I have been waving a fly rod around for about 25 years and I have seen some pretty odd things come and go but the latest fad of angling specific buffs is a dandy. Well, let me qualify that a bit- I understand the use for sun protection, I get that part. Having spent plenty of time on Mexico's Yucatan I certainly understand the type of tropical heat where you take two steps and burst into flames. But I'm seeing these things pop up everywhere, on cloudy days, in the winter! Perhaps I fish water oddly populated by individuals in the witness protection program. Is this just a silly thing in the US or do you have your share of fish bandits in the UK?

Maybe he's supposed to be at work?

Johan

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Johan Janssens

Not something I've personally seen in the U.K. However I'm sure there are a few bandits around

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Eddie
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation."
Voltaire

I saw a couple bandits just the other day, I felt at any moment I might be badly burgled.

You've seen anglers using these on cloudy days? Maybe they think the getup makes them invisible to the fish? Like a little kid that thinks hiding under a blanket means that you can't see them.

With that said, I haven't gone to the masked bandit look yet, but I like to think I've wised up a little when it comes to sun protection. I wear those long-sleeve fishing shirts all the time now in the summer and I've switched to a broad brimmed hat on those really hot days.

As silly as they look, I think face protection would be essential if you're anywhere in the tropics is the spring, summer, or fall. The freaking sun must be absolutely searing and with the light reflection off the water, you'd be getting burned in places that were best left unburned unless you were covered up from every angle. Better grab the sunscreen if you want to take a pee over the side of the boat!

I've heard of mountaineers getting sunburn on the insides of their mouths from the reflection off of snow. It's not much of a stretch to think that kind of thing could happen from reflection off of water as well.

Grouse

I have seen anglers in the UK wearing 'Buff's'

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I've been wearing buffs in the colder months for several years now. When I'm beach fishing as well as when tackling rivers and lakes.

Worn around the neck, they keep the cold from getting in and pulled up, they help with keeping the biting east wind from freezing your ears and cheeks.

I tend to leave them at home with the thermal socks once the weather turns warm though.

Well that bandit's not much good, he's recognisable from his bare legs, knees to shins anyway. His face mask isn't to camouflage.
Perhaps if we decide to have summer this side of the pond, could more like him be seen down the river, lake etc?

looking at his skin I would say he started off as pasty white and is now on the ruddy side... A few hours on the flats will burn most folk
I don't wear such things but I do wear a good hat and use sun screen in similar situations.

A 'cloudy day' will make little if any difference on the need for sun screen. Look at the one 'exposed' leg .. he's turning a bright pink. Dumb Shxt.

That said, the fairer skinned you are, the worse the risk for a really nasty sun burn. Me? I'm fortunate as I have a lot of Melatonen (sp?) in my skin so I don't have to go down that road. And it gets damned hot here in the summer; average day will be 85-95 degrees under a cloudless sky.

As noted above, the suns coming down and being reflected back up at you so you're getting a double dose.

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