In reply to Post #23
I bought one of those to use in my caravan awning

and took it on a winter fishing week in France where it got below freezing with a bitter North east wind it was a pile of shyte !!!

when you really NEEDED a heater it would not work in the freezing temps as it uses butane gas that does not vaporise into gas in sub zero temps
you need a heater that runs on propane or paraffin for proper cold that we rarely get in this country

In reply to Post #24
To be fair Gerry I don't do much winter fishing but on the occasions I've used it over the years, it's been spot on for me.

In reply to Post #1
Lad I know who fished Elstow for years ran a proper vented stove from his Armo for years during winter with zero issues. Buckets were filled with coal rather than bait en route to the swim . . .!

A bit like this but without the gas - Vented Bivvy Heater

In reply to Post #1
camping gaz double burner for my winter fishing, doubles up as an aga,perfect

In reply to Post #8
I take your point, each to their own. I go fishing to feel alive and be in the outdoors which to some extent means snubbing the comforts of every day life.

Nick summed it up for me though, get your layering right and there's no need.

In reply to Post #29
thats just terrible

my mate Chris was winter fishing 2 young lads were opposite very hard cold frost that night
next day it got to lunch time and no sign of them bivvys both zipped shut
he got worried reeled in went round one was dead the other nearly he was in a coma think he did recover in the end but had brain damage they had gone to sleep leaving their stoves on

In reply to Post #30
Just awful. terrible...


Not that many year's ago, some people on holiday nr Newquay, a family in a big tent ,got cold at night,. . (this beggars belief)....brought a lit bbq into the tent to warm them up ,it didn't end well either....

The only heater I will ever use in a bivvy is an electric heater with a generator far away outside and a timer. It's so dangerous with a fuel heater plus the risk of falling asleep without turning off the heater is also great because they quickly get all the oxygen out of bivvies even with an open window, in winter you also have a lot of wind quiet days very dangerous combo.

In reply to Post #28
Right clobber and I don't even have the front on. Let alone
Door down and a heater.

In reply to Post #33
never seen the joy in winter carping tbf . . . been there done that - no one can ever say its comfy irrespective of clothing / bivvy / heating etc. Its dark from 4pm / the fish are switched off / hitting a single bleep at 2am does not fill me with anticipation, neither does getting out of a warm bag to urinate / re-cast 10mins after nodding off. Yes the banks are emptier and some of the scenery can be stunning but I can get the same effect by walking the dog . . .would rather do short sessions on the river enjoying a thermos of soup and catching whatever takes my bait

In reply to Post #34
agreed, Some waters have a bite time and its better to just be around for it!

I use my cooker to take the chill out the air before getting in the bag but never with the door closed and its never left on!

Snugpak gear means you dont need to be cold during the winter months too..........

In reply to Post #34
100% On the same page. Winter carping is not my idea of fun. And fishing should be enjoyed not endured. During winter give me a stick float and a river to trot.

In reply to Post #34
Everyone's fishing is different.
I do the walking the dog along the river, around the local park, or even the reservoir.

I would quite happily fish just days, but distance sometimes mean I fish for a couple of days and nights.

I do do just days pike or chub fishing locally, but on the syndicate I will fish for 2-5 nights, or go up to Norfolk to fish for roach, chub or pike on the Wensum and distance means I will fish overnight, sometimes under just a brolly.


I have an All Season sleeping bag, and cover. At night in that I'm warm and can lay and read a book by bivvy light or headlight or watch downloaded programmes, or even just watch the water. The number of fish I've heard and seen crash even in winter between 4 and 7pm. I've had a lot of fish between those times, in fact to 2am.

I agree, a single bleep at 2am is not fun, but playing a 20 or 30lb carp at that time is everything, suddenly makes it worthwhile.
My largest fish was caught at night in December, the largest fish I caught from Earith was at night in February.


Daytimes I have decent clothing, decent boots, and can keep warm.



