Surviving the Dog Days of Summer
By Bruce Callis
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Summer time is the time that we as kids always looked forward to, when we got out of school and the carefree days began. It is the time for shorts, bikinis, swimming, and fishing. But unlike our childhood days, as we get older, these days take a toll on us. But there are ways to combat it and still have fun, to be a kid again. And to stay safe while fishing, something as a kid we took for granted.
How we combat the heat is more important now. What are the keys we need to remember? The first key is attitude. We need to have an attitude of proactive preparation. We do so much prepping to be successful as anglers, yet we rarely thing about skin protection and keeping our bodies protected in the heat. We need to make it just as important as getting our tackle ready. I’m just as guilty at times.
Mom always warned us to put on sunscreen, and we may have listened, but it was but a fleeting attempt to please mom and get to having fun. The second key, sunscreen, is by far one of the most overlooked solutions. With the advances in science, there are so many options. People go to a tanning booth and get a nice golden tan and think they are set, that it will protect them, but that is not the case. The ultraviolet rays take a toll on our skin. We have seen those horror pictures of people that have gone to the tanning beds too often and their skin looks like leather, well, the same thing happens in nature. The sun drys out our skin and bakes it. You need to apply sunscreen, and usually a SPF 45-50 is a great starting point. As Mark Davis of BigWater Adventures reminds us each episode, apply your sunblock often and liberally. We apply it to our kids to protect them, but forget about us. And they also make lip balm with SPF to help protect our lips from getting burnt and chapped.
The third key is clothing. Today we have so many options for staying cool. Old school, the best we could do was wear light fabrics in light colors. White as opposed to black, light blue as opposed to navy. Now we have far better solutions. Anglers are wearing jerseys made of special fabrics with suncreen protection built in. I love to wear my Hookfish Proformance jersey. The fabric is so soft and has that built in sun protection. Long sleeves help protect the arms from getting burnt. Another area we overlook is the hands. I have a really nice pair, and I try to remember to put them on. It has nothing to do with comfort, as once I put them on, they are so comfortable and aren’t hot at all. A Hookfish Protektor, a neck protector, or a buff ,a brand an also as they are generally know as, is an important part of the clothing equation. While it is worn around the neck and helps protect it, it is unique in that it can be pulled up over the face and ears for added protection. We always forget the ears and they sticking out from our head absorbing every bit of those damaging ultraviolet rays. Shoes are also important. A lot of anglers wear flip flops or go barefoot in an attempt to stay cool. Today we have some amazing shoes that are made to wear on the boat. They allow the water to flow through them and dry quickly. They allow us to protect our feet from the sun and stay cool. I wear mine all the time and my feet stay cool.
The fourth key is hydration. Dehydration is a killer. We need to keep our body full of fluids while on the water. One thing is for sure, alcohol does not help. While it is liquid, it actually speeds up dehydration. Water is by far the best thing we can drink. And we need to drink lots of it during the hot days of summer. We must remember to drink it often and not wait until we are thirsty. By the time we are thirsty, dehydration has already begun. There are other options, like sports drinks that help replenish lost chemicals. They are good, and can play an important part in our efforts to keep hydrated. Especially when combined with adequate water consumption. While there is no perfect equation as to how much to consume, as it varies by body type and the type of day, a good rule of thumb is at least 8 ounces of water every 30 minutes. The hotter the day, the more you need. Bring plenty and drink often is the key.
The fifth key is eye protection. Our eyes take a beating on the water. And if you wear glasses, unless you have a prescription pair of sunglasses, we tend to forgo anything at all. Today, there are many options for everyone. They don’t have to be the most expensive style, but they must block the UV rays. You can actually buy sunglasses that attach to your glasses. While these do not offer side protection from the sun, they are far better than no protection. The third type is the fitover sunglasses. These may seem awkward, but they are actually very comfortable. They aren’t the old, one size fits all anymore, and come in many styles to actually fit over your existing frames. The main thing is, no matter what your choice, protect your eyes.
These are some keys to staying healthy on the hot days of summer while we practice the sport we love, fishing. Remember to think about what you need to do to be prepared to go fishing, besides the fishing gear. We are only given one body and one life, live to fish another day. And do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing, make a memory to last a lifetime!