Safety First On The James River

Catfishing for the Blues on the James River in Virginia.

As many of you know there are prime fish to be taken in the colder months. This is the prime big cat weather. They are stacked in their winter holes and laying there feeding and gearing up for the spawn that is only a few months away now.

The first thing to look at when catfishing in these months is SAFETY!!!!! I can not stress this enough. The water, wind, and air temps all combine to make a very real danger of hypothermia and death if just one of the major rules of cold weather are ignored. I will talk a little about this but highly stress that you do your homework for your area and on your body and mind to condition your self for this endeavor.

First, watch the weather and do not venture out during times of wet weather. The wetness will zap your energy and drop your core temp so fast you will not be able to help your self. Second, dress for the weather, layers and several of them, work best. Visit a military outlet store and ask about the "cold weather gear set up" this is a multi-layer clothing system that is designed to keep the wearer warm in the worst of weather.

It starts with a silk layer close to the skin to help it breath and wick away moisture. Then two layers of insulating poly to make a barrier from the wind and cold. Then a layer of wool that prevents the body heat from getting out, all this is toped with a layer of water resistant Gore-tech to help stay dry. Seems like a lot but it isn�t and the cost is very little when weighted against your life. Third, feet and hands, keep them warm and dry, feet are the first to loose feeling in the cold and they are the most important in getting you out of a jam if something happens. Your hands need to be cared for with some lotion to keep them from drying and cracking, get a good pair of mitten gloves. The kind from Dick�s that have the mitten cover over the fingers are lined and warm. They also allow you to slide the mitten cover off to tie hooks and bait up. And best of all. They are machine washable.

Fourth, your head. 90% of body heat is lost through your head. A simple ball cap is not enough in this weather. A good stocking hat with a ball cap over it is good but here again the military has the answer. It�s called a jeepers hat or watch hat. This style has a flap that will cover your ears and has velcro on the strap to cover your cheeks and chin. With this set up you can stay warm and dry. Always wear your PFD weather it be the vest or inflating type it will save your life in this weather.

Just remember that on average you have only 2 minutes to get your self out the water and start the drying process. Which brings me to the next issue........... Survival tactics 101.........a small zip lock bag with a few items will save your life. In a gallon zip lock bag you will need 3 small hand flairs the 5 min type will do and can be picked up almost anywhere. A box of strike anywhere matches (preferably in a water proof case, also available at military outlet stores or wal-mart camping section), a whistle, and an easy open pocket knife. These items will save your life. First the rivers and lakes all over provide us with lots of good fire making material all pilled up close to the waters edge. A 5 min. flair dropped in one of these piles and you have instant camp fire. The other items will help but the fire is the most important thing you will need.

If you do fall in, the order of survival is simple. Out of the water, start fire, STRIP all wet clothes off ASAP. Wet clothes will hurt more than help when trying to dry out. Hang the wet clothes far from the fire, they will freeze, then shake the ice off and then warm by the fire. This is the quickest way to dry wet clothes in the winter. All the survival skills needed to live is a cool head and a few things in a pocket. Well worth your life to take along.....Author Unknown

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