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Outdoors Enthusiasts Welcome Any New Solutions For Biting Bugs

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By FRANK SARGEANT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

The announcement that researchers at Florida's agriculture department have come up with new possible insect repellants is welcome news for Floridians, who suffer some of the worst biting bug issues in the nation.

Though DEET has been the gold standard since the 1950s, per The Associated Press story in the Tribune this week, the researchers now have several repellants under study that promise to last up to four times longer than DEET. Of course, the chemicals have been tested only on clothing; if they tend to evaporate on human skin when applied directly, we might have to wait a while longer for the ultimate bug juice. The additional testing reportedly will take several years before the new repellants can be placed on the market.

Actually, though, for those who remain in one place outdoors, a recent invention already has largely solved the problem.

The ThermaCELL system from 3M is a butane-powered gizmo that generates bug-repelling fumes; in less than 30 seconds after you fire one up, the worst mosquito swarms dissipate. The units, about the size of a hand-held VHF radio but much lighter, run for many hours on a cigarette lighter-type butane cartridge. You also occasionally have to replace the bug repellant wafer. (This contains allethrin, a copy of a naturally occurring insecticide found in chrysanthemum, according to the company, and is harmless and odorless to humans.)

These are small prices to pay to be able to enjoy the outdoors without being drained dry by thousands of the little bloodsuckers. I've used them in the Everglades and in Green Swamp with great results.

The ThermaCELL is distinctive because, unlike many bogus bug repellers that depend on sonic waves and other imaginary repellers, it demonstrably works fast, and it works every time. (It is not only my opinion that electronic bug repellers do not work. Scientists at the University of Florida have tested lots of these things over the years, and without exception they had very poor results in natural situations.)

The downside of the ThermaCELL is that if you are on the move, you leave behind your cloud of repellant with each step forward, and it takes a few seconds for the stuff to build up again when you stop, during which you are being bitten. The company says it creates a 15-x-15-foot zone of repellency, but in my experience, if there's any air movement, the zone of protection is quite a bit smaller.

And, of course, it is not nearly so handy as a solution you simply spray on your skin. Most experienced outdoors people use high-concentration DEET liberally on skin and clothing, first thing in the morning, then use the ThermaCELL as the added barrier when they get to their fishing spot or hunting blind.

For more information, visit www.thermacell.com.

A GRANDE TIME: Last week's Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association tournament produced impressive results. Fishing two short days, the 22 boats caught 96 tarpon from the giant pass, located about 80 miles south of Tampa. Of these, 88 were released immediately and eight were kept long enough for weighing in a wet sling, then sent on their way. The top fish was a 180-pounder turned in by captain Lamar Joiner and his team, which earned the $35,000 first prize. All fish were caught on live baits drifted deep.

Tarpon fishing at Boca Grande is arguably the best in the world from May 15 to early July. Tarpon biologists have estimated as many as 10,000 fish jam the pass during this period as they pack on weight before their spawning migration offshore. Fishing with a guide in the area during these weeks is as close to a guarantee of catching a silver king as is possible to get.

Note, there are two schools of thought. The BGFGA is strictly a live-bait organization, while the Florida Fishing Guides Association trends mostly to artificials. The two factions don't get along all that well, but there are lots of wonderful guides in both groups. For details, visit www.bocagrandefishing.com or www.florida-guides.com.

The Professional Tarpon Tournament Series at the pass continues well into July. The show airs on Sun Sports weekly. For details, visit www.TarponAnglersClub.com.

TARPON SEMINAR: Captain Jim Lemke presents a free seminar on summer tarpon fishing tonight at 7 at Tightlines Tackle, 6924 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. Lemke is expert at catching tarpon well up inside Tampa Bay, and offers tips on using live and cut bait that are effective for beginning tarpon anglers as well as for experts.

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