Using Sunscreen While Fishing

OK guys… I need some expert opinions to help get me out of the doghouse.

Being a fairly serious walleye guy and knowing how sensitive they are to any scent on your hands (gas/oil, bug spray, suntan lotion, etc) I’ve always had a rule no lotion/bug spray in the boat.

Well last weekend I had a chance to spend some time on the water for the 1st time with my gal and not being the sharpest bulb in the drawer I convinced her that no sunscreen would mean better fishing [the picture tells the rest of the story]

So I was curious what you guys thought… Other than always keeping some Lindy unscented soap in the boat at all times how else do you guys handle using sunscreen while fishing?
Any specific brands that people reccomend that are fishing friendly?
Do you guys think sunscreen really has a negative affect on fishing or did I just get myself cut off for no good reason?

Thanks,
– MM

PS – If this is the last you guys hear from me her family has probably managed to hunt me down

You could apply sunscreen before you left home, then washed your hands of all the lotion and not had to worry about either.

I think you’re in the doghouse!

ET

I hope this is a joke……..or an attempt at one

Dude, that’s nasty looking. My sympathies to her.

While I don’t know about Walleye scenting you, I never to seemed to have a problem with bug dope or sunscreen. I would like to add over the years of salt water fishing, you pick up a few things. Namely, light clothing (long sleeve shirts, pants, hat, and even gloves and face mask) may be appropriate. You’ll notice a lot of salt water guys do everything they can to protect themselves from the sun. I may be have a great tan, but I don’t scream in pain when I shower in the morning either.

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Do you guys think sunscreen really has a negative affect on fishing

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Not as negative as you are going to get from her.

Holy Crap! That’s never good. I use a spray on SPF 30 and spray down before I leave. It doesn’t require rubbing in. I then just wash my hands before I leave. I haven’t had a problem yet. I do carry a light weight long-sleeved shirt just in case.
As far as scent on and fish aversion; I remember reading a study done that found that many of the most suspicious chemicals had little to no effect on fish biting and the catch rate of fishermen. I do seem to remember that the most troublesome thing was sunscreen. They found that gas actually led to a slight increase of bites over time. I still practice moderate caution with scents. I have talked myself into believing that beer and Grizzly always help.

A bimini top is a fairly cheap boat addition, works in the rain too. At this point that blue aloe gel spray stuff (after sun?) works great! More importantly, how was the fishing?

Try BullFrog.It has a spray,no touching needed.Or you could always bring a bottle of hand soap with you… I feel pitty twords the lady in the pic,looks painful.

Use the sunscreen, then wash you’re hands with bio-degradable soap before touching any other equipment.
That’s what I’ve been doing for years anyways.
The benefits of sunscreen far out way any negative effects on the fish.

Put it on when onshore and grab some wet sand and scrub your hands. Bring some sand in a little pail and bring it in the boat for when you have to reapply.

This post reminds me I need to call the plumber.

I can’t tell from this angle. Could you have her turn around?

Lord I apologize….

We don’t use sunscreen at night of course, but we do use skeeter repellent.

3M came out with their product in what works like a roll on applicator.

I don’t allow spray on’s in the boat because the deet turns black plastic white.

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A bimini top is a fairly cheap boat addition, works in the rain too. At this point that blue aloe gel spray stuff (after sun?) works great! More importantly, how was the fishing?

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Fishing was a blast… Here a couple photos before “the unfortunate incident”
And we did make a stop on the way home for the Blue Aloe Gel and Lidocane spray.

I’m with Joel, use the spray on sunscreen, works slick. I will say that mixed with sweat the spray-on stuff seems to stain your collar, so before you throw your clothes into the pile, put some stain lifter on your collar area and sleeves where the sunscreen and sweat mix. I usually keep some No Name brand in the boat, this spring I pulled out last years bottle and saw that it was separating, so I shook it up and applied…didn’t work very well. Go buy new sunsreen every year.

Did you try putting vinegar on the sunburn? It takes most of the sting out right away and makes you feel a little cooler.
I try to put sunscreen on at least a half hour begore leaving the cabin. I wash my hands thoroughly with dish soap instead of hand soap, it cuts greasy substances better. It usually works well – except when a companion asks for some out in the boat. Just touching the bottle as I squeezed the goop out put me in an 0-fer skunk versus 50 walleyes for the other two guys – the guy who put it on used the back of his hand and didn’t worry about gobs of sunscreen smeared on his face. After I washed my hands during the lunch break, I joined the “catchers” for our total catch of 135 for the day.

