32 replies to this topic

[Jim J]

yep

[Eric]

Yeah Jim, it gets on your waders and boots, then on you as you put the stuff in the car.

Worst I ever got it was when I didn't bring my kayak cart and dragged my kayak through freshly-mowed grass back to the car. I imagine there was some poison ivy, oak or sumac growing amidst the grass / edge of the field and it got mulched in when the grass was cut, therefore the oils got all over the bottom of my kayak. I loaded up the kayak and got the oils all over my hands and arms. Broke out something fierce! Took several weeks to run its course. Was right around 4th of July. I never made the mistake of forgetting my kayak cart again!

Best bet is to stay away from the vegetation. Keep on a bike path or in the water.

Had some run-ins with stinging nettles on the banks of the Kish too. Was never so happy to wet-wade!!!

[mikea]

They issue us special detergent to wash are tools and cloths off at work if we suspect we were working in it.

[Jim J]

Thanks for the tips.

I never thought about it transferring from the kayak bottom to my hands etc.

That would suck!

I've placed my hand on some stinging nettles on the bank sliding into the water. I am careful about where I put my hands down now.

[ronk]

Thanks for the tips.

I never thought about it transferring from the kayak bottom to my hands etc.

That would suck!

I've placed my hand on some stinging nettles on the bank sliding into the water. I am careful about where I put my hands down now.

Joz
Am I the only one who thinks you left yourself wide open with that last sentence?

[Jim J]

I rewrote it once to keep prying minds from wandering....

[Pat M]

All this talk of poison ivy reminds me of my youth. My dad took me fishing when I was about 8 or 9 to my uncles farm pond. After an hour or so I had to go. Told my dad who said just go behind the tree. "No dad I have to do #2 and there is no toilet paper"
'Just use a leaf' Wrong leaf. What a miseable two weeks that was.

[Don R]

All this talk of poison ivy reminds me of my youth. My dad took me fishing when I was about 8 or 9 to my uncles farm pond. After an hour or so I had to go. Told my dad who said just go behind the tree. "No dad I have to do #2 and there is no toilet paper"
'Just use a leaf' Wrong leaf. What a miseable two weeks that was.

U

Now that's uncomfortable!

[Bterrill]

I am in the woods all the time.There really is nothing to fear if you can identify the plant. I recommend being able to identify PI, it isn't rocket science. I never get it, but you can bet I come within inches of it each and every time out and am aware of every leaf.

Once you can identify it you'll realize how many hundreds of the plants are around you at all times. before you reach out to grab a tree for support make sure there are no vines on it. Even old ones or in winter, there is oil in the vines.

3 separate leaves on one stalk, the actual leaves sometimes vary in exact shape. PI likes shade, but not too much. You'll almost never find it in deep woods, but very often at edges of fields/paths/roads, in trees along rivers (as a vine).

Be careful touching any lure that hung in a vine on a tree until you know it wasn't IVY. I got PI on my face once from my own buzzbait!

Terry, if you do locate Ivy Vines/Plants DO NOT burn it. Inhalation of smoke/oil of PI could cause a terrible respiratory break out!

If you get it on you, wash with cold water, not hot as the usheral oil will spread more easily with hot water. I wash with cold water first each time back.

Another thing is it brushes my pants, I step on it all the time, wading thereafter never any effect.

It really stinks to get it, but is so controllable through education. Watch where you weedwhack!

[Bterrill]

Besides Ivy, your other river plant foes are reed canary grass and Wood Nettles.

Both are everywhere. Reed Canary Grass causes the nastiest allergies every June. Massive releases of pollen, usually wind or walking through them. They are very unobtrusive, but every June. Deadly to your fishing enjoyment. Eyes watering, uncontrollable sneezing, clogged breathing. Stay upwind and walk around without brushing pollen in the air. Beware the Golden Dust of Doom!



Wood Nettles are in the opposite areas to Ivy, in the heart of the woods near water. No sun. Note the shape of the leaves, the pollen spike, but especially the stems!


You can actually eat the leaves in salads early, and man is know to make beer and other things out of nettles. Thousands of toxin laden needlelike spikes along the stems. Injecting poison into your skin. THE BURN!! Water will immediatley relieve. Anti nettles are wearing waders. When wet wading, I suggest stepping on the stems with your foot sideways and thrust forth to avoid torture. Really.

[Kevin D]

Thanks BT, those are some good words of wisdom. Thanks for the id on the Reed Canary Grass, that stuff kills me...
Also know how to id Jewelweed.Positive id is the undersides on the leaves look silver under water. It usuallly grows amongst the nettles and ivy and is supposed to be a natural "cure'.

[ronk]

I was wondering why my eyes got so irritated & why my nose kept running for the 2 days I just spent fishing the Driftless.BT's post re canary grass answered that question. Thanks BT.Glad it's only a problem for one month?

[Bterrill]

Ron, just going from memory there as to when reed canary grass pollenates. Look further for better information. It is in an invasive plant that grows everywhere brought in to control erosion. Course, with the weather, this year may be earlier...You guys are further north than me too.