Even with the stove, for hot food and drinks, I don't have it in a closed bivvy, preferring to have it just out of the door. Less chance of tipping anything over, and setting things alight.
I have seen too many accidents, including to mates, at least one of whom is lucky to be alive, after suffering serious burns.
https://www.carpfeed.com/fishing-news/article/horrific-bivvy-explosion-is-a-sobering-warning

The build up of heat can send you off to sleep, and leaving a lit stove or heater is just asking for trouble.
It may not happen this time, or has not happened yet, but...

In reply to Post #29
I lost a friend in a similar way in 1990 .... Stove on and bivvy door shut .... tragic conclusion and loss.

But we have to remember that although a tragic accident, he was in his 30s and should of known better than to shut himself in ..... A heater is still safe if used with common sense/safely

In reply to Post #34
I've never disagreed more with anything in my life sorry mate, winter carping is and always will be my favourite time to actually go carping, less people on the bank all the fair weather anglers have gone, the fish are at there highest weights and best colours wouldn't miss it just because it's a bit harder or the weather is bit cold lol it doesn't really get that bad in this country
Me and a few lads fish a lot more in the winter than in the summer, I absolutely love the winter for carping just got to pick the right water my syndicate for instance fishes well in the winter.
All down to being prepared properly decent clothing, sleeping bag and bivvy then your sorted might not be your thing but alot of us like it, unless the rain is coming right at me I don't even shut the door either

In reply to Post #39
I agree with all of this,I too love my winter fishing I just split my holidays up over a year and spread them out some lovely fish can be caught when it's colder plus not so many knobhead out(not just fishermen )
I also like being outside regardless of weather and doesn't bother me if I don't catch just another lesson learned

It's the darkness of winter I hate as opposed to the temperatures. I find myself sleeping far too much and becoming EVEN lazier than I usually am, which is pretty lazy.

In reply to Post #41
I know the feeling

In reply to Post #41
Exactly . . . .

As stated totally get the quiet banks thing; my syndicate luckily doesn't have any d*ckheads and the lake does become more accessible but it still doesn't inspire me / top weights / winter colours all that guff - like I say been there done that. I'm guessing Neil and Phil are still under 50? Plenty of time to change your opinions . . .come back to this thread in a few years lol

In reply to Post #41
I find that as well, even to the point where i think to myself I don't want a bite, I'm too comfy and can't be bothered to get off the bed.

@Belch
yes it must be an age thing

In reply to Post #43
Me personally, I'm over 50

55 here.

Last year I bought a cheaper winter ticket of a new place near me.
Glad I did, as its not for me, for a few reasons. But as I had paid I did at least 24h
Every week from Nov to the end of March.

I was honestly always comfy and happy or I wouldn't have done it. I admit it was often a bit pointless when you know nothing has been caught for 5 weeks...

I'm back on my club this year having scratched that Itch. And whilst I won't have the
Stubborn incentive to go as often. I bet I will still go every 3 weeks or so. Always do. I'm married with a kid and frankly I like a bit of me time.

My club lake fishes better in winter than that one anyway.

In reply to Post #43
Sound like a baby now but I'm well I'd we 50 I'm 33 🤣

I've done many winters over the years, they were far easier in my 20's & 30's as I just didn't feel the cold as much back then even for the earlier parts of my 40's but I do seem to feel the cold more nowadays having now passed the half century, my feet have always been my Achilles heel no matter what socks I tried they were always stone cold and once they get cold I'm thinking about wrapping up so two nights planned used to turn into one, but then I happened upon the Aqua socks as a Christmas present off the wife a few years ago and they have been a revelation the last few winters, as with all good things Aqua have since discontinued them thankfully I bought four new pairs last winter and set them aside so should get a few more years in yet.

Are winter nights worth it? I can honestly say I've not had any more memorable captures but it does feel a bit more rewarding as you do go further and farther between bites, well on the type of lakes I usually fish but in the main it is a lot of cold long dark nights that seem to drag on but whats the alternative? for me it's sat at home with the misses so fishing wins every time.

As for gas bivvy heaters I'll admit I have in the past tried them if your careful and know all the risks accidents can be avoided, I bought one to sit outside in the chair away from the bivvy never inside for a final warm before hitting the bag and I can say the the ones that have been linked that look like mini calor gas fires with the big green Coleman gas cylinders like THESE chew through a bottle in no time and for the cost of the bottles your better of spending the money on decent clothing and sleeping bag.

