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November 25, 2020

Cold fingers? Try Rock Fish Thermo Gloves!

 I've got all sorts of winter fishing gloves. I've got cheap ones, expensive ones, neoprene ones, Gortex ones, thin ones and thick ones, on and on and on. They all seem to have their own upsides and thier downsides. But because I fish all winter long, I'm always on the hunt for a better glove. 



Recently, I bought a pair of Cordova Rock Fish, Fish Wrangler Thermo gloves. I had seen advertisements for these gloves, that they're warm and waterproof, but I was most impressed that they were inexpensive. They retail for $15! Some of the features include: 

  • Non-Slip Latex Grip
  • Fully Coated & Waterproof
  • Warm, Double Thermal Lining
  • Salt & Fresh-Water Fishing
  • Size: M-XL

I bought my pair (for $10) from Sun State Industrial Supply and I've been wearing them during my outings this winter. 




Here's what I've found. They seem true to size. I wear a size XL glove, and these fit perfectly without binding or bagging. They keep my hands warm, without sweating. The inner lining doesn't stick to my fingers, and when I take the glove off, the inner fleece lining doesn't pull out. The grip on the fish is quite impressive; not slippery at all (unlike some of my neoprene gloves). Finally, they keep my hands dry, as long as I don't submerge my hands in above my wrists. 

Dexterity with these gloves is actually pretty good, not like bare hands, but pretty good. The other day, I actually tied #14 kebari onto my tippet without removing the gloves. I did this not only once, but each time I change flies (I was catching too many fish. I had to find a fly that wouldn't work). 




There is one potential downside, though. I have a contact latex allergy. I developed this after decades of wearing latex gloves for surgery. Rock Fish Thermo gloves have a latex, not nitrile, coating. But since that coating doesn't contact my skin, I've not have any issues. 

What do I think? I like them! They are warm, dry, not slippery, and inexpensive. I think I'll be using them most of the time this winter! 





2 comments:

  1. There have been discussions about cold hands here in a PNW-based FF forum. Though temps don't drop to Utah levels saltwater fishing on the "wet side" of the Cascades in winter marine weather conditions with winds averaging 5 mph off the water is bone chilling. Dry spells in winter that allow rain and snowmelt-swollen rivers to drop to fishable levels brings the Arctic cold air mass from the Fraser Valley into Western WA and temps can drop into the mid-high teens but the humidity remains comparatively high making it feel colder.

    I've been using unlined Atlas 370 nitrile gloves for many years when rowing my Watermaster Kodiak to protect my hands and they offer enough dexterity to tie on flies. I found that slipping on a pair of Cabelas's "Wind Stopper" Thinsulate lined fingerless gloves (no longer available) over the Atlas gloves provides amazing warmth. But keeping the hands dry is critical and the Atlas gloves are only waterproof in the palms and fingertips.

    6 to 7 mil disposable nitrile work gloves ($20 for box of 50 at Harbor Freight) are durable, provide dexterity to tie on flies and are waterproof to the upper wrist which is further protected by my wading jacket's neoprene wrist cuff. The XL size on my large size hand over a 150 to 200 gm Merino liners (~$30) or Outdoor Research "Vigor Lightweight Sensor Gloves (described as "cutting-edge smart fleece" - $26), or other "polypro liners" you may already have work great and could be worth a try.

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