Non-DEET bug spray is a must if you plan on fishing in Louisiana. I've been fishing her coast for years, and one of the biggest challenges Nature can throw at you is not any one of the various fishing conditions, speckled trout with lockjaw or redfish refusing a lure. No, it can be a cloud of gnats and mosquitos driving you crazy.
I've tried various bug sprays over the years, using everything from DEET to women's perfume (yeah, I was desperate), and I've finally found one bug spray that's affordable and works pretty darned well.
That is Hawk Soap's Mosquito Hawk Bug Repellent.
I've used this bug repellent for five years, fishing from Slidell to Venice to Vermilion Bay, and can say that it has been the best non-DEET bug spray for gnats and mosquitos. But maybe my sheer recommendation isn't enough and you'd like to learn more. In that case, keep scrolling!
Why Hawk Soap's Mosquito Hawk Is The Best non-DEET Bug Spray For Gnats And Mosquitos
What makes this bug repellent so good is that it contains strongly scented oils that are pleasing to us humans but intolerable for bugs. If you were to look at the ingredients you'd see:
- Soybean Oil 6%
- Citronella Oil 5%
- Peppermint Oil 2%
- Cedarwood Oil 2%
- Lemongrass Oil 1%
- Geranium Oil 1%
- Rosemary 1%
Those are the active ingredients, making up 18% of the bottle. The other 82% are non-active ingredients that include:
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Water
- Vanilla and Soy Lecithin
This non-DEET bug spray creates a barrier around your body that gnats and mosquitos can't stand to fly in. It's like a personal "no fly zone" for unwanted bugs! This leaves you able to fish in peace.
Now, it's important to note a few extra things to prevent getting bit by bugs:
Cover Up To Prevent Bug Bites & You Won't Need non-DEET Bug Spray
The very best thing you can do is cover up. That's why in most of my YouTube videos you see me wearing long pants, shoes, long sleeves and even gloves. This way I am protected by a physical barrier and, as a plus, this physical barrier holds in the non-DEET bug spray's scent much better than skin does.
Simply put, if you don't want to get bit somewhere, then put clothing over it! This also helps immensely with sun protection, requiring sun screen only on the face.
I'm pretty much always covered up!
Plan Your Fishing Trips Accordingly
Normally when I check the wind forecast I am looking for little to no wind. This makes for easier fishing because you can cast in any direction you want and crossing larger bodies of water becomes possible, there won't be any waves to beat you up.
But the downside to such a forecast are the inevitable presence of gnats, mosquitos and other bugs. The calm wind makes for easy navigation not just for you, but also for them! It's during these forecasts that I check there's enough bug spray at hand when prepping the boat & tackle for the fishing trip.
However, if I see that there's a lot of wind in the forecast, then I know that I won't really need the bug spray because the wind will keep them off of me. I still have it in the boat, it's just that I know that applying it won't be an issue.
How I Apply The Best non-DEET Bug Spray For Gnats And Mosquitos
I do this by liberally spraying down my entire body and not just the exposed areas. Everything gets a squirt! This is so that my clothes absorb the spray and make a scent barrier that repels bugs. I even go so far as to close my eyes and spray my hair, neck and face. I only re-apply when the scent barrier fades and bugs begin landing on me again.
It's worth noting that this non-DEET bug spray (or any spray) will not keep bugs away from your boat completely. Don't be naïve. Bugs will still fly around you, they just won't land on you and bite.
A non-DEET bug spray proudly made in the USA!
Louisiana's Worst Time Of Year For Gnats & Mosquitoes
The absolute worst times of year to experience hell-inducing bugs are spring and fall. Especially spring before the dragonfly hatch. Remember, dragonflies are your friend! They eat mosquitoes and gnats, so wherever you see dragonflies you are seeing our ally in the sky. Dragonflies don't bite humans, but they put a dent in the mosquito population and wreak havoc on gnats. So never kill a dragonfly.
Now it should come as no surprise that Hawk Soap's bug repellent is named "Mosquito Hawk", the name that Louisianans call dragonflies.
With that said, winter is practically bug-free — unless it's un-seasonably warm, a possibility — and summer can be so hot during the day that gnats and mosquitoes hunker down until the sun sets. Regardless, I carry Mosquito Hawk with me year-round.
Does non-DEET bug spray work on those pesky deer flies?
It's also worth noting that I have found Hawk Soap's Mosquito Hawk bug repellent to work on deer flies. For whatever reason that's beyond me, these bugs love biting exposed ankles (just another reason to cover up). On those rare days I've lost my brain and decide to wear shorts, I've found Mosquito Hawk effective at keeping those bugs off my ankles. Just remember to spray liberally.
Swamp Fire was a great non-DEET bug spray! Sadly, Hawk Soap no longer offers it.
What's wrong with DEET? Why not use it?
I personally don't find anything wrong with occasional use of DEET, in general. It's been around for civilian use since 1957 and I feel that if it were absolute poison that it would have been taken off the market years ago.
With that said, I tend to fish a lot, often days in a row, and frequent re-application of DEET is known to cause skin irritation and rashes. This is a no-go for anyone with eczema (which I don't have) but some people who fish with me do, as well as the other things my skin is already enduring such as the wind, salt and sun.
In a nutshell, Hawk Soap's Mosquito Hawk as a non-DEET bug spray just makes me feel warm and fuzzy. If you have a specific concern for DEET that you feel I may have left out, then please include it in the comments section below. There's a lot of experienced anglers who visit this site, and their input is always appreciated.
Hawk Soap's Mosqito Hawk Is The Best non-DEET Bug Spray For Gnats And Mosquitos
I have used this bug repellent for the last five years and think any inshore angler would be satisfied with it. Additionally, Hawk Soap is a Louisiana company based in Gonzales. There's just something I love about that!
In fact — fun fact — one of the first-ever blog posts I wrote here in 2012 was this review of Avon Skin So Soft. I think it works, but Mosquito Hawk is cheaper, locally made and, in my opinion, works better.
You can find Hawk Soap's non-DEET bug spray in local tackle stores such as Gus's Tackle in Slidell, or you can buy it on their website. There's no commission or anything like that, I just really enjoy this product.
What do you think?
As always, the added value from Louisiana's inshore anglers (and abroad) is always appreciated. If you feel there's something I missed or could have added about this non-DEET bug spray, then please include it in the comments section below.
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Tight lines, and thanks for visiting!
