Hi all, we have a group going up later this week and are curious about the biting insect situation right now. We will have some repellent but are trying to find out if we need more/stronger stuff. Entering through Moose Lake, but any bug reports would be helpful. Last time I was I was up in August there was little for bugs.

Thanks in advance.

I had fewer mosquitos at my Brule campsite the past few days than I do at my own house in the suburbs. We saw very few. In fact, my only bite came when we stayed up after sundown for a campfire and I had to extinguish the fire. (I had no bug spray on since we hadn't seen any.)

Got back from Clearwater lake yesterday. Mosquitos were not bad and easily repelled with 30% Deet but, biting Black Flies were quite bothersome. I was an idiot and brought only ankle high socks. I now know the orgin of the term ankle biter.

jmlarkin1990: "We will have some repellent but are trying to find out if we need more/stronger stuff. "

Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. What will you do if the "bug reports" you get are nasty?

Just got back from Lake Agnes area. We had an open peninsula campsite with a good breeze. Kept the bugs at bay most of the day but the swarm was still TERRIBLE at 9 pm so suit up accordingly or head for shelter. We have only been in August and they seemed about as bad this year as they did last year.

The bugs are great. Just spent 2 days on Hogback, and killed a horsefly that was about 1.25-1.5" long. Biggest thing I have ever seen in my 50+ years. We left its defeated body on a rock by the boat launch as a warning to other flies. You could clearly see the louvered shutters over its eyes and the cutting disc that it uses to bite.

I'm pretty sure that by now it has effected repairs and reanimated itself.

A true horror, worse even than the pseudoscorpion I saw a few years back.

I'd say they are eating well... I've never seen so many bats as abut 5am everyday lately.

Recently back from Alpine/Ogish/Seagull area.

Bugs weren't bad, almost non-existent, during the day, but come 9 pm you could hear the mosquitoes closing ranks in preparation for a coordinated attack.

Returned from Gun (Mudro EP 23) yesterday. Mosquitos were out in force for the witching hour, then died off quickly for viewing the meteor shower. Ankle biter flies were annoying during the day but nothing crazy.

We treated clothing with Permethrin, used 30 - 40% Deet and had head nets just in case it was crazy town. The head nets were only brought out briefly once on the trip by our 11 year old daughters.

OCDave: "Got back from Clearwater lake yesterday. Mosquitos were not bad and easily repelled with 30% Deet but, biting Black Flies were quite bothersome. I was an idiot and brought only ankle high socks. I now know the orgin of the term ankle biter."

You must be talking about stable flies, the ones that look like ordinary house flies but bite your ankles. Black flies are a totally different little beast, they are those little gnats that crawl on the brim of your hat and bite your forehead and leave bloody lumps on you. I would think they are all gone by now.

QueticoMike: "

OCDave: "Got back from Clearwater lake yesterday. Mosquitos were not bad and easily repelled with 30% Deet but, biting Black Flies were quite bothersome. I was an idiot and brought only ankle high socks. I now know the orgin of the term ankle biter."

You must be talking about stable flies, the ones that look like ordinary house flies but bite your ankles. Black flies are a totally different little beast, they are those little gnats that crawl on the brim of your hat and bite your forehead and leave bloody lumps on you. I would think they are all gone by now."

I was just getting ready to say the same thing. I would take stable flies (ankle biters) ANY day over true black flies, not even close. At least you can combat a few stable flies with covering your legs, thousands and thousands of black flies require a head net or you will be a bloody, lumpy mess. Amazing how such a tiny creature can inflict so much damage until you see a black fly magnified and get a load of their mouth parts. YIKES!!

QueticoMike: "You must be talking about stable flies, the ones that look like ordinary house flies but bite your ankles. Black flies are a totally different little beast, they are those little gnats that crawl on the brim of your hat and bite your forehead and leave bloody lumps on you. I would think they are all gone by now."

Thanks for setting me straight. I guess I have a whole other species to look forward to.

black flies should be done. I really react to them. Didn't wear my socks one day with my Keens.....big mistake. Nasty little creatures.

Thanks for the responses, I'm happy to hear the black flies are done!

Jackfish: Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. What will you do if the "bug reports" you get are nasty?"

If the reports are nasty, we'll pack extra whiskey!

Just back from a week on Ima & Thomas and a bunch of little lakes on the way and in between.

Not really any flies of any kind. Mosquitoes were bad at dusk and dawn and on a few of the portages.