FYI, Black flies are pretty vicious right now. Staying at Fenske before heading in tomorrow. Once the sun finally came out there were terrible until about 30 minutes after sunset.

quote BigCurrent: "FYI, Black flies are pretty vicious right now. Staying at Fenske before heading in tomorrow. Once the sun finally came out there were terrible until about 30 minutes after sunset. "

Oh yippee! Flying mouth with teeth. Sneaky blactards! At least mosquitos buzz a warning.

For your listening enjoyment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A40lPXDaEm4

Is that a flying moose on the hat of the man sitting just behind Bill Staines?

Sounds like fun. Are they small enough to get past mosquito netting?

quote Renol: "Sounds like fun. Are they small enough to get past mosquito netting?"

No, you're thinking about noseeums. Black flies are larger.

Just got back from 5 days (Burnside, Coxey Pond, Cummings, Crab) and the several times it warmed into the mid 50's or more we were assaulted by them.

I just did 7 days on and around Knife, and every time the winds dropped down a bit the black flies popped out in force. Worst of all was at the entry point when I was packing up to leave. Was amazed to see them out bothering me and my dog with temps in the mid 40"s.

quote RMinMN: "

quote Renol: "Sounds like fun. Are they small enough to get past mosquito netting?"

No, you're thinking about noseeums. Black flies are larger."

Up here, we call the gnats (not quite as small as no-seeums) black flies. I think that is what he was referring to. The "other" black flies people talk about are the ones that are house fly sized and will be coming out more in mid-late June.

quote VoyageurNorth: "

quote RMinMN: "

quote Renol: "Sounds like fun. Are they small enough to get past mosquito netting?"

No, you're thinking about noseeums. Black flies are larger."

Up here, we call the gnats (not quite as small as no-seeums) black flies. I think that is what he was referring to. The "other" black flies people talk about are the ones that are house fly sized and will be coming out more in mid-late June."

I was thinking of the biting flies that are prevalent in June. I'm coming out next week and just want to be prepared as best I can. The internet is a great resource but I had trouble finding out the size comparison between the flies and mosquitos. I guess I'll just grab a couple mosquito face nets and be prepared with deety goodness. Everything else has gotten the permethrin treatment.

Last week and weekend, the bugs that bothered us during sunshine and low wind periods were small black insects that did not bite. They were a nuisance, but they weren't what I think of as black flies. To me, black flies means the ones that bite really hard and leave a lump of dried blood on your neck. We didn't run into any of those.

We're back out. Worst I have ever seen and yes these are the biting black flies. Towards the end of the trip the mosquitoes were starting to come out so I assume the transition will happen shortly.

Yep, they are out. My cousin was not very tolerant, it seemed the more he swatted the worse they bothered him. And me in the front of the boat, I didn't let them bother me so weren't so bad. Never head net bad for me. Even on the river back to Sandpoint.

Does dettol work well for them? I use it in Iowa on the golf course or in the woods and it works great.

quote DontPanic: "Does dettol work well for them? I use it in Iowa on the golf course or in the woods and it works great. "

Not sure. We talked to a Forest Service memeber on our trip and he said there was no repellent that deterred them, you just have to keep your skin covered. They also are attracted to dark colored clothing.

Pretty bad this past weekend on the border - Birch and east - I got pretty good at bug net usage.

Got back on Sunday from a week on Gabbro and the Kawishiwi River. Worst black flies in my 40 years of BWCA canoe tripping. I saw most of the north country through a head net.

Mike

quote MikeinMpls: "Got back on Sunday from a week on Gabbro and the Kawishiwi River. Worst black flies in my 40 years of BWCA canoe tripping. I saw most of the north country through a head net.
Mike"

Agreed, never seen them that bad and I have been going up in May for the last 20+ years. We were on LIS, Shell, Hustler, Oyster, Moose River. Terrible everywhere, the only respite was being on the water so it forced us to have a lot of fishing time, which was well rewarded.

Sounds like it's time once again to unleash my Nemo Bugout for our June 4th trip. Eat, cook and relax in peace even if they're insane. Extra pack weight but worth it.

Got back from a weekend at Tuscarora lodge. Andy was saying they were the worst he has seen, they were so bad that they were getting inside his phone at the lodge, just wedging themselves in everything.

My question is with the early onslaught of flies when do you think they will taper off? Or will they last well into June?

Just did a Memorial Day weekend trip to Swan from Bower Trout. It was the worst I've ever seen them. Wore a head net at times for the first time ever. I was shocked that little duckling never complained once about them. The place they were the worst was the Bower Trout parking lot.

