Mosquitoes!! Argh!!

[kenimes]

So, heading to E WA after work today for some bass fishing. Heard from the folks that were at the lake earlier this month. They said the mosquitoes were thick this year, and the OFF spray worked somewhat, but not completely.

My question is: does anyone have suggestions/ secrets, or know of another product (besides Deep Woods OFF) that may help deter the little buggers?

Thanks!!

[G-Man]

Repel 100% DEET and 3M Ultrathon. The best protection is to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants along with a protective headnet. Apply a little insect repellent to your hands and around the neck area and you should be good to go. If you go shorts and a tee shirt, you will probably get bit no matter what you apply to your skin. I should also mention that it is best to wear shoes and sock instead of running around in flip flops or sandals. One thing to note, the bugs are really not that bad when you are out in the sun. It is the shaded areas and the times around sunup and sundown that they really come out looking for blood.

[kenimes]

Will have to check out the Repel DEET or the Ultrathon, thank you. Going to be mid 80's out in an aluminum boat, so I doubt I will be wearing long sleeve shirts and pants. Shoes and socks, no problem.

I think you are right though- if they want to bite, they will bite, no matter what you spray on. Ah well.

[G-Man]

There is a serious misconception that wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants is uncomfortable in hot weather. Not only will it keep the skeeters at bay, it will keep the sun off of you as well. If I'm fishing Eastern Washington this time of year in an open boat, my attire is light colored clothing that covers up everyting except my hands. Give it a try and let your body adapt a bit, people who live in deserts cover up for a reason.

[kenimes]

Ahh, but I tan so well, and would hate to pass up the chance of that much sun. Just do not get that chance over here in Seattle very often.

I will deal with the bug bites to gain the tan- personal perference. Was just hoping someone had a product I had not heard of that works better than OFF. I have never tried the Repel DEET or the Ultrathon, so I may just do that.

Was in the 100's last year up there, but this time should only be in the mid 80's, so I will also bring a light colored long sleeve shirt and some light blue jeans.

Thanks again.

[Matt]

I have been getting bit through my fleece, flannel, and t-shirts this year. Nasty little bastards they is!

[dave g]

when i lived down south years ago, a friend suggested i try 'skin so soft' from avon. it's the best repellant i've come accross and i've used it ever since...

[Gringo Pescador]

when i lived down south years ago, a friend suggested i try 'skin so soft' from avon. it's the best repellant i've come accross and i've used it ever since...

I've heard people rave about the Skin So Soft for years. Haven never tried it myself though.
I'm with Gman. I don't tan. I get sunburned even lathered up with spf 100. I am almost always in long sleeves and big dorky hats anyway. There are fishing shirts on the market these days that are VERY light and loose, so even if the buggers land on ya, they still cant reach you.

[natetreat]

My wife has some stuff that is organic and made from Lavender. From the lavender store downtown in westlake. It seems to work for her, and she is deathly afraid of mosquitoes. She got bit ONCE on our honeymoon, and she ran a 1/2 mile from the lake screaming bloody murder, literally, and of course I just laughed until I caught up to her.

The 100% deet stuff works well, just be careful around the campfire with it. It's flammable What works best is cigarettes. Bring a non-smoking friend and chain smoke, they'll leave you alone and eat your buddy. Works everytime for me. Plus Deet, long sleeves, laveder stuff, and a citronella candle burning in the boat.

[Rich McVey]

Bring a non-smoking friend and chain smoke...

You using you friend as bait or trying to kill him?

[racfish]

Eat Garlic. The scent repels them somewhat. I've been to E.Wa during some bad bug years. Theres not much one can do to repel them. When they are hungry a human arm is mighty tastey to them.Citronella candles dont work worth a crapola.Now you can always go pick up a Haz-Mat suit with hood. That'll cook ya.Worse then skitters right now in Ea Wa are the spiders. I heard Black widows and Hobos. Both have very nasty bites.I didnt even know we had widows here in our state till I heard and seen them in the news.

[Bodofish]

Eat Garlic. The scent repels them somewhat. I've been to E.Wa during some bad bug years. Theres not much one can do to repel them. When they are hungry a human arm is mighty tastey to them.Citronella candles dont work worth a crapola.Now you can always go pick up a Haz-Mat suit with hood. That'll cook ya.Worse then skitters right now in Ea Wa are the spiders. I heard Black widows and Hobos. Both have very nasty bites.I didnt even know we had widows here in our state till I heard and seen them in the news.

Yeah I don't buy tha garlic bit. I've seen too many people try it and the only thing it kept away was all the other people so the Stinky ones could be bit in peace. One summer on a fish boat a crew mate tried it and we just about had to throw him over he stunk so bad! He had lots of bug friends that liked garlic flavor. Deet period! Tried that Avon crap too. It may work on wussy bugs. but not the real AK monsters.

Cigars and cigars and oh yeah, cigars. That's what keeps them at bay!

[YellowBear]

I use the OFF clip on,
I got it last season and it works great.
I spend a lot of time at the seep lakes and this thing keeps the skeeters at bay.

[G-Man]

This article is on the front page of Yahoo today, very on topic!

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/summertime ... d-2512973/

[Gringo Pescador]

Another article today along the same lines (must be the season)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/o ... ear28.html

Looks like they now have some kind of repellent that they put into the fabric of shirts..??

[FishingFool]

those buggers love me.

I've tried that Deep Woods and it doesnt work for me. Several "100% Deet" and they dont work for me. I think one of them was called Jungle Juice or something like that.

I recently bought a Thermacell and surrounded my camp with several of those burning coils that seemed to help it. Also used Off dry spray too.

The mosquitoes were not heavy though this time.

[Ocktane]

I find that theres nothing better than an Allison to keep the Skeeters at bay... wait... wrong skeeters. [lol]

[MarkFromSea]

30 years ago, about a week before our 50 to 75 mile back packing trips in the Cascades or the Bob Marshall in MT, we'd load up on vitamin B-12 and eliminate sweets in our diet. Seemed to work pretty well at keeping the mosquitoes, no see ums and horseflies at bay. Those boy scouts that didn't prep in this manner got eaten up pretty bad by all the bugs. Oh, another one that worked well was campfire smoke. "Smoke follows beauty" "Beauty was a horse" was a common quote whenever the wind shifted direction at the campfire.

My daughters and better half prefer that little clip on thing, seems to work well for them. I thought they were pretty sissy lil things for girls so didn't wear one and the picture below shows the results, yep, my leg about a month and a half ago in WI. LMAO Serves me right!.... LOL It's All Good!

[kenimes]

Repel seemed to work OK. OFF not as much. Just need to spray the heck out of every exposed area of skin. Still I got bit through my shirt....buggers!!

The neighbors were down from Canada, and they told me a neat little trick for once you do get bit: rub a little stick deodorant over the bite. It sucks up the poison, and cuts down on the itching and swelling. It actually worked- I was surprised I had not heard that before. Try it.