would you quit ice fishing because of a allergy?

[mrpike1973]

hi as some may know on here i'm allergic to algae and fish. i can take fish off with a needle nose but i'm noticing more and more i'm getting worse asthmatic and sick if i get splashed in the eye i'm in big trouble but usually i do ok. would you quit fishing or just fish when i can and just watch it closely. i have been to the doc's and i use gloves they work some times. my main point is i really like it and i want to upgrade with much better stuff however i hate to buy it all and then cant use it what would you do thanks

[BartmanMN]

You could order a face sleeve like the fisherman on the Ocean wear for Sun and clear safety glasses along with the latex gloves.

Keep an Epi pen in you tackle box in case you have a serious reaction and need to stick yourself.

Really depends on the level of your allergy. If you don't have an epi pen handy and there is a chance that you could stop breathing, then it may be time to buy a snowmobile.

[ItsaCrappieLife]

Find a friend to go along and tell them that you will buy the beer and bait if they will bait your hook and take your fish off the hook for you.

[Jameson]

If it meant life or ice fishing? Ya, I'd quit ice-fishing. Have you thought about taking up spearing? Less fish handling, though they can still splash you, and you should be able to stay dry cutting your hole.

[FISHINGURU]

I'd rather die then not fish so no I wouldn't quit. I'd go hardcore and do what it took so it wouldn't bother me anymore, I think Bartman gave some good advice, if that don't work you could be the fisherman in a bubble suit!

[McGurk]

Tough situation. I'd say invest in the most comfortable and most protective gauntlet glove your can find and give it a try. You can wear safety glasses or something like that, too if you are worried about splashing/flopping fish. Use your current gear but with new protection and try new techniques. I'd say you're probably going to want to fish in a house in winter, and have all the surfaces solid and hard so they can be cleaned completely. As far as fish removal, you might want to try to rig up some sort of "clamp" that hold the fish securely and safely, but I'm going to bet catch and release will be out of the question.

On a side note, how did you come to find out about this? Was it a gradual thing or did it happen overnight? Was there any precursor or symptoms? I only ask because My "dirty" hand when cleaning fish (the clean on holds the knife) will become very tender after cleaning fish. It gets red, puffy, and tingly, and after about a week all of the top layer of skin will slough off, like from a sunburn. It happens in summer or winter, and typically from cleaning fish, but if I handle a lot of fish from a day in the boat it can happen, too. I saw a dermatologist about it, and she said it's something that's incureable, and I will have to deal with it the rest of my life. So, I am taking precautions like wearing a glove on my "dirty" hand when cleaning fish. It's also good for a plethora of Micheal Jackson jokes when I wear it.

[rickl1968]

Never, I would find a way!

[Redbeard5289]

I guess I would as the doctor if there is any medication I could get to

[Chris Barlage]

This is a hard question, because no one can tell you what to do when your life is at risk. If it was me. No question i would fish. i also would be divorced just as fast when I told my wife that i would fish anyway. Its up to you. you know the risk and you have to make the call.

[BrdHunter01]

I only ask because My "dirty" hand when cleaning fish (the clean on holds the knife) will become very tender after cleaning fish. It gets red, puffy, and tingly, and after about a week all of the top layer of skin will slough off, like from a sunburn. It happens in summer or winter, and typically from cleaning fish, but if I handle a lot of fish from a day in the boat it can happen, too. I saw a dermatologist about it, and she said it's something that's incureable, and I will have to deal with it the rest of my life. So, I am taking precautions like wearing a glove on my "dirty" hand when cleaning fish. It's also good for a plethora of Micheal Jackson jokes when I wear it.