Ducks, I wish I was as tough as your little one. They drove me to the brink of insanity. I knew it was bad when we were all walking in circles in the woods while eating dinner.

Good for you! That pic is priceless. If she can take the peak of black flies and not miss a beat or complain you've gotta lifetime paddling partner there. Congrats.

quote VoyageurNorth: "

quote RMinMN: "

quote Renol: "Sounds like fun. Are they small enough to get past mosquito netting?"

No, you're thinking about noseeums. Black flies are larger."

Up here, we call the gnats (not quite as small as no-seeums) black flies. I think that is what he was referring to. The "other" black flies people talk about are the ones that are house fly sized and will be coming out more in mid-late June."

Some people call gnats, sand flies. I would not call them black flies either way. Black flies are more commonly known as biting flies. These are the ones that get you on your feet when you wear sandals. Mosquitoes were definitely out last weekend.

Egknuti the flies which give you a wallop on your sandal clad feet are commonly referred to as "ankle biters" (stable fly).

If you are not familiar with the black fly plague count your lucky stars. Fortunately they don't last for to long.

I have a good no-see-um story. I used to travel via motor home and pulled into a Florida inlet at Sebastian to fish. I fished a good portion of the night away and went back to my Mobil domicile to crash. Naturally I had left the windows open and relied upon the screens for protection.

I laid down but kept itching my scalp. Irritated I decided to take a shower and get clean and then lay back down even though I was totally exhausted. Ah, finally........back to itching! I turned a light on and seen many tiny little black dots buzzing round . I watched as one landed on my arm and then seconds later a pin prick.......I had to leave the area at about 4 A.M.

There are lifelong Mainers who call gnats black flies. I tell them they're just gnats. They swat me away.

Exactly how long do these little blood surgeons typically last? And the reports are saying worst they've seen? I am launching a week from tomorrow and wonder if head nets are a necessity this year. Last year, same week, we had very few black flies. Only one location where I was filleting fish, but they still drew blood. Funny thing is, I didn't really feel the bites, just saw the aftermath. Thoughts on timing of this transition from black flies to mosquitos that has been mentioned?

quote mastertangler: "Egknuti the flies which give you a wallop on your sandal clad feet are commonly referred to as "ankle biters" (stable fly).


If you are not familiar with the black fly plague count your lucky stars. Fortunately they don't last for to long.


I have a good no-see-um story. I used to travel via motor home and pulled into a Florida inlet at Sebastian to fish. I fished a good portion of the night away and went back to my Mobil domicile to crash. Naturally I had left the windows open and relied upon the screens for protection.


I laid down but kept itching my scalp. Irritated I decided to take a shower and get clean and then lay back down even though I was totally exhausted. Ah, finally........back to itching! I turned a light on and seen many tiny little black dots buzzing round . I watched as one landed on my arm and then seconds later a pin prick.......I had to leave the area at about 4 A.M. "

I usually call a tiny dog an ankle biter.

If I ever thought about changing my traditional time frame from mid September to an early summer trip, this thread just sealed the deal to never go any other time than after Labor Day.

We were north of Knife on Carp in the Quetico Memorial Day weekend at got eaten alive. I have bites all over. The bugs came out in the warm weather and even had to wear bugnets ON THE LAKE. Evenings were better--it got cool and they went away.

But the day times were bad!!

quote BuckFlicks: "If I ever thought about changing my traditional time frame from mid September to an early summer trip, this thread just sealed the deal to never go any other time than after Labor Day."

I have been going up either the week after fishing opener or Memorial Day weekend for the last 20+ years and have never had to deal with black flies. This year was just an anomaly for the flies, but with the crowds I saw this year on Memorial Day weekend I will be going the prior week from now on.

We went out of Sawbill last week and went north to Tuscarora and back. Whatever those non-biting flies are, they're annoying as all get out. It took a pretty stiff wind or a good steady drizzle to knock them down.

They would wind up in our food and coffee cups. I'm sure I ended up eating or swallowing more than a dozen over the course of the week. Picked several out of my ears.

My first trip in the bwca is this year. That being said I'm not sure if what you are referring to is gnats. If it is, dettol mix with water in a spray bottle works excellent. I was golfing last weekend and could walk through swarms of them and not a single one bothered me.

