Buffalo Gnats in Southeast Arkansas

[luvpt]

Has anyone run into our current crop of buffalo gnats down here in LA (lower arkansas)? Me and Blue Thunder fished all weekend and David's ears are so eat up from gnats that you can hardly recognize him! When one of those rascals gets a good bite it looks like you've been stung by a red wasp. I used lots of bugspray and I am still itching and scratching all over. I think that Cutter's bugspray I was using just made them madder. Somebody said get some mint mouthwash and put it half and half with water in a spray bottle and spray often!! I will have some my next trip just to try.

[MEATGETTER]

i think they were the worst i have ever seen today thanks to the vanilla flavor and ultrathoin i only got a couple bits.

[RCC]

They don't call it the GNATural state for nothing. The gnats are bad up here. Can't breath with sucking some in.

[luvin.fishin]

Terrible hatch this year. Usually is with the high moving water. One of my friends had to visit the Emergency room for a shot after a day on Grand Lake. Lots of folks swear by the vanilla extract or Vanilla flavoring but if you sweat, it won't stay long. I've tried Vanilla, Absorbine Jr. and Deet up to 100% but none work very well for me. I haven't tried "Cactus Juice" yet. What I have been using is "Hom's Bite Blocker Extreme" (sweat proof) or "Repel Natural Insect Repellent". Both say they work on Bull or Buffalo Gnats for up to 8 hours and I find they really do work well for me up to about 6 hours or so. No bites at all. The geranium oil is the key. The gnats don't even bump me if I use it about every 4 hours or so. The smell is strong but I put up with it.

[river slabs are better]

i have to wear a turban out when fishing there so bad.. ive never seen them this bad

[arkansasbowhunter]

I have heard that the banana boat sportsman will keep them off. I am gonna try it out. spf 50, don't know why but people that have tried it swear by it.

[slabsntaters]

They are pesky little bugs, if I get bit by one it looks like someone inserted a Golf ball under my skin. And itch, wow does a bite from a buffalo gnat itch. Give me skeeters any day but keep the buffalo gnats away.

[L.A. stumpjumper]

Steve the only thing I've used that worked is Avon skin so soft bath oil it works immediately and just a little rubbed on exposed skin keep them off for 2-3 hours. And you smell pretty good too. The lotion doesn't work it has to be the oil.

[rocket rich]

vanilla did it for me last week , but the week before it was murder, my eyes were almost swollen shut