I wear my breathables all year...the only time I fish the Bow is late fall thru winter and early spring...fleece pants make all the difference in staying warm or not...I stay out of the water as much as possible only stepping in to release a fish, as I feel it is much safer than kneeling on an ice shelf (be advised know the depth before stepping in, use extreme caution)...I use boots with studded soles which are absolutely awesome on ice and slippery banks...ice shelfs can break off no matter how thick the ice is so be careful, and always check for bergs floating down stream.