Biting Bugs

[troutbert]

The mosquitoes have got really bad in the last several days. If you're going fishing or soon, be ready.

Does anyone have any good ways to keep the bugs at bay when fly fishing?

 

[Tigereye]

Simplest way I've found is just plain old over the counter bug spray.

With the wet weather we've been having, I expect a banner year for the little bass turds.

I spray down all the time, more so for the ticks.

 

[Mike]

Simplest way I've found is just plain old over the counter bug spray.

With the wet weather we've been having, I expect a banner year for the little bass turds.

I spray down all the time, more so for the ticks.

I assume you guys are right about this probably being a “good” mosquito year. I have been hiking a lot and fishing, but have yet to run into the critters. I use general bug repellants when mosquitos are present in normal densities.

 

[Broodstock]

I like ranger ready brand which is Picaridin and not deet for exposed skin. It really works. Almost no smell. The old school high deet stuff is bad for you and used to make me nauseous. Also I’d suggest treating your clothes with permethrin prior to heading into the woods. It keeps ticks away and mosquitoes too for fabric.

 

[HookedOnFlies]

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent for exposed skin and Permethrin treatment on my clothing for ticks.

If things get real nasty I'll throw a buff on my neck since that seems to be the sweet spot.

 

[Broodstock]

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent for exposed skin and Permethrin treatment on my clothing for ticks.

If things get real nasty I'll throw a buff on my neck since that seems to be the sweet spot.

Ah another P&P fan. This is the way.

 

[RLeep2]

I prefer Picaridin, especially since the Feds raised the allowable concentration to be up to 20%. Back at the previous limit (7 10 or 12% or whatever..), I found it to be just slightly more effective than a rolled up newspaper. But 20% works, at least for me. And as a bonus, it doesn't eat plastic like DEET. This is bad for my hearing aids and my fly line. I've even found 20% picaridin to be at least modestly effective on late June Maine and Quebec skeeters.

A $3.00 Wal-Mart head net works pretty well too..

 

[dryflyguy]

I use 20% pinardin also.
On my hat and my buff
Have sprayed my SPF hoodies with ranger permethrin too.

Took my grandson camping the last couple days
And sprayed the tent down with permethrin too
More concerned with ticks now, than mosquitos

 

[Fly-Swatter]

I hike pretty much every day in woods and fields. deer flies, gnats, and mosquitoes have driven me nearly crazy in the past. I found that when I wear light-colored clothing such as tan (esp. a wide-brim hat like a boonie), flying insects leave me alone. It's worth noting that I have dark hair. I think that covering my hair may help. A light ball cap is better than nothing, but not as good as a boonie. I treat my clothing with permethrin, mainly for ticks. If things are bad, I'll add Picaridin on my skin. I get almost no bites and maybe a tick or two per year.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

OFF 40 percent deet

 

[Kms]

When fishing I wear a variety of brands of permethrin clothing from head to toe, even under waders, just in case a tick falls in. Most are Insect Shield, a few are Simms bugstopper, all seem to work equally well as I have yet to be bitten through any of them.

Otherwise I use 20% picaridin, though neither that nor deet seem to dissuade black flies (nasty buggers).

 

[ChuckofWagon]

I was out yesterday. My pump on the Deet broke. So I opened up the bottle and applied it like you would sunscreen.

I got not skeeter bites....but the buzzing was intense.

I also got no fish bites!! Not a roll....not a look!!l Only spent 2 hr on the water.

 

[Bamboozle]

I have my fishing clothes treated by Insect Shield. Well worth the investment, easier and longer lasting than doing it myself.

For myself, CIGARS...

Pretty effective for me when fishing and they also have the added advantage of repelling some people and I swear they are the reason I've had only one very long distance bear encounter.

If I feel the need for an additional repellent, I carry around a small 1.25 oz. bottle of White Mountain Insect Repellent that is pretty effective in my experience.

IIRC - The late Ed Maurer AKA "Heritage Angler" introduced me to this product on PAFF.

For camp or the backyard, I swear by my Thermacell Backpackers. I have several stored in various bags and places along with a fuel canister or three when camping.

There are other smaller Thermacell units, but the Backpacker has the advantage of using readily available isobutane canisters.

They really work!!

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Cigars and even the djarum black filtered clove cigars work wonders on gnats too

 

[Kms]

I was out yesterday. My pump on the Deet broke. So I opened up the bottle and applied it like you would sunscreen.

I got not skeeter bites....but the buzzing was intense.

I also got no fish bites!! Not a roll....not a look!!l Only spent 2 hr on the water.

DEET is not a good choice for fishing.
——
According to Berkeley Fishing, “Though specifically made to repel insects, DEET repels just about everything that swims, crawls, flies, walks or runs. Laboratory research at Berkley has shown that bass detect DEET at concentrations of less than one part per million.

Fish really, really do not like DEET and bass spew out objects with the chemical in no time flat.

Merely touching a lure after a single application of DEET to the hands is enough to contaminate a lure. And the contamination on the hands is long-lasting, enduring at least ninety minutes after the application.”

How DEET Deteriorates Fishing Gear & Repels Fish

How bad is DEET? Learn if insect repellent can deteriorate fishing gear, waders, fabrics and scare off bass. Check out Mossy Oak's blog today!

www.mossyoak.com

——
Both DEET and picaridin are toxic to fish, though picaridin is less so. Permethrin is EXTREMELY toxic to fish, birds, bugs, etc, but commercially pre-treated clothing leeches so little that it’s not a concern. Pre treated clothing is also cheap on a per use basis, arguably cheaper than repellents, as well as more convenient and comfortable.

DEET also damages a broad range of synthetic materials, including the PVC and polyurethane in fly line.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Oddly enough I spray my clothes with deet and my arms.
I still catch fish and have some very old Cortland lines still going.

I don't know why someone would spray their hands, flies and fly lines.

 

[ChuckofWagon]

The clothing I wear is treated with Permethrin for the ticks. But that won't stop the skeeters. The deet will hold them off.

I don't often fish for bass....so......

 

[Kms]

The clothing I wear is treated with Permethrin for the ticks. But that won't stop the skeeters. The deet will hold them off.

I don't often fish for bass....so......

DEET repels. Permethrin kills. 👍 Permethrin treated socks are a critical defense against ticks.

 

[ChuckofWagon]

DEET repels. Permethrin kills. 👍 Permethrin treated socks are a critical defense against ticks.

I wear my camo pants that have a tie string at the cuff. I buy Permethrin in concentrate and spray darn near everything with it. I've been using it for over ten years when hunting and fishing and, so far, have not had a tick on me. Or I should say make it to where it could cause me harm.

 

[Kms]

I wear my camo pants that have a tie string at the cuff. I buy Permethrin in concentrate and spray darn near everything with it. I've been using it for over ten years when hunting and fishing and, so far, have not had a tick on me. Or I should say make it to where it could cause me harm.

I bought a couple three packs of insect shield calf socks on sale for $15 a pack. No tick could climb those and survive. I don’t do the permethrin spray because it’s extremely toxic for cats.