Swimmers Itch

[perchman]

Just a forwarning to those that choose to join the fish in the lake. Warm lake water (due to.. yes it is summer) has produced a bumper crop of the parasite that causes swimmers Itch(one of many).

Some suggestion I got from a buddy....

1. Immediately after exiting the lake, shower with soap..

2. If shower not available.. vigorously towel off (I suppose this kills or wipes off the little critters)

I havent tried this yet (havent joined the walleyes), so good luck with it.

Jim

[gizmoguy]

The kids went for a swim at Cedar Creek Launch beach area on Sunday while I went smallie fishing. Both got it bad.

[EBass]

Does every lake have them? I got them on Eagle Lake when I was a kid

[MuskieSlayer]

Does every lake have them? I got them on Eagle Lake when I was a kid

I believe it's in the food chain of snails to ducks. So I guess you could get it wherever snails and ducks exist. I've gotten it bad in years past on Mille Lacs, but I've only had one small spot this year and I've spent a lot of time in the sand around the dock.

Washing off is definitely the best way to avoid it because they enter the skin when the water droplets dry and they have no where to go. Toweling dry is better than nothing though.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ive been told that it really only near shore.. you dont get it out in the middle of the lake.. I also have heard you have a much better chance of getting it in clear bodies of water vs one that have a little stain to it.. I could be wrong on this tough.

[DT08]

You guys are right on. The itch medically is called cercarial dermatitis. These parasites that live in snails and the cercarial form leaves them to search for a duck, goose, muskrat. Sometimes they find a human. They burrow into the skin and cause an allergic reaction. They can't live in a human so they die.

Staying out of the water is the only real way to avoid them. Toweling off right away I guess can help and yes, shallow water is more likely to have the parasites than deep water. I am not aware of stained versus clear. I can't see a reason where that would make a difference, but I can't figure why cold fronts turn off walleyes, so go figure.

If you want the authority on swimmer's itch go to www.cdc.gov and search.

[Cedarcreek]

We swim a lot in lakes with snails an the itch is very prevelent. If you goop on the sunblock it helps alot. The towel and showere work well a hot showere is best. just try to get yopur kids to do that. So goop them up and it will save a bunch of trouble.

[NoviceFishingDad]

Have also heard that using baby oil before swimming will help to keep them off of you. Never tried it, but my sister used it all the time up on Ida (Alex area) with her two daughters and said it made a big difference.

[davesfriend]

Sounds like fun even if it don't work. I don't think I will be doing that though.