Kelp fly repellent

I've been fishing out of Trinidad and lately the flies have just been horrible. They're just non stop all over my arms and face. What's the best was to keep them away?

Have you tried just plain DEET?  I'd try that first but be careful not to get any on my baits, it tastes nasty.

Cover up.  Use a Buff or a bandanna and cover every body part that you don't want kelp flies crawling on.

 

Cover up.  Use a Buff or a bandanna and cover every body part that you don't want kelp flies crawling on.

Amen. Kelpies are persistent. Stay away from kelp balls and fish in 20 knots of wind.

They don't bite, right?

-Allen

They don't bite, right?

-Allen

No, but they feel really funny crawling up your nose and down your ear canal.

There are NO jokes here.....move along! 

I have no serious suggestions other than DEET and/covering up.

Orrr.... invite Mr. Miyagi to go fishing with you and tell him to bring his chopsticks 

We were on a boat a few weeks back and the flies were out in force.  My dad passed the time swatting literally 100's of them, not even putting a dent in the overall populations.  Myself, I started out swatting, but soon gave up and just sat back with the buggers crawling all over me.  Otobe has a pic of that somewhere.  I did not look pleased.

-Allen

Cover up.  Use a Buff or a bandanna and cover every body part that you don't want kelp flies crawling on.

Agreed.  I've tried bug repellant, and it never seemed to work.  Wear long sleeves, buff/bandana, sunglasses, hat, etc.  If you kill them, even more will arrive so they can feast on their dead.

If you kill them, even more will arrive so they can feast on their dead.

Ah yes, but there is something strangely satisfying in watching that.

-Allen

Ok so it looks like covering up is going to be the best way. Thanks guys those things drive me nuts. No matter how many you swat it's never enough 

There was a simple solution. Every time we caught a fish and my hands were slimmed I made sure to wipe them on PolePole...

Soap and hot water keeps the flies off.....#takeabath 

I was covered with them at Trinidad too. I just tried to enter a meditated state not thought about them. But they are very pesty as hell.