The sun and fishing

[Glenn]

We need to talk about this more often

 

 

[frenchy]

I agree, especially as we are getting older, Personally I prefer overcast days and night fishing

[Fishin Dad]

Wearing sun protection clothing protects you from the sun and actually keeps you cooler.   Pants, hooded sun shirt, hat, gloves.  It is all I wear when fishing now.  

[WRB]

My dermatologist told me everyone gets so many hours in sun until we use them up before skin cancer starts to develop. I used my time up early in life unfortunately.

The sun light reflects off of the water at every possible angle so as anglers the exposure is total. The other factors not always considered is altitude and latitude. The higher the elevation the closure to the suns unfiltered rays you. The latitude is similar the closer to the equator the more harmful the sun rays become.

I spent my youth working, fishing and playing the sun at 7,200 feet very clear air cooking my skin. As a young adult fishing south of the boarder to Cabo San Lucas sunup to sundown.

Blue eyed Scottish decent my fair skin is toast because we simply didn’t know about Sun Protection.

Skin cancer can kill, my friend Bill Murphy author of In Pursuit of Giant Bass is one example. 

Protect yourselves from the sun, no excuses today.

Your skin the largest organ take care of it.

Don’t take hot showers, hot water damages your skin.

Use a unscented moisturizing cream often, especially after showering.

SPF 50  lotions are very helpful and cover ups we have disucced.

Glenn pointed out polarized sunglasses, good to know.

Diet is important add fish oils.

Tom

 

[Catt]

When the sun finds its home in the western sky 

 

[ironbjorn]

Similarly to WRBs doctor, my doctor told me everyone gets cancer if they live long enough.

[Captain Phil]

My wife is a fair skinned Irish gal.  Growing up in Miami, she spent many years in the sun.  Back then, sun screen was known as "tanning solution".   She was fishing with her father when I met her, so it was natural that she fished with me.  When she does, she gets freckles.  I think they're cute, she doesn't.  I have Italian ancestry and my skin darkens in the sun. In the summer my customers frequently asked me if I work or just play golf all day?   I told them I fish.

 

When my wife was in her 40s, she started having skin cancers removed.  I never knew what she was going to look like when she came home from the dermatologist.  She had one removed from her nose and it took a plastic surgeon to fix it.   After that, she quit fishing.  She still goes with me, but it's only for a few hours at a time.  I never thought I would get skin cancer.  I was wrong.   I had one removed from the top of my head.  This is not something you want to experience.

 

 

 

 

[MediumMouthBass]

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

[thunderblack]

Been wearing sun shirts and hats for a while but one thing I have been hearing more about lately is how harmful sunglass can be. Your body makes adjustments through your eyes when in the sun and if you block that it can be harmful due to your body not knowing how to adjust (long story short). There are good points both ways but I have been wearing my sunglasses less in the truck or on the boat. 

[BustedSwimbait]

I just picked up my first pair of sun pants and they're a game changer. I already wore the sun hoodies but always had shorts on. I'm way cooler all day without the sun burn. I've bought several more once I realized how great they are.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

Any polarized will be better than none for sun protection. Expensive ones might be clearer or have better coatings and durability. For sun protection though, just pick one and wear them.  Not just fishing also, driving or anytime sitting in the sun.  

[padlin]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

I use WileyX Omega progressives as they were the only ones offering to do progressives in wraparounds. About $400, which isn’t bad for what they are. I wouldn’t mind going cheaper if someone offered such a thing. If it were me and I had single vision I’d price out a set of good ones that are wraparound and compare to a cheaper pair. 
 

I’ve sent my pair back for new lenses as they change over the years, must be 10 years now.

[Will Ketchum]

On my right cheek I have sun sensitive spot that will turn red; form a pimple and then bleed after a while if I don't protect it. I'll use SPF 50 sun screen, and if I'm going to spend a real long time outdoors like mowing the lawn, I'll put a band-aid over it to keep it shaded. I also bought a very broad billed billed crusher hat for those times.

 

All from 80 years of never worrying about the sun.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

Don’t know if you have a Costco nearby they usually have a good selection of sunglasses like Oakley, Ray Ban, etc and will make prescription polarized lens for the brand you like.

Another choice is Sunglass Hut. Get light weight glass lens because you tend to clean them often when fishing and plastic scratches.

Tom 

PS, I wear by dark grey polarized sunglasses whenever outside on sunny days.

[Bird]

In the warmer months I fish with a tank top, shorts and crocks but always apply sunscreen before leaving the house.

Also keep sunscreen on the boat.

 

Make an appointment with the dermatologist each and every year and get checked out, so far so good.

 

Prescription polarized sunglasses are an absolute must for this guy, couldn't fish without them.

[J._Bricker]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

I have a pair of polarized prescription Costas after years of being resistant to the idea. They’re blended bifocals and weren’t cheap, but the more I wear them the more I appreciate having them while fishing. Before it was take off my polarized Oakley sunglasses, put on my prescription glasses to retie a knot or re-rig. 
In my experience, the best polarization glasses (prescription or not) are like the “best” life vest, they’re only good if you wear them.