Dettro,,,,,,,,what is that
How much
Where

Dettro,,,,,,,,what is that
How much
Where

quote DontPanic: "My first trip in the bwca is this year. That being said I'm not sure if what you are referring to is gnats. If it is, dettol mix with water in a spray bottle works excellent. I was golfing last weekend and could walk through swarms of them and not a single one bothered me. "

I was always under the impression gnats were tiny little things that buzzed around or landed on your arm briefly. These are bigger say slightly fatter than mosquitos and aggravating as snot as all they seem interested in doing is going after your face. These don't bite but want to have "face time" with you as if you're a celebrity in a crowd of adoring fans. Deet didn't bother them and a bandana soaked with permethrin didn't seem to either.

I don't know what we were facing last weekend but we all had bites along the hairline where Ibuffs and hats stopped. My arms got hit too. The bites are still there but I probably should stop scratching them sometime.

Just got back from Perent Lake via Hog Creek for 5 days. After hearing so much about the ticks, black flies and skeeters we were dreading the bugs. Well there were bugs for sure but we were totally underwhelmed by them. Mosquitoes were few and far between and mostly at dawn or dusk. Not a single tick to be found. The black flies were out in force though (or gnats or whatever they are) and pretty annoying. But only because of the numbers and the fact that they would do a kamikaze flight straight into your forehead, eyes or ears. However we found that DEET was very effective on them. After a good application they would still fly around some and even make a bluff charge at your forehead, but stop short and fly away. They were much less of a problem than anticipated and really not much of a bother with repellent applied. We both brought headnets and neither of us felt the need to use them at any point. Neither of us had any bites from skeeters or black flies the whole trip.

Be prepared, they may get worse. I have always thought mid to late June was the worst time for bugs. But DEET is amazing stuff and works well. If you are hesitant to use DEET on your skin, well - good luck.

Thanks Jaywalker

quote pastorjsackett: "I don't know what we were facing last weekend but we all had bites along the hairline where Ibuffs and hats stopped. My arms got hit too. The bites are still there but I probably should stop scratching them sometime. "

Same beasts that were out over Memorial Day. Black flies BITE, they are not gnats. They are flesh eating flying demons.

quote BigCurrent: "

quote pastorjsackett: "I don't know what we were facing last weekend but we all had bites along the hairline where Ibuffs and hats stopped. My arms got hit too. The bites are still there but I probably should stop scratching them sometime. "

Same beasts that were out over Memorial Day. Black flies BITE, they are not gnats. They are flesh eating flying demons."

lol....oh, man, I hope they are going away soon! Have never faced the demons in full force and I'm hoping later this week isn't my first opportunity.

Frost Lake last week...

Worst I've ever experienced. No spray or thermacell or store bought method worked.

You just had to keep covered up, or in our case, smoke cigars to get any relief.

quote egknuti: "

quote mastertangler: "Egknuti the flies which give you a wallop on your sandal clad feet are commonly referred to as "ankle biters" (stable fly).



If you are not familiar with the black fly plague count your lucky stars. Fortunately they don't last for to long.



I have a good no-see-um story. I used to travel via motor home and pulled into a Florida inlet at Sebastian to fish. I fished a good portion of the night away and went back to my Mobil domicile to crash. Naturally I had left the windows open and relied upon the screens for protection.



I laid down but kept itching my scalp. Irritated I decided to take a shower and get clean and then lay back down even though I was totally exhausted. Ah, finally........back to itching! I turned a light on and seen many tiny little black dots buzzing round . I watched as one landed on my arm and then seconds later a pin prick.......I had to leave the area at about 4 A.M. "

I usually call a tiny dog an ankle biter."

Ive always used ankle biter in reference to small children

The Black Flies, No See Um and mosquitoes were HORRID on our fly in trip to Clay / Paddle to Kawnipi.......

They were extremely brutal on Saganagons on our trip out. I believe I lost about 2-3 pints of blood on this trip .

Oh, my thumbs are also in traction right now, from lifting so many smallies. I'm also looking for someone who can do skin graphs on them, as they are ripped to shreds to the bone. :) :) .

Later,

Geo

I stopped worrying about any sort of bug once I purchased long breathable pants, a long breathable shirt and a head net. I no longer wear shorts or short sleeve shirts, ever, and the bug net stays in my chest pocket at all times until I need it. They can't get you through your clothing and if they are bad enough through the head net on and you are home free.

Just came out from Knife yesterday. The black flies, which were slightly different than gnats but similar in behavior, were out but not horrendous. Day 1 we wore bug nets because they were pretty bad - first time I've felt the need to wear a bug net. After that, they either weren't that bad or we were used to them.

