punch him in nose any- more after the first cold weather foray.
One tip I have dis- covered when fishing the lakes has been the use of neoprene thigh waders.
www.bnb shing.com.au
These have been a revelation for me when
It may not look it but this morning snuck down below zero. It didn’t stop Aaron Lawson from getting this chunk to bash his surface lure though.
Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2020 – Page 75