I love fishing. Specifically LM Bass fishing. It was something I bonded with my late grandfather over. I fish in a local club. I love it. But over the past few years, I've noticed an increasing amount of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction on my hands after handling fish. Weird right? I have several food and medication allergies, but no big deal. Just don't eat/take those things and I'm good. This weekend, I fished a tournament on a Power Plant lake in East Texas. I netted a fish for my partner, that ended up weighing 5.53. No big deal. I lip him, pry the yellow magic from his mouth, put a ring on him, and in to the livewell he goes with the rest of them. Usually, the reaction from the fish is just itchy, uncomfortable skin for a couple of hours. But as the body does oftentimes, the reaction escalated. I had the itch, but within 1 minute, I noticed a red, swollen (2x) finger with fever due to the increased circulation. It lasted the rest of the day. I'm a medical professional with a clinical background, but I'm no allergist. I assume it may be a reaction to the bacteria on the body of the fish (the slimy film is a protective coating of many kinds of bacteria found in tons of places in nature.) That's just an educated guess. Anyway, my question is 1) have you ever heard of this or had experience or knowledge of this, or 2) other than anti-histamines or an epi pen, what is a good solution for this problem?
It's not like I'm going to stop fishing, that's just ridiculous. But I'd rather this not develop into an anaphylactic response, which is where I think it will eventually head. Sorry so long. Thanks in advance.

Carry a box of nitrile or some other hypoallergenic gloves with you? Maybe you could just put one on to handle the fish and not come into contact with the microbes that way. Just a thought. Hope you find a suitable solution.

Thanks. Yeah, I'm thinking gloves are necessary, but what a pain! And I'll look like a giant pansy. But it beats getting an emergency trach with an Owner!

get a pair of football receiver gloves, either way I don't think anyone would think you were a pansy for wearing them. Alot of guys are wearing gloves to protect their hands from the sun and elements, I know I do.

haha! Hopefully your partner can pull off that MacGyver move if you ever need it! I know for sure that nitrile come in black, so it kinda de-wussifies it. Caffeine is, as you probably know, a weak bronchodilator, so having some on board might not be a bad idea.

Black will surely help my man image! I thought about some batting gloves or receiver gloves too. I know I've got some in the garage, so I'll play a little trial and error. I don't want anything between me and the blank of my jig rod when Ms. Sharelunker sucks that thing in on the fall. As for the caffeine, I forgot about that. Thanks again.

Just grab some those nitrile gloves likes stated and put one on before handling the fish. You can Net the fish or boat flip it and grab the line. Then put glove on and grab the bass. I think lindy makes a glove that attaches to your hip also. It's designed to lip grab toothy saltwater fish so would work great for bass

Nice. Checking that glove out now. Thanks.

Every once in a while I will get slightly swollen itchy reaction from lipping bass, mostly little welts on thumb and webbing between thumb and index finger. Mine will just itch really bad, never extreme swelling like you experienced. It usually relieves after soap & water. I know I had a good day on the water when my hands are sctrathed up and itchy & red. Hopefully that was a one time bad reaction for you. Good Luck.

Sorry to hear that. I fish with gloves but the fingertips are cut out, not sure that would help. I guess the fish are allergic to me because I can never catch them.

sergical gloves are far superior. They are tuff and still allow you to fish. They fit snugly and won't rip easily.

Just make your partner do all the work taking off the fish, measuring, culling tags you have an excuse.

MAC Carl I have the same problem and it pizzes me off mine last a week of the swollen red hands and itchyness then the next week they peel like a .... But for me its not just LMB its all fish freshwater and saltwater. I hate putting on gloves everytime I catch a fish it just irritates me. I was wondering if anyone else has had the problem. I just by some lotion and put it on.

I have the same problem.

I am in the medical field as well and have never came across anything like it. I also have several food allergies as well along with seasonal allergies.

My hands will swell, sting, hurt, and all the skin will peel off for months. My fingertips go numb for a period of time. My fingers will retain water and it's as if I am wearing a glove and then they shrivel.

I have tried fishing with different gloves, but I was not able to feel the sensitivity I was use to. The only thing that I was somewhat able to stand are the purple IV starting gloves or sterile ortho surgeon gloves. And get a size smaller.

It sucks and I feel your pain. Luckily, I haven't fished much the last few months and my hands have healed. We will see if it starts back again...
Hope the gloves help.

I also use a antibacterial gel right after touching a fish and then put on lotion.

The two hobbies I love to do more than anything, bass fish and deer hunt. And I am allergic to both!