Toggle Nav
5 Ways to Keep Cool On the Bank When Fishing
With the awesome weather, we’ve been having at the banksides this summer, it is worth reminding our fellow anglers that keeping cool whilst fishing is hugely important. It is important to remember that overheating can lead to not only your fishing session being cut short but also more severe conditions like sunstroke.
Is It Worth Fishing in Hot Weather?
As the sun is out shining and the temperature and humidity rise, many anglers wonder if this is a good time to fish. It is worth noting that fish tend to be more active after these very warm periods so being at the bankside, baiting up, and preparing your swim ahead of an evening of potential bites is a great way to get a new PB!
Make the most of fishing just after a sunny spell by aligning with the lunar cycle. When the moon is full, the fish will be even more likely to come out from their hiding spots to take your bait!
Please note that depending on what you are fishing for, it may be too hot to target that fish. If you are unsure if your fish species does not cope well with the heat, check out Species Guide. With that said, with any fish you should always have a bucket of the lake or river water nearby when unhooking and handling so they can stay hydrated too. Be sure to also set up your unhooking mat in shaded areas to protect the fish from the sun.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you stay cool in the sun while chasing your angling dreams…
1. Staying Hydrated When Fishing
As basic as it sounds, make sure you stay hydrated. A well-known mantra is that if you are thirsty then you are already dehydrated. Carry plenty of water regardless of how heavy it can be, and store your water containers in the shade. Drink a little and often, and ensure you stay hydrated. The consequence of not doing so is sunstroke, overheating, and a few days of headaches, discomfort and no fishing.
Check out our water carriers available both online and in our Angling Direct Fishing Tackle Stores.
RidgeMonkey Heavy Duty Fishing Water Carrier
Trakker 5-Litre Icon Water Fishing Carrier
2. Seeking Shade On A Fishing Session
When it comes to fishing at the peak hours of the day, between 12-2 pm, you need to think about ensuring the sun isn’t directly beating down on you. If you are at a venue with foliage, try heading off under trees, stalking, or using the cover around you to help take a break from the sunlight.
We know a lot of the shaded pegs may already be taken up for this reason, so in these cases makes sure to equip yourself with fishing shelters such as brollies, or bivvies with plenty of vents. These will help not only you but your captured fish seek shade.
How Do I Keep My Bivvy Cool?
Further accessories such as water coolers, ice added to water bottles, and motorised fans also all help to cool you down and coupled with being in the shade are sure-fire winners.
3. What Fishing Clothing Should I Wear In The Heat?
Clothing-wise, reduce the uncomfortable sweaty feeling of clothes bunching up around your body by wearing light breathable materials. On extremely hot days, ensure that you aren’t wearing insulating dark colours like black in the midday heat; it’s a recipe for a sweaty disaster.
Hats, glasses and clothing which is lightweight and breathable are a must. The sun can damage your eyes, especially with the glare from the water, and too much sun on your bare head can lead to ultra painful sunburn on your scalp.
Read more in our Summer Clothing Guide for Angling.
4. Best Fishing Sun Cream
No two ways about it, sun cream is a must, especially one with a decent factor, factor 50 is recommended. Not only do you slap on suncream before a session but on very hot days, even if that sun is hiding behind the clouds, take a bottle of suncream to keep applying every couple of hours.
Can Fish Smell Suncream?
Fish can be sensitive to suncream so remember to try to get it off your hands after you have applied it. Whether you think the fish can smell it or not, regularly re-apply it and rub your hands in the lake bed after if you want to be edgy and not stand out to the fish in terms of your scent.
Unfortunately, a fair few anglers suffer from conditions such as skin cancer, blistering and other painful conditions that could have been avoided with a bit of sun cream; don’t take the risk. You can even purchase suncream from Angling Direct! Read more, here.
4. When Is It Too Hot To Go Fishing? Know Your Limits
