I seached and can't come up with any definitive answers, and maybe there isn't one.

I'm trying to find a solution to getting all these damned chigger bites while bank fishing, or hiking into a wading spot.

I understand that the best way to prevent their bite is to stay out of the brush and tall grasses they live in, but that isn't a good option since most the best bank/wading spots I fish are impossible to get to without hiking through brush.

I've tried OFF! and the like and it works alright, but its a pain to carry a fresh can around when packing light (also, I once accidentally got overspray on a motorcycle helmet and it put deep pits in the plastic). I also know a guy who used to wear a pair of flea collars around his ankles in hopes to keep the chiggers away, but he says it only sort of worked and that he still got bit.

I haven't tried the Insect Shield socks or pants, but would be willing to give them a try if they are actually effective on chiggers. But, those items are pretty spendy, and I'm afraid to shell out $125 if they don't really work that well.

Do any of you have the same problem of getting eaten alive by chiggers while out fishing, and do any of you have any methods that work well against them?

Thanks in advance.

Permethrin. Spray your outdoor clothing and let it dry. Will last several weeks. I've used it several years on my spring turkey hunting clothing and dove.

Get a kayak and no more chiggers Just kidding but that did help for me lol

I just carry a can of repellent with me like OFF! or Repel. I understand packing light though so I leave the can under the seat in my car and just spray my legs before I venture to my spot. Mud boots help a lot but they aren't comfotable to walk in and they get hot. One plus side to mud boots though is crossing shallow water spots or standing in shallow water when your fishing. I don't carry the repellent around in my tackle bag thats a bad idea if the button gets pushed it could make a real mess inside my bag.

I have a kayak, and I love the ell out of it. But, I've been going out before and after work, and my main mode of transportation is on two wheels. This is why I pack super light.

Permethrin is in the Insect Shield clothes, and it must be tons cheaper than getting rigged up in new pants and socks.

Does it work very well? Or is OFF just as good?

It works well for me. A can of it treats several items of clothing. Keeps the ticks off too.

The old boy scout trick: an old sock full of sulfur. Sprinkle yor ankles, socks, pants cuffs, sleeve openings, lightly around the waist (basically ports of entry to the body).

Used to work when I was a kid, see no reason why it wouldn't now. Cheap too.

Rudy is right. That does work pretty good.
Now what I use comes in a small. 1 ounce pump spray type bottle. Made by Off. It is 100% DEET. A little bit goes a long way and last a long time. Check the strength of the one you are using. I really makes a big difference. And YES DEET is really hard on plastics. Walmart has it back with their camping gear.

My wife actually makes a really good natural bug spray. It repels mosquitos, chiggers, ants, etc. I thought it was lame at first until I actually tried it. And it's fantastic. It really does work. She's even had a bunch of her friend's family asking for it. I know it's fairly cheap and easy to make. Not sure if she's willing to tell me how or what ingredients. But I can try for you if you're interested in trying some

chiggers... thanks for brining back my experience with chiggers... how do y'all get rid of the itchiness? i learned my lesson after wearing shorts shorts and walking in tall grass

chiggerex plus. comes in a white plastic jar. They sell it at Walmart

Cheap clear nail polish.

Once there on you, a cheap clear nail polish and have to just wait for them to DIE!
But, to prevent them from getting on you, get an old sock, fill it with wettable sulpher(sp) powder...
put it all over your shoes and pant legs....they will not get on you.
Good, old fashioned prevention.
God Bless

Man, its the worst! I'm all galavanting around the shore wading into deep water catching striper, thinking I'm all cool. Then a couple days later I'm covered in chiggers from my ankles to my nutsack.

My only reservation about a powder treatment is getting in and out of the water and having it wash right off. I'm going to find some permitherin and see what that does for me.

Thanks guys!

By the way a lot of people think chiggers get into your skin, they do not, they just bite you. They inject you with a digestive enzyme that breaks down your skin and causes the severe itching. I had to Google it lol. Nothing you can do after you get bit exept apply itch cream and suffer. Best to just try and prevent getting bit. They are always bad around areas with water where we like to stand and bank fish. Sucks huh?

Just FYI for those that did not know..... I was curious last year when I was mauled by chiggers.

I am a chigger & skeeter MAGNET.

My best defense when walking thru brush is
1.) nylon rain pants, with gathers @ the ankle.
2.) use BUZZ AWAY, it's a citronella based spray repellant that works
a lot better than DEET based products.
(anything that causes cancer & melts plastic, I don't want on my skin)
you just have to apply more often, as it's not waterproof or sweat-proof

3.) as soon as you're out of the brush, change clothes, SOCKS & shoes.

this has worked for me for a number of years now, I still get some bites, but not overwhelming masses of them anymore.