I could apply it for her if your worried about the smell..

HAHA Turtle Lake!? Not sure how I know that. glad I now know where to catch a good Burn.

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HAHA Turtle Lake!? Not sure how I know that. glad I now know where to catch a good Burn.

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WTF – It was turtle lake… That’s impressive, you must have ESPN or something

You let her get a sunburn like that for a couple lousy Bass? What’s wrong with you man?

I bought a box of 100 disposable exam gloves…about $8.60,
you can find them at most Thrifty or Fleet stores.

No, I’m not going there.

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I bought a box of 100 disposable exam gloves…about $8.60,
you can find them at most Thrifty or Fleet stores.

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X2

I take a handful of them out of the box and put them in a sealed Ziploc. Helps keep them dry (they’re a pain to put on it they get wet). Also great in case you need to deal with gas, oil, repellent, etc.

Nope…lack of sunscreen is definitely not worth the short-term pain of sunburn, moderate-term pain of an unhappy girlfriend, wife or kids and the long-term pain/hassle of getting carved up for skin cancer, as I did a few years back.

><(((>

spray on suncreen and bug spray. there is no way anything has ever been proven, just a bunch of old men talking about how stubborn they are that came up with those tales. I am no professional fisherman but I have caught many a walleye with layers of sunscreen on. You guys mean to tell us that all of your wives and girlfreinds haven’t slopped themselves up with smelly lotion and sunscreens and haven’t caught a fish? Come on guys, I claim to be a big, tuff guy who has shoveled his share of cow crap, but am man enough to know it doesn’t make a bit of difference. protect yourself or pay the price, its as simple as that.

sunburn, blisters, cancer are not worth old men’s BS.

Something else to try for a real bad burn like that – learned from experience on a winter vacation to Hawaii a long time ago.
Take raw potatoes and slice into approx 1/4 inch thick slices and lay the raw potato slices on the bad burn. Immediate relief and something in the juice seems to really mitigate the heat.
That burn would take quite a few spuds but the relief would be worth it!!
I have used it ever since for bad sunburns
barc

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I could apply it for her if your worried about the smell..

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No, I’m not going there.

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Seriously, I’m more worried about what the sunscreen does to fishing line and plastics than what it smells like?

Thanks guys… After reading your posts here are a couple things that I’ve learned:

A) I’m an idiot [even other fishermen agree]
2) Get some disposable gloves – Awesome suggestion!
C) The internet if full of very helpful folks who would be more then willing to help put lotion on a pretty woman
4) Getting out of the doghouse on this one definitly requires a Spa-pology!

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spray on suncreen and bug spray. there is no way anything has ever been proven, just a bunch of old men talking about how stubborn they are that came up with those tales. I am no professional fisherman but I have caught many a walleye with layers of sunscreen on.

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I ‘m with Joe… I don’t give smells on my hands a second thought. Gas, sunscreen, bug spray… I just have never found it matters and seemingly I still find a way to catch a fish or two.

WOW Look how happy she was before, and she was even holding a bass. bad news is I think her face is going to be red for a while, but once the sunburn is gone the aloe wont help with that!

Spray on, for no other reason than it doesn’t leave my hands greasy. have to re apply about ever hour or so I’m sitting with a nice tan this year using it, and can’t blame my lack of fish on the sunscreen. I’m just having a rough year.

X2 for spray on Bullfrog.

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I ‘m with Joe… I don’t give smells on my hands a second thought. Gas, sunscreen, bug spray… I just have never found it matters and seemingly I still find a way to catch a fish or two.

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Shoot! I was gonna blame sunscreen for MikeW oufishing me most of the time. I use it and he usually doesn’t. But now you weigh in with “doesn’t matter”. Thanks a lot James!
(sunburn guy emoticon)

dd

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HAHA Turtle Lake!? Not sure how I know that. glad I now know where to catch a good Burn.

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WTF – It was turtle lake… That’s impressive, you must have ESPN or something

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I could even tell you how deep you were and the exact bottom composition under your boat. Fished that lake as much or more than anyone (including lake homeowners). Still fun but a mere shadow of its former self….does catch and release work?…Back to the burn,I have not clue I just suffer through it. I am guessing that is not an option in your case though.