So what’s bugging you the most?
You’re getting ready to take the family out on the water, or toss some baits in to try and put some dinner on the table.
It all sounds wonderful because it is.
But, yeah, there are a few critters than can turn it all into a mess if you aren’t ready.
Bugs.
These annoying and sometimes painful creatures normally are related to places on land.
But flies (like the gigantic black fly in the picture), mosquitos, “no see-ums” (gnats) and regular old house and fruit flies have a remarkable ability to find humans. Toss in swarms of mosquitoes and deer (yellow or green) flies and you’ve got a nasty mix you don’t want.
All these creatures have reputations for harboring things on and around the water – like your arm, legs and whatever other body parts they can get to.
And if you are fishing with live or cut bait, or are catching fish – well you can just count on their unwanted attendance to the party.
An old count-on product to save the day is still widely used.
Problem is, Deet-based products usually leave you oily and at risk for some nasty skin burns from the sun.
Just imagine the stories of the day when you show off your skeeter-bitten, sun-burned, painful skin.
So if Deet – which has been known to cause some folks serious skin issues – is out of the question, just what are you supposed to do?
There are a few other products and plant-based remedies on the market.
Grandma’s list of remedies continues to live on.
Most natural products involve lemon-eucalyptus oils.
The Sierra Club produced a list of five items to replace Deet. The top item is lemon-eucalyptus, followed by citronella, Neem oil, catnip oil and grapefruit seed extract.
I know, it all sounds more than a little witch-like.
But that’s okay. Studies show that each causes less skin problems than Deet.
And according to the FDA, chemically-based products like IR3535, Icaridin and Picarion show equal or better results without all the issues.
These products have been tested by EPA field studies and several other health-based organizations. Heck, even the Australian Army uses stuff other than Deet.
Many can leave your oily feeling and clog your pores, making you hotter than you already were.
Whatever your choose, don’t use products containing Deet that also have sunscreen in them. If you have to, several organizations recommend applying sunscreen first, then waiting a few minutes before adding bug spray.
And remember that everything you can do to prevent battles with bugs can bring with them a lot of physical problems you don’t want to deal with.
If none of it works, wear hats, baggy long-sleeved shirts and find places with breezes when you have to stop and relax.
And as annoying as some of it might be, remember that a day on the water – a few bugs along for the ride – is still a most wonderful thing.
To read more of my work, go to: leetolliveroutdoors.com
