Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Wearin gloves

Pretty sure I've read several accounts of guys handling fish with bare dry hands and in a few days found that fish floating with a distinct form of a hand on them. I know slime is a protectant for fish but also think the oils on our skin affect the fish. Thus my question. Would wearing a thin wet cotton glove be worthwhile. I usually try to handle fish by their lower lip. I need to clip a fin on 12 YP I'm currently pen raising and will need to hold them.

latex might be better than cotton

What about the gloves that hair stylists use? They allow full range of motion, and are non-absorbent and non-sticky.


Course, those are for regular fish. If you were raising HBG you would need a thick, leather welding glove, preferably a gauntlet style that went well up your forearm. No use piddling around.

I would think even wet cotton gloves could remove more of the protective slime than handling with just bare hands. I've read that wetting your hand before handling helps but I've never had a problem using just my hand on panfish but I grip them with just my fingers on the back and belly avoiding contact with my palm on the sides. I've transferred panfish by hand between buckets while stocking (to avoid dumping contaminated water in my pond) and have yet to have any floaters. Maybe the issues come from other things on people's hands like sunscreen or soap residue? Just my 2 cents

X2 on the latex being a better option

Sounds like it might just be yer hands Bob.....Have ya been puttin'em someplace they ought not to be?

Well Bill, not since I was much younger and I wear those heavy welding gloves when I go to the bathroom even tho it makes wiping a lot rougher. Jesus, did this thread just spiral out of control? Mods be prepared and as usual I didn't start it !! I thought about latex gloves but figured they'de be too slipery

Bob-O,
About 10-12 years ago, we fished up on Texoma with a guide for stripers. The guide caught our live shad with a 10' cast net. He put on a pair of cotton gloves to handle the net and bait, as he mentioned that handling the fish without them would cause them to die quickly. So, I think there is some credence that the gloves are at least helpful....maybe at least better than no gloves at all.
Charlie

So true, so true..., but you might want to add that really fine mesh chain link overlay on your gloves, just to be safe I like my little HBG

Do the leather gloves provide a good grip on the corncobs, Bob?

That got a LOL !!

I know that sunscreen and moisturizer on your hands is pretty detrimental, so it certainly would be beneficial to wear gloves if you have any crud on your hands.