Catch Some Rays Safely with Sunscreen or Sunblock While Fly Fishing

Yes, we know you want to catch fish, but if you are on the river all day you are also going to catch some rays.  Even on cloudy days it is not safe to be out without sunscreen or sunblock.  You always want the best fishing equipment so go for a good quality product to protect your skin.  The difference between sunblock and sunscreen is that sunscreens absorb the suns UV rays and sunblocks reflect or block the rays.

Look for a high SPF number (this means Sun Protection Factor).  The higher the number the longer you can stay in the sun without burning.  For example, if the SPF is 8 you can stay in the sun for 8 times longer than you would normally burn.  If you would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, you will now be able to stay in the sun for 80 minutes without burning.

The fisherman needs to take extra care against burning as the water will reflect the sun more.  Also, be sure to reapply the sunscreen if you get wet.  A few minutes applying lotion is much preferable to a night of misery with a sunburn!