Fishing Gear Aimed at Protection from Bugs

Insects can merely be an annoyance while you’re fishing, but they can also be harmful or even life-threatening. If you don’t believe me, scroll down to the bottom of this article and check out a picture of my ankle from a 2019 trip to Brazil. Just know that you’ve been warned – if you’re at all squeamish or easily grossed out, I’d recommend against it.

By the time we took that trip, I’d already been to the Amazon twice, and we’d fished tannic water rivers and had no insect issues whatsoever. In 2019, we went to a different river, however, and my assumption that there’d be no bug problems proved incorrect. I wore shorts and sandals onto the Cessna Caravan that took us from Manaus to the lodge, and once there we quickly ate lunch and rigged up tackle so that we’d be able to get in a half day on the water. I did apply sunscreen, but not insect repellent.

It wasn’t until I’d been on the water for a couple of hours that I started to feel the little pinpricks on my ankles. No-see-ums had gone after that sweet meat and attacked me. I applied my repellent but it was too late – I’d become a pincushion. That night my ankle swelled up with itchy welts. The next few nights I wore socks over my hands so I wouldn’t scratch in my sleep. Luckily, my friend Leroy Boss had brought some Prednisone along, and he gave me a full dosage. I took it without even asking any precautionary questions – I was that desperate. Eventually the welts scabbed over, but even with the meds the swelling was slow to go down. I wore socks and long pants the rest of the trip and while a few weeks later everything got back to normal, if you look closely you can still see some faint evidence of the bites.

In one respect, I got lucky – if I’d had a serious allergic reaction we were out in the middle of the jungle, with a plane scheduled to pick us up in a week and the closest medical facility hundreds of miles away. Don’t make my mistake – be overprotective of your health and that of your traveling mates (their discomfort can ruin your trip, too). Here are a few steps to ensure that you’re reasonably prepared.

Before You Go

When you’re headed to a remote or semi-remote location, make sure that you are medically informed and prepared. Consult your doctor or – better yet – go to a travel-specific medical facility. Before our first two trips to the Amazon and our 2016 trip to Southern Africa we visited a Passport Health office which printed out a full set of advice and information related to our destinations. Their instructions and comprehensive printouts led us to get updated on shots like Yellow Fever and Tetanus.

Their advice also included prescriptions. On our first trip to the Amazon I took Malarone to protect against malaria while Hanna was prescribed a different medication for the same purposes for reasons related to female health. The Malarone gave me vivid, crazy dreams and the next time I needed an anti-malarial I took something else. If you have known reactions or frailties, you might also want to bring along an EpiPen, or at least one for your group.

Of course, in addition to the unprescribed steroid regimen that I took in 2019, there are also over-the-counter solutions to minimize swelling and other reactions like Benadryl and various topical creams. I’ve also heard good things about the “Bug Bite Thing,” to reduce itching and swelling, although I have not tried it myself.

Repellents and Sprays

The best bet for short-term comfort and long-term health is to prevent the bites from happening altogether. Your first step should be to get a repellent that keep the most insects away without any undesirable side effects. The elephant in the room here is DEET (N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). It definitely works, and the higher the concentration the more effective it should be, but it also has toxicity to humans.

We use Sawyer Ultra 30, which as the name suggests has 30% DEET. We’ve found it to be effective, non-irritating, and neither of us has grown a third arm yet. If that level of DEET still worries you, consider one of the various DEET-free options out there.

Clothing that Keeps Bugs at a Distance

In addition to a potential health risk, insects can also be an annoyance. We’ve all “enjoyed” a six- or eight-legged “protein snack” as we drove down the lake or opened our mouth to talk. Sometimes they swarm around your head as you try to fish, and while they may not be biters, they can still affect your concentration. Grass gnats in particular have forced me to leave a spot on more than one occasion. Fortunately, this is a pretty easy fix. You can simply pull up a Buff and cinch down your hood in most instances to keep them out of touch. Alternatively, you can buy a hat specifically made for that task – for example, the Simms Bugstopper Sombrero has a built-in mesh enclosure with a drawcord to seal it up.

There are also a wide variety of insect-repellent clothing options made specifically for the outdoors, and for all sorts of weather conditions. Since I tend to be most bothered by bugs in the warmer temperatures (and especially in tropical climates), I want clothing that is easy to move in and lightweight. This year I spent a lot of time in my Forloh Insect Shield SolAir Pants and matching Hooded Long Sleeve Shirt. They are super-comfortable, with antimicrobial treatments and scent control systems, as well as a high UPF rating. The Jack Wolfskin shirt that I got before heading to Canada is also a true winner and more fashionable than the typical fishing clothing. It looks great for going out to dinner or to a bar, and it’s comfortable enough to wear for just about anything.

Many other companies make similar high-end products, including Simms, Ex Officio and others. If you already have clothing that you like, but it’s not insect-repellent, you can simply buy a permethrin fabric treatment – like this one from Sawyer, which lasts for up to six weeks or through six washings, and won’t stain or damage your clothes.

Your best bet is simply to cover up. That means long pants and long sleeves whenever possible (I know, I love wearing shorts, but in heavy bug situations I’ll suck it up and go with the long pants). Also, with the threat of Lyme Disease, if you’re tramping through the woods pull your socks up over your pants legs. It looks dorky but it may save you an unwanted hitchhiker. After time in the woods give yourself (and your kids or significant other) a once-over for ticks as well. 

Finally, if you’ll be sitting around a fire or on a porch, consider an aftermarket means of keeping the critters away. We’ve been very satisfied with the Mossy Oak Thermacell portable mosquito repeller. It’s scent-free and doesn’t require batteries or cords. There are also a variety of other low-tech mosquito coils out there that’ll keep you from getting bitten up in the cabin at night – just be sure not to start a fire. There is also mosquito netting you can put around your bed. If you do get bit, the Bug Bite Thing (as seen on Shark Tank!) can reduce the damage.

Finally, while in this case an ounce of protection truly is worth an ounce of cure, if after taking these prophylactic measures something still feels awry, see a doctor, especially if you’ve been in an exotic location. Your general practitioner might be the right call, or if it’s a skin-level reaction see your dermatologist. 

Now, to see what you want to avoid, the non-squeamish among you can check out my “souvenir” from the Amazon.