Chris 'Bones' Holmes Top 5 Winter Fishing Essentials
My first thoughts...
Now that the weather has turned and winter has set in, it's crucial you're kitted out correctly for your winter carp fishing campaign. Below are my top 5 winter fishing essentials which will make life more comfortable whilst battling the winter elements.
Thermal Gloves
Thermal gloves are a must in winter and whilst many think they can be a nuisance, they are an absolute god send, there's simply nothing worse than cold hands and feet. For example, you've landed one of the lakes target characters, you've held it up for your trophy shot and slipped it back. Your hands will now be like ice blocks. Having a pair of gloves in the bag means I can whack them on and get my hands warm again, ready to get the rod back on the spot. Trakker gloves are great as they are specifically made for fishing, the fingers fold back allowing you to still work with fiddly terminal tackle whilst keeping your hands toasty warm. See the Trakker glove range here.
Merino Socks
Just like having cold hands, having cold feet makes for an uncomfortable experience, so wearing a good pair of thermal socks like Trakker's Merino Wool Socks will keep your feet lovely and warm. It's also good practise to carry a spare pair just in case your feet get wet.
Hot Water Bottle
Throughout winter I'll always carry a hot water bottle with me, whilst it's not needed on every session, it's handy to have in my bag just in case those temperatures plummet. I know what you're thinking here, just man up Chris; however, it's a proper comfort on those crisp, cold winter nights. I've used the Trakker hot water bottle for years; it gives off plenty of heat and keeps me toasty warm in my sleeping bag until the morning.
A hat...
It's well documented that you can lose up to 10% of your body heat through your head, so with this in mind, I always wear a good, warm beanie hat of some kind. My personal favourites at the minute are the Trakker team bobble hat and the lovely plum textured beanie, I'm also a huge fan of the new camo bobble hat too!
Spare gas
It's always handy to carry spare gas no matter the season, but in winter it's even more so. It's literally the worst nightmare! So, I've just settled into my swim for the night, the rods are on the spot, camp is set up and now it's time for a well-earned brew. You flick the stove on, the kettle starts warming and the gas runs out... We've all been there at some point! Whilst I can live without a hot meal, I can't function without a brew so ALWAYS carry spare gas.
We've also just published a really handy and detailed essential guide to winter fishing clothing too, it's well worth a read, there's simply nothing worse than being cold and uncomfortable whilst on the bank during winter.
As ever folks’ tights lines and be lucky,
Chris Holmes, aka Bonesy