Float trip heat

Clean Willy

Clean Willy

Life of the Party
Forum Supporter
I'm heading out for a four day float in a couple of days and the forecast is for high 90s. Here's what I'm doing to deal with the heat and sun but I'm wondering what you might add?

Liquid IV powder in water bottle and drink way more than I think I'll need
Hooded long sleeve shirts/gloves
Long pants
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Fish mornings and evenings and try to find shade mid day

Am I missing anything?
 
Sounds like you are taking good care of yourself. Just curious, did you inquire about the surface temps of the water you are fishing?
 
The only thing I would add is one of those lightweight UV Buff neck gaiters. Those are great because you can soak it in the river to get it wet, then pull it on and it will cool your neck and head.
 
I know you said "hat", but I am a lot cooler with a big straw hat that shades my neck and shoulders instead of a ballcap and hoody.
 
I use a light sun gloves to protect the backs of my hands which seem to get sunburn. Depending on footwear, if wearing sandals a light sock to protect top of foot from sun. Last a second on the sun buff
 
For our trip to Baja we wore PFG shirts and pants and boy am I glad we did. We had to stop each day by noon because it became too hot.

Otherwise, what you have lined up is very close to our approach.

I still use the PFG shirts during hot days in the PNW.
 
Not knowing where you are headed this may or may not be necessary advice. Mosquitos or other biting bugs. Be prepared for the worst. It is a week of 90s here in SW Montana. I was on a favorite water at 6am (about the time the sun clears the mountains) this morning. It was in the low 50s but as the sun rose temps rose fast and by 9:30 it was in the mid 80s. As the temps rose, the mosquitos came out in force. Be sure you have 4 days worth of bug juice just in case.
 
Boy is this good timing! As I write this, I'm in the middle of a 2-day tarpon fishing bonanza in Islamorada. In two words, it's frigging hot. High temps in the mid-upper 80s, but the heat index is right near 100, and it doesn't get below 80 at night. (No, I haven't caught any tarpon yet, despite very intentional follows from three absolute giants... leave me alone!)

Anyway, re-apply the sunscreen to exposed skin frequently, and drink more water than you think you need to. Worked to keep me alive today, but dammit, it didn't catch me any tarpon. Tomorrow's another day, and I will be packing sunscreen and as much water as I can carry. I recommend you do the same. The buff is also a good idea. You may or may not slay them, but you will live to fish another day.
 
Ha! I've got an OR sun hat that I call my dork hat too! It sure is dorky but crazy comfortable.

I really like the quick dry SPF50 shirts. Dunk it in the water and put it back on every half hour or so and you are nice and cool.

An umbrella can be pretty nice when just floating. I also carry a small cooler so I don't have to dig into the big one more than twice a day.
 
Yard Sale said:
I really like the quick dry SPF50 shirts. Dunk it in the water and put it back on every half hour or so and you are nice and cool.
Click to expand...
Wait, what? Are you taking the shirt off, getting it wet and putting it back on? Why not just save a step and immerse your whole body, shirt and all? You know…like, swimming?

If you keep your shirt on I guess you don’t get to show off those glistening pecs and six pack.
 
Matt B said:
Wait, what? Are you taking the shirt off, getting it wet and putting it back on? Why not just save a step and immerse your whole body, shirt and all? You know…like, swimming?

If you keep your shirt on I guess you don’t get to show off those glistening pecs and six pack.
Click to expand...

If he's floating where I think he's floating you aren't going to stop and swim every half hour and get through in 4 days. But you are right, suns out guns out!
 
Yard Sale said:
If he's floating where I think he's floating you aren't going to stop and swim every half hour and get through in 4 days. But you are right, suns out guns out!
Click to expand...
Nothing like a hot convective upstream wind to row against all afternoon to dehydrate the sh*t out of you.

Dunking the dorky hat helps a lot too. That’s one thing where the straw hat is at a disadvantage vs a fabric hat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top