It requires your undivided attention to stoke the tiny fire box from the start of the fire until you're done cooking. I've only ever use it in dry weather and wood conditions. I would opp to go hungry in the rain than hassle with it. It's ok for boiling water to use with dehydrated food packs. Difficult to regulate the temperature if cooking that fresh riverside trout. It's a cute little toy similar in packing weight as the Pocket Rocket but doesn't require carrying fuel.