Hiding from the sun...

To read the title, one might think I'm referring to my absence from the blogging world.  Although that could be the case (as I'm way behind on keeping up with my blog) , the title actually refers to keeping yourself protected from the effects of sun exposure. 
It seems that in today's fishing world, it has become vogue to wear anything and everything under the sun (pun intended) to protect yourself from its harmful rays.  It is well known that UV rays are very damaging to your skin, but what is an angler supposed to do when it's 95 degrees outside with 90% humidity?  As difficult as it may seem to believe, long sleeved shirts, wide brim hats, gloves and long pants are truly the answer.  So now you're thinking those harmful UV rays have went right through my ball cap and affected my brain, right?  Well, the answer is no.  Now I wouldn't recommend sporting your favorite long sleeved button down flannel to the pond this weekend, but I would recommend some of the best sun protection outdoor apparel available.  Simply go to Columbia Sportswear's website ( www.columbia.com) select the appropriate gender, then click on their "long-sleeved shirts" tab and take a look around.  Another possibly easier way is to initially click on their Omni-shade collection.  This will cover all of their items developed to help protect you from the sun.  Shirts, hats, gloves, and pants are available in lightweight breathable materials that not only protect you from the sun's harmful effects, they are also very comfortable to wear on hot humid days. 
I'll leave you with this, a shot of me on a hot July day complete with a long-sleeved shirt and my favorite wide-brimmed hat.  Stay Protected and stay out there.  You can be effective as a fisherman if you're in the house nursing a sunburn!
God Bless,
Duke

Don't let yourself get burned, cover up and stay cool!