Older and Wiser

[TOXIC]

As the years have piled up in my fishing endeavors, I’d like to think I’ve grown a bit wiser as time has moved on.  I was a guide for some odd 20 years and let me give you a rundown on how I dressed for every summer outing.  I’m not going to talk about cold weather fishing because I didn’t pick that up until later and it’s a whole different ball of wax.  Let’s go from head to toe.  Always wore a hat but I started with visors for comfort.  Regular off the shelf cheap sunglasses because I was always afraid of losing them.  For a shirt, I always wore a short sleeved “fishing” shirt that was vented on the back.  A tribute to the saltwater crowd.  For pants, it was always cargo shorts and for shoes, normally sandals like Teva.  By the end of summer I was very dark tanned.  Then one day when I was getting a haircut, my barber commented that there was a spot on the top of my head that she didn’t like.  It had been a couple of years since I had been to the dermatologist so I went in.  He took that spot and a piece of my cheek to be biopsied.  Luckily both were negative but I had a few stitches to heal up.  It put me on high alert and I decided it was time to think about sun protection more seriously.  I’ll be honest, it wasn’t an overnight change but here is where I’m at today.  Still wear a hat but now it’s a full mesh.  I’ve upgraded to prescription high quality sun glasses. Add in a buff to cover my neck, ears and face and for a shirt, I now wear moisture wicking, long sleeved specialty fishing shirts, preferably with a hood.  As for pants I have transitioned to long legged fishing pants that are just as cool as shorts.  My footwear is still a sandal style but rubberized for better traction and water resistance.  Where does this all lead you ask? What’s left in my quest to complete my transition from sun damage? It’s summer fingerless fishing gloves.  I have never been able to comfortably wear gloves (summer or winter).  With GSM’s acquisition of Cuda and their specialized fishing fingerless gloves with a built in cooling patch, I’m finally finishing the final piece.  

[PaulVE64]

I'm with you. My hat used to be purple, now its grey.

 

[PourMyOwn]

@TOXIC, thanks for sharing, this is information we all need to know. 

[Woody B]

The strange thing is my Grandfathers generation knew about the danger of the Sun.   My Grandfather was a building contractor who worked outside a BUNCH.   He never wore, and didn't even own a short sleeved shirt.   He also wore a straw hat with a fairly wide brim for sun protection.   My other Grandfather was a commercial plumbing contractor.  He dressed the same way.   Neither of them ever said a word to me (or my parents that I know of) about protection from the Sun, but why did they keep their bodies covered from the Sun if that wasn't the case.  

[OmegaDPW]

I grew up as a kid on the beach. Was never allowed to have long hair so most of my childhood was buzz cuts or flat tops. At 33 I started having bumps taken off the top of my head. Whatever lasers they used back then caused the hair to not grow back, so I had two round patches the size of a half dollar that were bald and looked awful. Started shaving my head at that point. Now, I work outside about half of the day and use sunscreen and an outback style hat religiously. Thanks for the post. If it helps one person take the sun more seriously, it's a winner. 👍

[Tennessee Boy]

I had surgery on my ear 12 days ago to remove a basil cell cancer.  I’ve had sun burns on this part of my ear countless times.  Now I’m paying the price.

[dave]

When I was a guide or when I fish for fun, all you can see are my eyes and my finger tips.  My mother died from melanoma, I've had two MOHS procedures and I get rocked with the nitrogen blasts every six months.  At home dual chemo cream/ointment treatments every 3-4 months or so.  It's a way of life for the fair skinned folk.

[813basstard]

Guess I been lucky..I hated being sunburned. At about age 12 I said to my self “self, that hurt. Don’t do that again.”

Youd think I’m part of the Taliban the way I’m covered up. And yes as a football coach and fisherman I’m out in the sun ALL THE TIME. I was weary in the hoodie WAY before coach Prime

[throttleplate]

this is one reason i like living in north dakota, we dont get much sun or non at all thats harmfull for a good 8 months. I had a physical at the VA 2 weeks ago and my viatamin D was below the normal low number so i now take 5000iu a day.

[A-Jay]

Sun exposure is the most important natural source of vitamin D. The body uses the vitamin to absorb the calcium it needs to build and maintain bones.

Short bursts of sun exposure can usually allow your body to produce all the vitamin D it needs for the day. Some people, including older people or those with kidney or liver problems, may be at risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D. They can consider eating more foods that contain vitamin D or taking a supplement.