Jeepgirl and I just got back from the Kawishiwi Lake area. Black flies were terrible on all lakes from Kawishiwi to Adams and back. Mosquitoes were also out but not as bad as the black flies. Headnets saved our sanity. I also used some old sock cuffs on my wrists to keep the black flies from crawling into my sleeves and tucked my pant cuffs into my socks and my shirt tails into my pants.

I had two dog ticks and jeepgirl had one all on that first day in to Malberg. Didn't get any more ticks after that. My clothing was permethrin treated. Found one inside my pants not attached and one attached to my neck.

quote gopher2307: "Just came out from Knife yesterday. The black flies, which were slightly different than gnats but similar in behavior, were out but not horrendous. Day 1 we wore bug nets because they were pretty bad - first time I've felt the need to wear a bug net. After that, they either weren't that bad or we were used to them."

Heading into Knife on Sunday. I hope the trend continues.

Oh dang - I just posted in the general forum on how the flies and skeeters were doing. I wish I would have seen this post - otherwise I wouldn't have posted.

Shoot, I'm still recovering from my hiking trip this past weekend from the skeeters. Quote from my blog post, "Eventually I had to drop my pack and spray an angry amount of Deet on my arms while teeth gritting – muttering with force, “take that ass-holes”.

YIKES! We head up shortly to the BWCA.

Okay - based on your advice.... definitely getting me and Basecamp kid hats and headnets... and probably bug shirts too. Those darn biting flies ARE the worst. They're mean and they stick to you.

I am finding that my Picardin works so much better than Deet and smells so much better too!

Any other tips? We always go shoulder seasons when there are no bugs. (Excited for the fishing tho!)

I recall a national Geographic article on biting flies many years ago. They had photos on the mouths of black flies and they looked like broken Coke bottles. They actually dig a hole in your skin and sip the blood... Gives new meaning to "Bloody Mary."

quote BasecampMom: "
I am finding that my Picardin works so much better than Deet and smells so much better too!
"

Black flies aren't bothered by repellent, you just have to cover up.

Are the black flies different than the "ankle flies" that bite through your sandals?

Yes. Those are Stable Flies.

So how long are the Black Flies around? When do they leave and the next crop start?
Maybe september travel is the best option.

September - October has been the least bugs for me. First week of June was bad for buffalo gnats on Clearwater.

Following due diligence and guidance from this forum I planned well and prepared my wife for what could potentially have been a serious black fly issue over the last seven days in the BWCA. To say the least, I way overhyped the concern as black flies and mosquitos were not an issue. We explored from Kiwishiwi to Beaver, Fisher, Amber, pictographs, Malberg, Koma and then out with very, very little bother from the black devils. I am grateful they were not as bad as predicted. Never even broke out the Deet or my bugshirt. Set up the bug tent one day but didn't use it. Too bad as I bought it after reading the discussion regarding a horrendous hatch.

Mac

quote MacCamper: "Following due diligence and guidance from this forum I planned well and prepared my wife for what could potentially have been a serious black fly issue over the last seven days in the BWCA. To say the least, I way overhyped the concern as black flies and mosquitos were not an issue. We explored from Kiwishiwi to Beaver, Fisher, Amber, pictographs, Malberg, Koma and then out with very, very little bother from the black devils. I am grateful they were not as bad as predicted. Never even broke out the Deet or my bugshirt. Set up the bug tent one day but didn't use it. Too bad as I bought it after reading the discussion regarding a horrendous hatch.
Mac"

You were lucky - seems the "hatch" has passed. Good news!

Just finished a trip, 6/7-6/10. EP 14 up to Shell with a day trip through Heritage and Lynx. We camped on Con Island. Black flies and mosquitoes were definitely present on the trip in. I wore a T shirt and shorts and had a few bites on my forearms and legs. Deet obviously worked well for the mosquitoes. It rained that first night and after that, black flies weren't really an issue for the rest of the trip. Mosquitoes took over after that and were everywhere but those are much easier to deal with. Always carried a head net but never even had to think about putting it on. Didn't use permethrin and never saw a tick. After reading the forum before the trip I was pleasantly underwhelmed by the bugs.

Heading in again this weekend with the boys so I hope the downward bug trend continues!

