Each July, anglers begin to doubt their own good judgment while fishing on triple-digit summer days. They lure even the fairest skinned anglers with cool, early morning air temps and shade which slowly give way to a sunrise straight from National Geographic Magazine cover. But beware, those breathtakingly, beautiful mornings turn into breath-taking, broilers. By 10:00 a.m., we’re asking ourselves, “is all this worth a fish?”
The reasons we anglers submit ourselves to torturous dog days of summer are as varied as the colors of worms in a tackle box. For the tournament angler, it’s the high-pressured price of competition…. winners don’t come off the water at mid-morning, they “tough it out.” And for the weekend angler, it’s the challenge of squeezing in as much fishing time as possible before heading home on Sunday evening.
Whatever the reasons, personal comfort isn’t the only hardship the anglers face, there’s an ever-present danger of hyper-thermia (heat stroke) and skin cancer, not to mention pre-mature aging effects of the sun. Since no one wants to look like an old leather handbag, here’s a brief look at ways to keep your cool in the summer – ways some readers may have never considered:
WEAR WHITE: Imagine, if you will, four felt squares (one each black, brown, tan and white) lying on the snow. On a sunny day, in a given amount of time, each piece of felt will absorb heat from the sun and sink progressively deeper into the snow beneath it. The black square will sink deepest while the white one remains near the top. Why? Because dark colors absorb the sun’s heat while light colors, (especially white) reflect it. So wearing white keeps you considerably cooler – longer.
KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON! As odd as it may seem, you’ll stay much cooler during the heat of the day, not by removing clothes, but by putting them on instead. Clothing made of loosely woven, white cotton is the best choice because it not only reflects the sun but a loose weave allows air to circulate through to the skin. There are numerous brands of sun-protective clothing on the market today – with built-in sun block protection.
COVER YOUR HEAD: Face it, the brain controls all bodily functions so it only stands to reason that we should avoid baking it. Visor type hats may shade the face but leave your crown exposed to the sun’s torrid heat. As I mentioned before, white reflects heat best of all, so avoid wearing a dark hat made of heavy winter fabric. A better choice would be a light-weight, light colored mesh fabric hat that allows air to circulate. For women who fish casually, and want more shade to the face and neck area, choose a wide-brimmed Scarlet O’Hara style hat that ties under the chin to prevent its being gone with the wind.
SUGGESTION: During my lengthy career in pro fishing, I discovered a “trick” which works for me but I would recommend you seek your own doctor’s approval before trying this yourself. I put two hands full of crushed ice into a small Zip-Lock bag and placed it on top of my head, hidden beneath my hat. The difference is amazing – when the head is cool – so is the body. And the cold air falling down over the face feels so, so good. The relief allows me to remain focused on competitive fishing instead of the sweltering heat. The ice lasts about an hour before needing to be replaced.
WEAR SUN SCREEN: No one is immune to the damaging effects sun has on skin, the most prominent danger being skin cancer. One common misconception is that you can’t tan if wearing a sunscreen. Actually, sunscreens filter out the damaging ultra violet sun rays while a dark skin pigment called “melanin,” increases to form a protective layer in the form of a suntan. Outdoorsmen at high risk, (like fishermen) should use a sunscreen with a minimum protection factor of 15 and avoid over-exposure during the day’s hottest hours of the day.
DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUIDS: In an effort to keep itself cool, the human body sweats. I know, “Pigs sweat, men perspire and ladies “flush” – so they say in the deep South. But don’t be fooled, women also sweat profusely. Our bodies are cooled when air moves over skin which is moistened from perspiration. So male or female, you want to sweat. Problems start when sweating stops. You must continue to replenish body fluids lost from sweating by increasing your intake of liquids. Don’t worry about bathroom breaks, you’ll never them in summer because you will sweat the liquids out through your skin. Sport drinks help replace essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which help the body avoid rapid loss of body fluids. But don’t rely totally on sport drinks – drink equal amounts of fresh water, too.
BEWARE OF DANGER SIGNS: Nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness and lack of perspiration are initial indications of an impending heat stroke. If any of these signs appear, take immediate action by giving the victim cool liquids, then splash water or place a cool, wet towel on the neck, wrists, inside elbows and other pressure points. Immediately get them into a shaded area (under a bridge, tree shaded bank, etc.) preferably near the launch area where help could be reached quickly in the event they fail to respond to initial treatment.
If you’re feeling miserably hot, remove your shirt or blouse and dip it into the lake. Wring it out, put it back on and notice the cooling effect. Doing this just prior to a short boat run across the lake will provide a sensation of being in air conditioning. Even a quick dip in the lake will cool down your body temperature.
So whether you’re fishing for fun or competition, the above tips (and a little common sense) should help you “keep your cool” this summer, avoiding sun-related medical dangers.By: Kathy Magers
