When I returned from a recent guide trip, I turned on the Weather channel and learned that it was ninety four degrees and the heat index was one hundred and six. Summer is here. In order to comfortably fish during the dog days of summer, you need to adopt some heat survival strategies.
The best way to beat the heat is to avoid it. You should fish early or fish late. The other day I got my clients on the water by six thirty AM. There was a heavy fog on the water until eleven that kept us cool. By two PM, it was getting really hot. We pulled the plug at two thirty but we had gotten in eight good hours of fishing by then. Avoid fishing during the middle of the day. Tie some flies or better yet take a nap. Hit the water at five PM, when the sun is lower, and fish until dark. Night fishing is another alternative. It will certainly be cooler. Keep in mind that you have to be ever vigilant for rising water and you must be very careful when moving around.
Dress for the occasion. You should definitely avoid neoprene waders. They do not breathe and are very good insulators. You would end up just as wet from perspiration as you would from wading without waders. The better choice is breathable waders. They are made from space age fabrics like Gore-Tex which allows water vapor to pass through them but not water drops. These will keep you much drier. I wear waist high waders in the summer. They are a bit cooler and very comfortable.
Another alternative is to wet wade, that is, no waders. If the temperature is over ninety degrees, this is the only way to go. I wear my regular wading boots. I also wear neoprene booties with built in gravel guards and a pair of heavy socks. The neoprene booties take up as much room as the neoprene feet on my waders and provide some insulation and padding for my feet I still carry my wading staff in case the water comes up and I need some assistance getting out.
If I am in the boat, I wear boat sandals. They have a ripple tread design to provide great traction on a wet deck and are water friendly, in case I have to wade out in the water while launching the boat. They have an enclosed rubber toe box to protect my feet. I find that I wear them around the house because they are so comfortable.
Wear tropical weight clothing. I prefer light weight long sleeve shirts made from a quick drying fabric like supplex. I only buy them if the have two large button flap pockets. That way, I do not drop the pocket contents in the water when I bend over to release a fish. . I wear long quick drying light weight slacks to provide sun protection. Some anglers prefer shorts but with my fair complexion I just end up getting burned. Choose light colors that reflect the sun. I also wear sun gloves to protect my hands. Cover all exposed skin with a good waterproof sunscreen.
Wear a broad billed hat to provide even more sun protection. I find that straw particularly panamas are the coolest and most comfortable. The problem with straw is that, if you let it get wet, it will shrink. I always carry a quick drying rain hat in case of rain. A cotton baseball can provide a lot of protection and you can dunk it in the river and put it back on. As the water evaporates it will cool you a bit. I carry a bandana that I can dunk in the river and then wrap around my neck. It can make a big difference.
Lose the vest. They are just too hot for weather like this. You need something to carry your stuff in that will also provide a lot more air circulation on your torso. A number of anglers opt for fanny packs. I have one that I use for salt water fly fishing in the tropics. Other anglers choose various chest packs. I have found that I can carry most of what I need in my shirt pockets. I clip my hemostats (with a nipper attached to the flap of my shirt pocket). I toss a spool or two of tippet, a spool of ribbon lead and a small fly box of the flies I will most likely need in my pocket and I am good to go.
Finally, your bodys way of staying cool is perspiration. As you sweat, you will be losing fluids. It is important that you replace them to avoid heat stroke. Water is the best thing to drink. The best place to carry it is in your body. I will sometimes chug a pint of water before leaving the parking lot. If I am in the boat, I carry a cooler of cold drinks, especially water. If I am wading, I carry a soft sided canteen that fits on my wading belt filled with a quart of cool water. Drink water through out the day.
If you take into account these strategies to beat the heat, you can go out there, find some nice trout and survive the process.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished the local streams for over twenty-five years.
