INFINITY HOODIE BY GILL FISHING

Reviewed by: CAPT. MIKE SCHOONVELD

I haven’t slathered any sunscreen on my arms, neck or torso for several years. There’s lots of reasons for this, some good, some questionable – but mostly because there’s no need. When I’m on my boat on a sunny summer day, I’m wearing a long sleeve, hooded shirt made of “performance fabric.”

This is a light weight, tight-weave fabric that wicks perspiration off my skin as quickly as it forms, sucks the moisture into the spaces between the threads in the cloth by capillary action and when it evaporates it makes the shirt feel cool on my skin since the evaporation process is nature’s air conditioning. The shirt offers as much sun protection as an SPF 50 sunscreen lotion and you never have to reapply it periodically as is needed with lotions.

Much of the summer, I’ve been sliding into my Infinity Hoodie made by Gill Fishing. It’s not the only long sleeve hoodie I own, but I’ve been using it more than the others just because I like it. The cloth doesn’t have the slick, almost nylon or satin-like feel that others in my collection have. It’s comfortable and has a cottony feel to it.

I chose the hooded version of this shirt for additional sun protection on my ears and the side of my face. Again, it has nothing to do with keeping warm. The accompanying photo was taken on a 90-degree day. When the hood isn’t up, it still covers more of my neck than the crew-neck version this shirt would offer.

The fabric is made of 90% recycled polyester fibers and 10% Spandex to give it enough stretch that it will never bind. There’s no special laundering required. I just toss it in with my other stinky fishing clothes for a regular wash and dry cycle.

I’m wearing the Mid Blue Melange color but you can see the other options and other Gill Fishing products at www.gillfishing.com. It’s available at many retailers both online and off including Amazon. If you purchase at the Gill Fishing website use the coupon code, CAPTMIKE10 at checkout for a 10% discount.

MACKENZIE’S AFTER SUN PRODUCTS

Reviewed by: CAPT. MIKE SCHOONVELD

One of the most impressive products I reviewed from ICAST 2023 was Mackensie’s Fisherman’s Hand Scrub. I reviewed it in the June/July ’24 issue of GLA. So I stopped by the Mackensie’s booth at ICAST 2024 to see if they had other products with equal effectiveness. They did!

I picked out a pair of their “after sun” products – one, a bar soap and the other a lotion. Unlike their Fisherman’s Soap which is a product you’ll hope you’ll need, these after sun products are items you hope you won’t need, but like insurance, you’ll be glad you have it when it’s needed.

I’m pretty careful about getting over-exposed to the sun these days, wearing performance fabric shirts, pants, hats and neck gaiters, as well as prudent use of SPF 30 sunscreen. Luckily, my wife isn’t, so I had a perfect test subject a few times after she developed a but of sunburn.

These product aren’t sunscreens, nor do they have much “curative” ingredients, like aloe vera and agave or chemical pain-relief potions like lidocaine. Few products can actually speed up the healing sunburn. It just takes time.

After an over-exposure, the problem is mainly curbing the burning pain until it fades over time. For me, the worst sunburn pain comes an hour or two after the over-exposure occurs. Here’s where these after-sun products come in handy.

Applying regular sunscreen doesn’t help with the pain at all after the exposure occurs. Mackenzie’s After-Sun Cooling Lotion does. When my wife would look at her forearm, forehead or other area that is turning red from sunburn, she immediately applies the After Sun Cooling Lotion which contains a refreshing blend of peppermint, menthol and essential oils that cools, lubricates and hydrates the affected areas. She reports the burning sensation is instantly reduced or eliminated.

When she hits the shower, she uses the After-Sun Cooling Shower Bar. This is shea butter based bar soap infused with peppermint and menthol. Shea butter soaps are widely used to make soaps and cosmetics for its moisturizing properties and as with the lotion, the peppermint and menthol imparts a cooling affect to the skin, instantly. I did try the soap, myself on unsunburned skin and the cooling properties was still noticeable.

For “sunburn-insurance” pick up a tube of Mackenzie’s After Sun Lotion in some retail outlets or from many online suppliers including fishermanshandscrub.com. The After Sun Cooling Lotion is also widely available. All of Mackenzie’s products are made in the USA.

MAD SCIENTIST TACKLE

Reviewed by: CAPT. MIKE SCHOONVELD

When the guys at RLVNT Sunglasses sent me a pair of sunglasses to try, they slipped in a couple of spoons they thought I’d like to use. This line of tackle is ever-expanding but what they’ve done (and are doing ) is use the light-bending properties of the films and coatings they use in their lenses and apply them to their lures.

Depending on how much and at what angle the light strikes the finish on these lures, the color of the reflected light changes. You see it and the fish see it. So instead of seeing a traditional paint job which only varies whether the lure is in direct sunlight or shade, or a metallic finish that just reflects when sunbeams hit it, the lure changes color continuously.

The one I used shimmered from dark purple to pink to bright blue and regularly caught the attention of passing cohos. I loaned it to a friend to take to Lake Nipigon and he crushed the lake trout using it. Other films produce other hues and excel in conditions from stained or off-colored water to crystal clear. (And don’t think their casting spoon is only for casting. It trolls perfectly with a loose wobble.)

The Mad Scientist lives in Minnesota – often called Walleye-sota – and firmly in the winter ice-belt. They produce a bevy of lures (all with their proprietary finishes) suitable for panfish or pike (salmon or trout) wherever they swim. Made in America, sold online at www.madscientist.technology, in retail stores and other online outlets.