When exposing the skin to the sun, it is essential to consider the risk of skin cancer. People should avoid allowing their skin to burn.

But there is a point where effective becomes too much.

I allow myself (when the weather is right) 20 minutes of full unprotected sun exposure a day.

(I set a timer on my phone)

We don't get a ton of sunny days here but when we do I get in it.

So it's totally controlled from May thru August. 

After that and every other time I'm outside,

whether it's fishing, (locally or abroad)doing yard work or out with the dogs, I'm covered up.

I hate slathering myself up with sunscreen, always have, but I do it when I need to.

However totally prefer sun protecting performance clothing to get the job done.

Full brim Hat, long sleeve shirt and pants, Buff, socks & shoes (not crocs or flip flops.

We don't get a re-do on this one.

So it's learn or burn.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[TOXIC]

Funny thing is, I never knew what a sunburn was until I was 16 years old.  I tanned to a dark brown every year.  Never used sunscreen even on trips to Mexico, Florida and the Bahamas and actually used sun accelerator.  As I aged I could notice that my sun immunity started to fade.  All through my 20’s, 30’s and 40”s, I had no concern for protection.  From that time forward though I have “wised” up.  I do make regular trips to the dermatologist and I have never had anything negative but I’m not a gambler, so it’s time to hedge my bets.  

[gim]

18 hours ago, OmegaDPW said:

Was never allowed to have long hair so most of my childhood was buzz cuts or flat tops.

Do we know each other?  I'm fully on board with this policy under the Haircut Police initiative.

[JackstrawIII]

I’ve always wanted to wear a wide brimmed hat but my wife won’t let me. 
 

I should have her read this thread. Now that I’m approaching middle age… things may need to change. 

[DaubsNU1]

My childhood home was right across the street from a public pool. Every summer we would get fried / sunburn the first week, wore a t-shirt for a few days...then turned a nice shade of brown for the remainder of the summer. Never sunblock.

 

Started wearing hats and sunglasses more, trying to avoid the sun...and sunblock, of course. 

 

Now it's long sleeve shirts, full coverage hats, buffs, etc. I need orthopedic inserts, so I always have good shoes on. I don't care for sunblock..."if it's on you, it's in you..." Chemicals...

 

Materials are so light and comfy these days...easy to cover up. 

 

Great point @A-Jay on the vitamin D! 

[JackstrawIII]

Can anyone recommend their favorite wide brimmed hat for use while out on the boat? 

[TnRiver46]

[DaubsNU1]

@JackstrawIII, check out Shelta hats.

 

I like because they fit my giant dome...XXXL.

 

Stiff brim, and they float! 

[JackstrawIII]

24 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

@JackstrawIII, check out Shelta hats.

 

I like because they fit my giant dome...XXXL.

 

Stiff brim, and they float! 

Looks perfect. I'm all over it. Thanks. 

[throttleplate]

[Way north bass guy]

Like most people on here, I never gave the sun a thought when I was younger. The last ten years or so I’ve started covering up or slathering on the sunscreen. Nowadays I hardly ever wear a short sleeve shirt, especially if I’m gonna be outside much. I have a whole drawer full of long sleeve uv shirts, wear ‘em for fishing, farming, and work all spring/summer/fall ( winter up here is coats and hoodies weather). I also despise wearing a baseball cap. I’m either wearing nothing for a hat ( cause I’m inside), or I’m rocking the Tilley. Best hat I’ve ever owned.

[MN Fisher]

One other thing - don't forget those UV coated sunglasses. I spent years not caring and 7 years ago had my right eye removed because of cancer...caused by too much exposure to UV radiation.

 

Now I wear sunglasses anytime I'm outside when it's sunny...can't afford to lose the other eye.

[JackstrawIII]

On 1/18/2024 at 7:22 PM, Way north bass guy said:

I’m rocking the Tilley. Best hat I’ve ever owned.

Which Tilley do you have? Been eyeing those for a long time…

[Way north bass guy]

1 hour ago, JackstrawIII said:

Which Tilley do you have? Been eyeing those for a long time…

I have this one. Had it about 4 years now and it’s great! I wear it all the time either on the water or at work, and I’m a stonemason so it sees a ton of sweat, dust, cement etc. and has held up excellently. I hand wash it a few times a year, and just sit it on a table to dry flat, and the brim is as stiff as when brand new.