{"id":26055,"date":"2019-02-26T15:51:19","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T14:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/?p=26055"},"modified":"2021-01-20T17:44:45","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T16:44:45","slug":"coping-with-the-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/coping-with-the-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Coping with the Cold when Carp Fishing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Ten top tips to make your next winter French carp fishing holiday your most comfortable \u2013 maybe even productive – yet\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n


I can well remember my first carp fishing overnighter. Ill-equipped does not begin to cover it. And here\u2019s the thing: it was in spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The days were sunny \u2013 almost balmy. The nights, as\nit transpired\u2026 not so much! In fact, the temperatures plummeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the result that, if I remember correctly, at\none stage I actually began to hallucinate from within the inadequate folds of\nmy Woollies bag and Argos brolly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How things have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A very cold day on Bletiere<\/a> this January<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays we as anglers have enough all-seasons gear\nat our disposal to make Ranulph Fiennes blush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, follow these time-honoured principles on your\nwinter French trip, and you\u2019ll enjoy all the comforts of home (well, almost); and\nmaybe a carp or two to boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


1\/ Compact and bijou wins the day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smaller bivvies are far easier to heat, and to keep\nwarm, than their bigger brethren. So choose a tent that affords you sufficient\nspace, and no more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid the monster – head-height, four-person – affairs\nthat are fast gaining popularity. And if you must take the kitchen sink, take a\nkitchen tent to go with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your house should be well ventilated too, and\nideally equipped with a winter skin – reducing the risk of condensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


2\/ A bag for all (five) seasons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any sleeping bag that\u2019s purpose-designed for\nanglers will necessitate a compromise \u2013 either in terms of warmth, accessibility,\nor portability (physical size and weight).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smaller, mummy style bags warm up more quickly, and\nstay warm longer – especially if they\u2019re zipped up tight. But they\u2019re a luxury that\nanglers can ill-afford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either in hope or expectation, we have to allow for\na quick and easy \u2018early-hours\u2019 exit, to hit those all-too-rare winter runs. Which\nmeans we need far greater manoeuvrability – crash zips and the like – to ensure\nwe don\u2019t break our necks as we lunge, dazed and bleary-eyed, at our rods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message then is simply: choose the best bag you\ncan afford. Preferably a Five Seasons version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting aside the fact that the tackle co.s have\napparently introduced a new equinox into the almanac, I can unconditionally\nrecommend the Gardner Carp Duvet, which – having a removeable inner layer \u2013 can\nbe used in both summer and winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Gardner Carp Duvet<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The addition of a bag cover is also recommended,\npotentially adding another 10-15 degrees of warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


3\/ Exercise before bed (yes, really)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t go to bed cold. Sleeping bags are hard to\nwarm up if your body temperature is already low. So take a stroll to warm up\nbefore turning in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And however brisk it may be, resist the temptation\nto pull the bag over your head: breathing creates condensation which can result\nin a damp bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather, wear a hat in bed, to help retain body\nheat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


4\/ Check the forecast <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Check the forecast for your venue, and your route,\nright up until the last minute. The weather, as we know, is unpredictable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low lying areas flood; higher ground can become\nimpassable through snow; and temperatures can crash overnight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully it\u2019s easy to check the local\nforecast, with the Met Office, AccuWeather and the BBC offering up to the\nminute (if occasionally contradictory!) forecasts, Europewide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


5\/ Your phone is your lifeline \u2013 keep it charged<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When batteries get cold, their performance suffers, draining\nway faster than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if  your\nvehicle isn\u2019t parked close to your peg, take an emergency power pack or solar\ncharger; or even \u2013 if funds permit – a BioLite stove which, in\naddition to adding a whole new dimension to your bankside cuisine, can also be\nused to charge your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


6\/ Clothes make the (wo)man<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The key to keeping warm in winter is layering:\nregulating your temperature with multiple layers rather than a single \u2018heavy-duty\u2019\nlayer that may become too warm or won\u2019t breathe (causing you to sweat, then cool).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, add layers when you are cold, then take them\noff when you\u2019re hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


7\/ Feet first<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cold feet can mar any cold-water carping trip. So\nchoose the best boots you can. And \u2013 take it from me \u2013 you should always carry\na spare pair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you take a dunking, you\u2019ll quickly regret not\nhaving something dry to slip into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Been there, done that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like sleeping bags, boots are often categorised\ninto seasons, with 4 season \u2013 aka Alpine – boots being designed for the\nharshest conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever type you go for, they must be waterproof\nand insulated against the cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The layering principle can also be applied to your socks:\nuse a thin pair as a base layer, with a thicker pair on top to add comfort and\nwarmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


8\/ Gas, gas, gas<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gas behaves differently when it\u2019s cold. Propane\nwill turn to liquid at a lower temperature than butane (meaning it\u2019ll remain\nuseable when it\u2019s colder).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My vote however has to go to the liquid fuel\nColeman which just keeps on going, whatever the weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider also going old school with the help of a\nKelly Kettle; which if nothing else will make you feel (if not fish) like Chris\nYates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An early season common on Etang du Furet,<\/a> making a chilly week just that bit more worth it.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n


9\/ Ditch the diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eating right is key to staying warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast should be packed full of calories to keep\nyou going till lunchtime. Porridge, nuts and eggs are all great. Cheese, dark\nchocolate and dried fruit are also good for snacking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For dinner, choose something rich in complex\ncarbohydrates such as for example wholegrain pasta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foods rich in fat calories will help you stay warm\nthroughout the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also drink plenty of fluids during the day,\ntoo. It\u2019s easy to become dehydrated due to the lack of humidity in the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you\u2019ll need to replace the water you lose\nthrough respiration and evaporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


10 \/ Stay off the sauce (sorry!)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A tot of the good stuff may give you a warm glow; but\nit\u2019s not advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking alcohol lowers the core temperature of your body. And it doesn\u2019t take that much for this effect to kick in: just one cheeky beer \u2013 or glass of wine – can start the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The science: When you have a drink, the volume of\nblood brought to the skin\u2019s surface increases, making you feel warm. (It\u2019s the\nreason intoxicated folk often look flushed.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that blood will cool rapidly, due to the chill\nin the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood rushing to the skin can also make you sweat,\ndecreasing core temperature even further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking alcohol also reduces your tendency to\nshiver \u2013 something your body does naturally when needed, to generate heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lesson, then, is clear: you may be in France.\nBut leave the vino at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Bonus Tip #11: Choose a venue with accommodation!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well, hey: angling is supposed to be fun after all.\nAnd this way you\u2019re pretty well guaranteed to stay warm throughout the darkest\nwatches of a winter night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find more than 20 prolific French carp fishing venues with accommodation right here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Calder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ten top tips to make your next winter French carp fishing holiday your most comfortable \u2013 maybe even productive – yet\u2026 I can well remember my first carp fishing overnighter. Ill-equipped does not begin to cover it. And here\u2019s the thing: it was in spring. The days were sunny \u2013 almost balmy. The nights, as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,1113,887],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carp-fishing-news","category-steve-calder","category-winter-carping"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26055"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26958,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26055\/revisions\/26958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}