Best bug spray for walleye fishing at dusk: will DEET on my hands put walleye off live bait?
Assume it will. The lab evidence is for bass — Keith Jones at Berkley found them strongly repelled by DEET at about one part per million, with one application on the hands tainting lures for 90 minutes or more — and walleye rely on scent more than bass do. DEET is also a plasticizer that softens monofilament, soft plastics and lure paint. Buy 20 % picaridin lotion or wipes; treat clothing with permethrin at home and let it dry, never at the water, where wet permethrin is highly toxic to fish. The walleye problem is timing: the best bite is dusk and after dark, exactly when mosquitoes are worst, and you are re-baiting leeches, crawlers and minnows by hand. A Thermacell-type unit or a head net keeps your fingers clean. DEET also weakens the light mono or fluorocarbon snells of live-bait rigs and crawler harnesses.
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More questions about Smell & Taste
- Why does live bait outfish plastics for walleye — and when does it not?
- Minnows, leeches, or crawlers — why does the best walleye bait change with the season?
- Does sunscreen ruin the walleye bite when I'm baiting leeches and minnows — and which sunscreen is safest?
- What glue should I use on walleye jigs, paddletail plastics and crankbaits, and will the smell hurt the walleye bite?
Same topic, other species
- Best insect repellent for crappie fishing at night under lights — will DEET melt crappie jigs and line? — Crappie
- What glue repairs torn largemouth bass worms, Z-Man ElaZtech baits and cracked crankbaits without leaving a smell? — Largemouth Bass
- Will DEET bug spray ruin my muskie baits — what insect repellent is safe around expensive muskie lures and leaders? — Muskellunge (Muskie)
- Can sunscreen on my fingers stop yellow perch biting — which sunscreen should perch anglers buy? — Yellow Perch
- Do I need a special sunscreen for pike fishing, or is scent-free sunscreen overkill for northern pike? — Northern Pike
- Does sunscreen on my hands scare smallmouth bass, and which sunscreen should I buy? — Smallmouth Bass
- What is the best sunscreen for trout fishing that won't put trout off — scent-free, mineral or spray? — Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake)