The large trout was gently finning, staying relatively still in the gin clear water. Every once in a while he would slide to the right or the left. Given that the spring creek was absolutely thick with cress bugs, it was a safe assumption that the brown was sold out to feeding on these little crustaceans. Now all I had to do was get my fake cress bug in front of him.
But then I realized there was a problem.
I had crawled under the bushes for a dozen yards to observe this particular brown trout. Walking upstream, a flash of color and movement gave me all I needed to investigate. Since the fish in the headwaters of this stream were notoriously wary I made the decision to slither on my belly to an unobtrusive vantage point. These trout were earned. This kind of thing was normal.
As I already mentioned, after locating the fish and identifying a reasonable pattern in his behavior there was a problem. The cast and presentation would be difficult; sure. But the real quandary I found myself in was a thick tangle of poison ivy. I had been so laser focused on keeping my eyeballs on the fish that I neglected to acknowledge that I was army crawling through Satan’s preferred ground covering.
Remarkably, I came away from that scenario unscathed. I say remarkably, because that is not usually what happens to me when I come in contact with even a hint of the oil from this demon vine. Calamine and steroids are usually necessary. That is why I am usually much more observant of these three poison ivy deterrents:
Identify
What does it look like? And not just “leaves of three, let it be.” Here in the east, there is a hairy vine that will get you year ’round. Out west, the plant is more shrub-like. Either way, you’re going to see shiny leaves in the spring and fall in the famous groups of three. The leaves themselves have a point in which they narrow down, almost like they decided to commit to the maple leaf shape shortly after giving it a shot. The best thing you can do? Study up pictures and go looking for the stuff with someone who knows plants. Apps are helpful, too.
Cover Up
Waders aren’t just for keeping water off your socks. They’re your best and first line of defense against all manner of dangerous streamside threats. Ticks, nettles, and mosquitos are no match for a good layer of Gore-Tex. The same is true for poison ivy. Beyond that, long sleeves are another great idea. Along with saving your arms from plants and insects, the sun will be held at bay. If you find yourself truly oppressed by poison ivy, you can buy barrier creams that are applied proactively. While I’ve never used such a product, they seem to have mostly favorable reviews.
Wash and Wash Again
Regardless of which preventative measures you take, if you’re outside enough you are going to stumble, brush, or crawl your way into some poison ivy. The best thing to do at this point is to wash whatever made contact with the plant’s oils. It is not crazy to carry some all natural soap in your pack, lather up in a stream, and do some emergency detox. Alcohol wipes are another good alternative, as water and friction aren’t sufficient to remove the oils. Take similar care of any clothes (or waders) that touched the plants.
Poison ivy is not the worst thing in the world. But when you’re blistered and itchy, you don’t have many nice things to say about the devil’s little green minion. A little care (and a sense of awareness when crawling towards a trout) will save you a lot of discomfort.