I was up on Ensgin [BWCA] starting on the 29th of may for a week, the Black Flies were really bad, I mean the worst I've seen in about 30 years. They about ate me alive, the only relief was my bug net hung under a tarp in camp, 100% deet across my forehead and ears when I was fishing slowed them down but didn't stop them. They were almost as bad in the middle of the lake as on shore. Almost no skeets and only a few deer flies. Came out on the 6th of June and they weren't nearly as bad or they had already drained me. FRED

Just got back from the snowbank area on Sunday. Only got bit by one black fly. Mosquitoes were pretty thick but bearable.

quote FOG51: "I was up on Ensgin [BWCA] starting on the 29th of may for a week, the Black Flies were really bad, I mean the worst I've seen in about 30 years. They about ate me alive, the only relief was my bug net hung under a tarp in camp, 100% deet across my forehead and ears when I was fishing slowed them down but didn't stop them. They were almost as bad in the middle of the lake as on shore. Almost no skeets and only a few deer flies. Came out on the 6th of June and they weren't nearly as bad or they had already drained me. FRED"

That sounds very similar to our Memorial Weekend trip.

quote IcePaddler: "Just got back from the snowbank area on Sunday. Only got bit by one black fly. Mosquitoes were pretty thick but bearable. "

We were right next door on the number lakes and the black flies were definitely out as were the mosquitoes. We wore head nets and bug spray.

We just got out yesterday and we did not have one black fly the whole 5 days. Mosquitos on the other hand were horrendous.

Didn't have too many black flies over on Crab. Actually - a handful of horse flies, but not those tiny a-holes.

Mosquitoes & noseums now... that was a whole different story. Today we're all itching our bites, and applying benadryl liberally!

It seems the annual fishing and bug patterns started a couple of weeks early. I can only assume that was a result of the early ice out.

I have a question that I would really appreciate an answer to if anyone knows:

When are the black flies worst/best? I know that with mosquitos its better early spring/late summer, and if there is less moisture around. But with flies I dont really have any idea when/what conditions attach/repel them? What is the best defense mechanism if they are out?

Thanks ~

From what I have heard the black flies are the worst about 2-3 weeks before the mosquitoes come out. That usually means that the black flies are bad early to mid-june. This year they came out earlier than normal.

As far as repelling them, I don't think any repellent works like it does for mosquitoes. You just have to cover up and protect your skin. I do know they are attracted to dark colored clothing as well, so lighter clothing may be a slight advantage when they are out and biting.

Lots of info here.

Can someone give me an update as to how bad I should expect the black flies and mosquitoes to be launching the 28th and coming back out the 4th? I'll be in the Lynx/shell area primarily. TIA

I was in the area last week. I encountered a few on the winding LIS river, but almost zero on Shell and Lynx.

quote davep785: "I was in the area last week. I encountered a few on the winding LIS river, but almost zero on Shell and Lynx.
"

Thanks for the feedback.

What is my biggest risk? I'm assuming the biggest issue will be at camp in the evening rather than on the water. I have a Thermacell and will pack some spray as well. Hoping I can get by with minimal bug activity. I was on a fly-in 2 years ago in Ontario where the black flies and mosquitoes were relentless once we were in camp, day and night. I had to put on my heavy rain gear, head net, and gloves with constant swatting while I was cleaning fish.

I'm no expert, I usually trip in the fall. I soaked my clothes and hat in permetherine, .05% mix. Zip off pants and long sleeve shirt. There was some wind that helped keep them away as well.

June 1-3 was bad for bugs, including the buffalo gnats and blackflies. First time I have donned a headnet in 8 trips, I knew I carried it for a reason. By the 3rd we just started wearing the bugnet over our ears to keep the gnats out, and then it gradually got better. I always go in right around June 1, but this year was the worst ever for bugs. I blame the early ice out! The walleye fishing was sub-par as well, only made up for by all the smallmouth on the beds (which I haven't experienced like that before!) By June 4 things seemed to get back closer to normal, with just the usual nuisance mosquitoes. But overall, we had ALL the bugs this year, like no other. no see ums, blackflies, gnats, mosquitoes, deer flies, stable flies, and ticks were all much worse than normal. I really hope next winter is a cold, long one!
Joe

Like "plastics" in The Graduate, just one word -Thermacell. Strike it is while portaging, while taking a break for lunch, and anywhere around camp where you are sitting. Amazing. I'll never go without at least one again. Bugs were bad past seven days but hardly used the deep after first trying Thermacell.

billconner, have you tried using the new Thermacell stove type unit? Nice and compact and works with a butane/iso fuel cartridge. On the small fuel container with the right amount of infused bug repellent pads, it can run for 90 hours!

No. Thought about it but I use white gas stoves so didn't make sense but if I pick up a jet boil for more backpacking and ultralight canoe trips, I might. I only used 2 1/2 of the little cylinders I think. I will count and report how much I used. I took 15 pads and 5 cylinders and not half from a glance in 7 days.

Do want a holster or clip to keep it on me for portages.