[Johnbt]

I have always worn polarized sunglasses, at least since the '60s anyway when I could afford them.

 

www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/sunglasses-and-your-eyes#:~:text=Can%20wearing%20sunglasses%20damage%20your,UV%20to%20access%20the%20eye

 

Short version. Cheap sunglasses can damage your eyes. Sunglasses need to protect against all the UV light, not just certain frequencies. Get them to fit properly, too.

 

"Can wearing sunglasses damage your eyes? 

Sunglasses are bad for your eyes if they are used the wrong way or do not block UV.  Eyes adapt to ambient light, and pupils dilate when light is dim or you’re wearing dark sunglasses. That creates a bigger area for UV to access the eye. If the lenses are simply colored and do not block UV, you’re opened up to eye damage."

[frenchy]

5 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I kept hearing people talk about polarized glasses, does anyone here have prescription ones? And is it better to buy cheaper ones or go for the more expensive ones?

I have two pair, wiley X & Costa, they are expensive but worth it

[Functional]

On 6/24/2023 at 6:25 PM, frenchy said:

 Personally I prefer overcast days 

Careful thinking overcast protects you. I've still gotten sunburn without the sun on the water. Only made that mistake a handful of times. 

[33oldtimer]

I wear fishing shirts, neck gaiters, and fishing gloves, jeans. But I occasionally let down my guard, and gaiter, thinking I won't be out in the sun long only to see I'm sunburned later. After years of not worrying about sun exposure it takes determination to stick to staying covered.

[Glenn]

Since we're talking about clothing that offers sun protection...This is what I do

 

 

[33oldtimer]

On 6/26/2023 at 11:51 AM, Will Ketchum said:

On my right cheek I have sun sensitive spot that will turn red; form a pimple and then bleed after a while if I don't protect it. I'll use SPF 50 sun screen, and if I'm going to spend a real long time outdoors like mowing the lawn, I'll put a band-aid over it to keep it shaded. I also bought a very broad billed billed crusher hat for those times.

 

All from 80 years of never worrying about the sun.

That sounds exactly like a place on the back of my neck. It was like a pimple, but kept coming back, would sometimes itch, sometimes hurt, never completely healed. Saw my Doc about it a year ago and he froze it off. Said it was a pre-cancerous spot. Might be worth asking your doc about and get it removed before it becomes a problem. Just a suggestion.

[Bankc]

On 6/26/2023 at 5:07 AM, ironbjorn said:

Similarly to WRBs doctor, my doctor told me everyone gets cancer if they live long enough.

Everyone has cancer now.  It's just that your immune system keeps it in check until it doesn't.  

 

On 6/26/2023 at 11:54 AM, Johnbt said:

I have always worn polarized sunglasses, at least since the '60s anyway when I could afford them.

 

www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/sunglasses-and-your-eyes#:~:text=Can%20wearing%20sunglasses%20damage%20your,UV%20to%20access%20the%20eye

 

Short version. Cheap sunglasses can damage your eyes. Sunglasses need to protect against all the UV light, not just certain frequencies. Get them to fit properly, too.

 

"Can wearing sunglasses damage your eyes? 

Sunglasses are bad for your eyes if they are used the wrong way or do not block UV.  Eyes adapt to ambient light, and pupils dilate when light is dim or you’re wearing dark sunglasses. That creates a bigger area for UV to access the eye. If the lenses are simply colored and do not block UV, you’re opened up to eye damage."

It's hard to find even cheap sunglasses that don't protect against UV rays these days.  I'm sure you could do it if you really tried, but you don't need to buy high-end sunglasses to get adequate protection.  But it's something that's definitely worth looking out for when buying new sunglasses.  And if you have an old pair you're still wearing, no matter how high-end, it's a good idea to throw them out.  The UV coatings wear off over time.  Now, a lot of people who are in the business of selling sunglasses will tell you to replace them every two years.  I think that's probably a bit extreme.  They have a vested interest in convincing you to buy more glasses, after all.  But there is a usable lifespan you should be aware of.  

 

[Pogues2300]

On 6/26/2023 at 10:51 AM, Will Ketchum said:

On my right cheek I have sun sensitive spot that will turn red; form a pimple and then bleed after a while if I don't protect it. I'll use SPF 50 sun screen, and if I'm going to spend a real long time outdoors like mowing the lawn, I'll put a band-aid over it to keep it shaded. I also bought a very broad billed billed crusher hat for those times.

 

All from 80 years of never worrying about the sun.

Glad you have had 80 years, wish you many more my friend. 

[WRB]

We thought Baby Oil and Coca Butter was cool for a sun tan, frying like bacon. The tan I have now are the freckles.

Now it’s Elta MD UV Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and facial plus Vertra SPF 45 water proof on the nose/ears, plus all the SPF clothing, hat, gloves etc.

Will be 80 in a few weeks.

Tom