In reply to Post #44
That is bang on Bob - when you hit the mindset of genuinely 'not wanting a bite' (due to warmth) the whole thing becomes daft and therefore defeats the object of being there in the first place!

I don't have a massive cold issue (will happily stand in a river in near minus temps trotting a float) and I'm more than used to blanking but its the long periods of dark nothingness in winter carping that get me - that and packing up 3 tonnes of carp gear in the mud and driving rain - no thanks!

In reply to Post #49
Cold I'm fine with, It's the wet and mud that put me off too. I need it to be relatively dry for a week or so before I contemplate a winter overnighter.

Personally would never use a bivvy heater but for those that do, can you at least invest in a smoke & CO detetcter. Only £20ish and could save your life.

Just passed my 60th and I still do a bit of winter fishing, usually just 48 hrs at a time though. This time of year (still Autumn) I'm still on longer sessions and will be doing 6 nights next week.
Fishing is a personal thing for me and I don't measure it against others but I really like the solitude and rawness of it in winter time and any capture feels so much more earned to me.
I don't use heaters.

In reply to Post #21
Jon's post #21

I know plenty of Italians who sleep in a bivvy with a kerosene heater like this

Portable Mechanical Fuel Stove

I haven't got one. I'm too scared of waking up dead.

I've got a parabolic heater that goes on a gas cannister that I use when packing up - I empty the bivvy, then fire up the heater for 15 minutes while I put the rods away - gets rid of the condensation so i can put the bivvy away dry. Works well.

In reply to Post #54
Haha the link has turned my Amazon into Italian and I don't know how to change it hahaha

In reply to Post #55
Google Chrome auto translates

It's unavailable currently anyway

In reply to Post #55
prova a disconnetterti e riaccenderti

In reply to Post #54
funny enough thats EXACTLY why I bought a Coleman black cat heater years ago for drying the bivvy prior to going home

In reply to Post #59
Its not a bivvy heater so doesnt really answer your question

But I love a winter bbq and take a few extra coals and a couple of fire logs for after which usually last an hour or two

Its mesmerising watching a fire - cosy, warm and then jump in the bag when its time for bed - cant say Ive ever been that cold once in the bag

Again, not a heater but.......

I just use good clobber and a good bag but also use a UCO Mini Candle Lantern that gives the impression of warmth (I think cosy is the word) as it is just nicer than sitting there in the pitch black or with a bivvy light on, runs off tea lights

In reply to Post #61
>>>>>but also use a UCO Mini Candle Lantern that gives the impression of warmth<<<<<

When I used to take my DVD player to watch a film on a Winters Night, I used to put a cup of water in the kettle and place it over a Tea Light in my Trangia. After about a couple of hours when the film finished, I would have a kettle of water just hot enough to make a cup of hot chocolate to go to bed on.

But it was the flickering light from the tea light through the holes of the Trangia on the side of the bivvy that gave a warm feeling.

But also, it sums up how much heat a Tea light gives off to warm a bivvy when they are not even hot enough to boil a kettle with just a cup of water in. Somewhere on Youtube is a video of how this theory of tea lights under plant pots and the Nash Heater gives off a lot of heat is pulled apart and the heat given off is negligible and no more than what you get with just the Tea light on its own.

I also use the Bushlite that was invented in Africa and its also possible to get an adapter to fit on top so you can cook on it. UCO seems to have copied it. But the Bushlite is far more expensive.

Another idea I had years ago to keep warm in Winter was a 12V ceramic fan heater for cars. I bought one for my car when its heater broke and I needed something to defrost the windows and heat up the car, about £14, but then scrapped the car and was going to use it to heat my bivvy to just take the chill of the air as I do not think they are hot enough to get "Toasty Hot" when I am in swims with my car behind me and just run the engine to keep the battery topped up, but I never did. I have not researched it but as they are designed to work in the enclosed area of a car, they give off no fumes etc so probably they would be safe in a closed bivvy.

In reply to Post #62
Just to bump this up I've just noticed Johnsonross have a new heater in , with safety features, then got me thinking why not have a built in timer in them that shuts off .