Getting Dressed For Sea Angling

Dressing appropriately for the elements is one thing that will make your fishing so much more enjoyable, but what is the key to getting it right? Jansen Teakle has the answers.

There was a time when I can recall wearing about six layers of clothing in the middle of winter to combat the cold. Combat the cold it did, but it also left me in a sweaty mess. If you get sweaty in cold weather, as soon as you start to cool down, the sweat will make you cold, very cold and the object of the whole exercise is defeated. Those six layers, consisting of jumpers, t-shirts and jackets were uncomfortable in so many ways, but the restriction of movement is what really sticks in my head. 

At some point in my teenage years, the floatation suit became the next big thing, but they were expensive (for the time) and the wearer was reliant on this one layer to keep them warm and dry. Again, floatation suits were bulky and heavy, making any lengthy walk to your mark an unpleasant experience to say the least. 

The lesson this taught is that there was no one garment that would do it all.

Thankfully nowadays it’s a lot easier to stay warm and dry throughout the year, with numerous pieces of technical clothing available to assist, with the emphasis being not just to wear layers appropriate for the season, but to wear the right layers. 

A heavy duty waterproof jacket might be fine for the winter months, but fish in a July downpour when the humidity is high and the temperature is pushing twenty degrees and you’ll be far to hot and extremely uncomfortable. This is one instance when a better option would be a teeshirt and a lightweight, breathable waterproof smock, such as one of those in the Vass-Tex 175 series. These are thin and light, meaning you will stay dry but you won’t overheat. On your bottom half, again a lightweight bib and brace will keep you dry, or if you plan to wade in water at any point, a pair of breathable chest waders can be the the perfect summer option. 

Getting the layers right will ensure you stay cool and comfortable during the summer months. 

During the winter, a little more thought is needed. As I’ve already said, it’s not just a case of picking one outer layer that will cure the problem and neither is it a case of picking several random layers that aren’t really designed for the job….The key is to choose the right layers. 

For my winter fishing, I wouldn’t be without the fantastic Reed Base Layer. These really are warm, and worn close to the skin, they are also breathable and wick sweat away, preventing it from cooling you. A micro fleece worn over the top as a secondary base layer will help to insulate. My third layer would be a hoodie, followed by a Gilet. On an especially cold night I would top this off with a Rab down coat (expensive but I’ve had seven years out of mine) or on a wet night, I would wear a Guy Cotten Top Surf Comfort smock. 

The key with this set up is to add or remove layers when necessary. 

For example, if you’ve got a long walk and an arduous climb to tackle, you’ve be better off carrying some of the layers to the mark, otherwise you would be seriously hot when you arrived!

But my main tip for keeping your body warm in cold weather would be to focus on the base layer, probably above everything else. Always use this as your starting block and add the right layers on top when necessary. You may only need a hoody over it, or you might a need a micro fleece and a waterproof smock, but make the base layer a starting block and you’ll be on your way to a comfortable fishing session.