This also happens to a really good fishing buddy of mine.... I'm also curious as to how it became

[pushbutton]

mr. pike, the little dude in my picture is allergic as well.....does not appear to be as serious as yours, but i just try to take precautions. always carry an epi pen, benadryl, and zyrtec. i always make sure to change his cloths, wash him up, and if i ever do see the start of of a reaction....immediately give him the antihistamine.....have never needed the epi pen. if his reactions become more serious, would probably not continue fishing though. we are usually at least a half hour from a larger hospital and as much as he enjoys fishing, cant see risking his life over a few fish, so i guess my rambling answer would be that it all depends upon how serious the reaction is and what can be done to mitigate the reaction.

McGurk, the fish cleaning was what alerted me to his allergy...sometimes when he "helps" clean fish and his hand will start to swell and one time it started moving up the arm. wether it is the same as yours do not know, but the antihistamines taken immediately have always done the trick.

[mrpike1973]

hi all thanks for the replies. 1.the spearing idea sounds good my neighbor loves pike and said he would clean them. just throw em in a pail he said that might work well. less handling etc. 2.there was a question about cleaning fish and getting red and peeling hands. this is what happened to me i started fishing in 99 i could smear pike slim on me no trouble i was catch and release only. then one day i decided to clean one end of story hands swelled up after that i could catch them but my hands would get red i started using hand sanitizer that works great if i get splashed in the eye its game over get in the car put eye drops in and benedryl then sick for a week only happened twice but still worries me. went to the allergist said i'm allergic to molds and algae in water. pushbutton i sure hope your little guy does great his smile is great wish i could have seen that fish thats great thanks all

[McGurk]

Thank you thank you thank you. I now know to take this seriously. I'll always have some hand sani, benadryl, and clean towels around from now on. For the time being, using a glove has REALLY helped. I've never had as severe of a reaction as you have, but I wear glasses and haven't been splashed in the eye that I know of.

I'm 34, and this didn't happen to me until about 4 years ago when I really started getting into ice fishing, and cleaning lots of pannies when group fishing. I thought it was just the cold weather, but now I know it's the fish themselves. Question; can you swim in a lake with this allergy? Sounds like probably not. I had no issues last summer when swimming in a lake.

[bogwalker]

Allergy Associates in La Crosse, Wisconsin. People come from many countries to this outfit. I used to have terrible allergies. They cured me and many others I know too.

[Acemac]

man I tell you what I would have to move to another state.

This topic is amazing I never would have thought that you could be alergic to water!

Is this something that has been around forever or is it a newer thing in the medical world. seems to me that lots of alergies are getting much worst.

[mrpike1973]

mcgurk, hi yes your correct i cant swim in lakes if there dirty its a no go this summer i was baptized in a local lake the cleanest one in our county i took all my drugs went home right after wards and still got sick for a day not severe but bad enough

[Black_Bay]

Man that would stink!

Have you thought about golf as a new hobby?

[trapperdirk]

Mrpike I truly feel for you lad because I would be lost not being allowed to do anything in the outdoors especially fishing because of health . For the most part physical challenges can be overcome but yours is one tough "ffin" situation .If I lived closer I would try and help you out rather than you going out and buying gear that you may have trouble using because of the allergies . I hope from the bottom of my heart that some allergy specialist knows of a way for you to deal with it rather than to see you give up fishing .

I'm getting sick just about the thought of walking in your shoes . All the best bud .

TD

[pushbutton]

Allergy Associates in La Crosse, Wisconsin. People come from many countries to this outfit. I used to have terrible allergies. They cured me and many others I know too.

i would give a call to this outfit.....while i never took jr. in yet...i knew people who have and agree with their fundamental approach of, instead of avoiding the allergen, you actually expose your yourself to it and teach your body to fight it. have done some research into it and have been using the approach with jr. and while he still tests positive to milk, fish, and others...the reactions have been less severe and even non noticeable at times.

[SkunkedAgain]

Find a friend to go along and tell them that you will buy the beer and bait if they will bait your hook and take your fish off the hook for you.

I still think that this is the best idea. Although I would think that your girlfriend would think it was cute/brave of you to ask her to do it for you. If you're married, then get a girlfriend. She'll still think it's cute!