Top 10 Tips to Staying Awake During an Overnight Fishing Trip
Overnight fishing trips are such a thrilling experience, wouldn’t you agree? They are more challenging than the day fishing adventures and more fun, in my opinion. The only thing that may scare some of you away is the fact that you have to stay awake all night long.
No worries, there are plenty of things you can do to avoid falling asleep when going fishing overnight. I'm a big fan of night fishing, and I used several of these tricks to stay alert. Try at least some of them the next time you plan an overnight fishing escapade.
Sleep well the night before
Get a good long rest the night before going fishing. Go to bed later than usual and make everything possible for a truly relaxing sleep. These actions will help your body run through a sleepless night.
Eat healthy during the day
Respect the rule of having three healthy and balanced meals during the day that precedes the sleepless night. If you skip eating, your body will feel undernourished; if you overeat, it'll be too tired trying to digest.
I suggest you have a big breakfast, with healthy carbs and proteins, plus fruits and veggies. Lunch should be generous, but not too fat, and dinner should be light – no greasy, fatty foods, no heavily caffeinated or sugary stuff.
Prepare healthy snacks for the night
Staying up all night will make you hungry, at some point, so it’s best to have a stock of healthy foods prepared. Carrot sticks, fruits (like apples or bananas), nuts, almonds or cashews are all great options.
Also, they don’t weigh much in your backpack. During the night, you could chew gum or a mint. I usually go for the nuts, but mints are also a good choice.
Take a nap during the day
A few hours before you start your sleepless night, take a 30 minutes short nap. It will give you an extra boost of rest and energy. But don’t overdo it, because a longer nap will make you feel tired and the plan will be ruined.
Stay warm
Cold weather will make your body temperature drop, and you will feel tired; you'll slowly nod off to sleep, and the fish will get away. The best solution is to have thermal clothing to keep your body temperature up so you won’t fall asleep.
Pack comfortable bedding
Comfy bedding is essential for pulling an all-nighter. If it's freezing outside, a thermal sleeping bag is a solution; if it's warm, then a foam mat or an inflatable sleeping pad is the best choice.
Check a try mattress site to find the right product for you – they are light, waterproof and extremely efficient on an overnight fishing trip. Some guys like also having a bed-chair to sit back and chill, but I don’t particularly feel the need to carry it with me.
Stimulate your body
Keep parts of your body active, and you'll be less likely to fall asleep. Try some of these tricks: stretching, rolling your shoulders, circling your head or even give yourself a hand massage.
Get up and move around, to improve your blood flow. Jumping jacks will work, too. Relax your eyes every hour by closing and opening them several times. If you still feel like falling asleep, pinch yourself or bite your tongue!
Drink plenty of water
Proper hydration will help you stay awake. Just make sure you drink cold water, not alcohol or coffee. A glass of ice water is enough to induce a small shock to your body; drinking at least one from time to time will continue to refresh the body.
Listen to music
If music doesn’t put you to sleep, you may consider listening to it while fishing, with the help of earbuds or headphones. Dynamic songs playing softly in your ear will stimulate you to pay attention to your surroundings and thus stay awake.
Keep your mind alert
Stimulating your mind is just as important as encouraging your body when you want to pull an all-nighter. Play a game in your head or concentrate on learning the lyrics of the songs you’re listening. And keep your spine straight, it will help the mind stay alert.
