What do you guys like to have for the cold winter steelhead trips to keep warm. And what are some of the things you carry in a backpack or would recommend carry in a
backpack when you hike through a section of river for the day. Good flashlight tips, socks, fleeces, sweat shirts, waders, wading boots, emergency stuff. Thanks for your input

Here is my cold weather set-up for winter steelhead fishing;

Non Tackle Items:
- 3mm or 5mm booted neoprene chest waders
- Wool fingerless gloves
- Wool hat (wide rimed hat w/ ear flaps if raining)
- Fleece pants (REI or Northface)
- Thermal t-shirt
- Fleece pullover
- Loose fitting raincoat
- Pocket hand warmers (chemical type)
- Terrycloth hand towel or two
- Small pocket flashlight
- Clip-on flashlight or head lamp
- ** energy / protein bars or trail mix
- ** Bottle water
- Small first aid kit
- Filet knife

I like to use a backpack to haul my tackle and accessories. It is much more comfortable for a long walk, and makes fishing more comfortable (less fatigue) vs. a vest that you wear 100% of the time.

Best of luck!
SA

i used to freeze my katooies off using stocking foot waders but since i went 5mm with a heavy insulate bootfoot life has been good
it keeps your core heat up so a little lose here or there is no big deal plus the circulation in your feet dosen't get cut off like stocking feet tend to do
polor fleece stirrup pants (got mine from cabela's)
light weight gore-tex type hooded jacket in my pack

about the only saftey gear i carry is a dry roll of TP and one of those magnesium bar type fire starters but i'm thinking about getting one of those SOS types of PFD's for this winter

Thanks for all the input and I can say that the waist life jacket rip cord style is great, I started wearing it just on the drift boat or sled but have started to wear it when I hike in or bank fish, I don't even know it is on sometimes which is good.

When I wade in the winter I cover a lot of water. Leaving a backpack on the bank is a pain in the ass because after fishing a run, I'd have to go back and get it before moving on. I used a vest for years and it was ok as long as I didn't pack too much gear. I recently aquired a Filson strap vest. I've only used it once but I think it will be better than a normal vest.
If I'm walking up the trail before daylight I use a small mag light. In addition to that I always keep an even smaller mag light in my pack, sealed in a ziplock bag with a lighter.
My Gerber EZ-out knife is always clipped on my waders.
My .38 is usually in the chest pocket of my waders.
Other stuff that I take:
fingerless gloves
light weight rain jacket
stocking cap
tp
large freezer bag (for eggs if cleaning fish on the river)
water
light snack food

Neoprene sucks for doing a lot of walking. Breathables only for me.

I don't go out to the OP in the winter to hide from the cold behind thick clothing.........I go out there to be one with nature.

Two words: LONG JOHNS. Either wool or fleese. They are the American Express of steelheaders winter wear. That and a raincoat.

I don't wear an inflatable. I probably should. I'm sure I will as I get older and senility sets in. If you do wear one I might suggest an annual inspection of its critical parts. Some friends of mine got in trouble up at Eagle Point on the Duc last February. One of them pulled the cord on his CO2 canister to inflate it and it flew out of his jacket into the river. At this point he was floating downstream with air in his neoprenes which kept forcing his head under water. He swears to this day he almost drowned.

Be careful out there guys. Lest we not lose anyone else this fine winter.

he wont fit in a backpack, but when floating for steel i like to invite my good friend mr. heater along with me....

On me-
Polypropylene long underwear tops and bottoms
Fleece tops and bottoms
Wool pants
Gortex jacket
liner socks
wool socks
breathable waders with a safety belt
good pair of boots (I have two pairs one with felt and one without depending on the river/trail to the river I'm fishing and if snow is on the ground or not)
leatherman tool
Ruger .357 mag

In my backpack-
fishing gear (I try and pack lightly but.....)
extra food (apple, trial mix, jerkey)
pack towel
gloves
extra hat
water bottle (usually two)
fishing license
pen
zip lock baggies
garbage bag

I also carry a little bag that goes everywhere with me. I call it a safety bag-
wallet
keys
cell phone
gps
talkabout
duct tape
shoelaces
sewing kit
firestarter
head lamp
compass (the kind with mirror)
extra battaries
water purification tablets
swiss army knife

I know this sounds like a lot but I find winter my favorite time of year to be in the woods chasing Chrome! The whole thing with fishing gear comes in a around 20#'s. There is also plenty of room for me to shed clothes. I dress light until I get to the river. I then start piling on the clothes. With the synthetic fabrics on the market today there is just no reason to be cold! My friends seem to know the contents of my backpack better than I do. Brood got a ______?

My wool long john and my number one buddy the one and only Mr.Heater.