I spent a few days on Perent last week and was pretty surprised by they large number of stable flies. Saw this Star Tribune article about an explosion of the little buggers along the north shore. Wondering if anyone else is seeing a lot of these pests in the BWCA?

Maybe it is a localized thing. I haven’t seen a single one at my place by the Gooseberry River, but I’m inland a ways. I can’t comment on BWCA locations since I haven’t visited this year.

Also can't help with BW/north shore, but when we were along the Michigan UP border of Lake Superior (Black River area) the week leading to the 4th of July, there were areas where you could not be outdoors because of them without pants/long sleeves (and it was in the upper 80's to 90 that week). Getting out of the vehicle would result in 10-20 flies being on you in seconds, and they were in a biting kind of mood. Hundreds on the vehicle when parked in the sun. Other areas only a few miles away they were in the "tolerable" level. It also varied from day to day quite a bit.

Yes. Just out a couple days ago and they were a bit annoying. Had to wear socks!

They were a big problem for our wet dog on Ogish. Especially in the canoe when we were trying to fish. I even stopped fishing and had her sit between my legs in an effort to keep the flies off her. Eventually the flies won, it was just too stressful fishing with a dog that could not sit still.

Thanks for the post. Newcomers, stay away from Perent Lake! Clouds of stable flies swarm there cuz its a swampy area. :-|

4keys: "They were a big problem for our wet dog on Ogish. Especially in the canoe when we were trying to fish. I even stopped fishing and had her sit between my legs in an effort to keep the flies off her. Eventually the flies won, it was just too stressful fishing with a dog that could not sit still. "

Just curious - how long ago was this? I've got two dogs to try to keep the flies off - that's ten ankles to protect. A fly swatter helps, and my dogs have learned when I swat them not to take it personally.

Suggestion: bring a spray bottle of Permethrin (diluted) to spray directly on the dog's coat, legs & feet. Maybe a freshly soaked handkerchief around the dog's neck?

Definitely. Last weekend I had about 20 in the canoe. They were crawling up my boots and pant legs to bite me.

egknuti: "Definitely. Last weekend I had about 20 in the canoe. They were crawling up my boots and pant legs to bite me."

Where were you? I'm also trying to get a sense of how localized this issue may be.

I’m at a cabin on Lake Superior near Tofte and there were hundreds on the car, porch, my kayak, etc. it’s been brutal! So bitey too! I’ve been kayaking in pants, socks, long sleeves, etc. Seems marginally better today though. It was much better in Grand Marais when we went in for groceries today.

Jaywalker: "

4keys: "They were a big problem for our wet dog on Ogish. Especially in the canoe when we were trying to fish. I even stopped fishing and had her sit between my legs in an effort to keep the flies off her. Eventually the flies won, it was just too stressful fishing with a dog that could not sit still. "

Just curious - how long ago was this? I've got two dogs to try to keep the flies off - that's ten ankles to protect. A fly swatter helps, and my dogs have learned when I swat them not to take it personally. "

We were there July 17- 22. On land they weren't too bad, mostly just in the canoe.

mjmkjun: "Suggestion: bring a spray bottle of Permethrin (diluted) to spray directly on the dog's coat, legs & feet. Maybe a freshly soaked handkerchief around the dog's neck?"

Have you tried this? I thought Permithron was not to be used on human skin, so I would think it would be bad for a dogs skin / coat also, especially if they lick themselves.

I know years ago there was a spray we used on the horses, but I don't recall the ingredients or name. Maybe something like that would be safe for dogs.

Jaywalker: "

egknuti: "Definitely. Last weekend I had about 20 in the canoe. They were crawling up my boots and pant legs to bite me."

Where were you? I'm also trying to get a sense of how localized this issue may be.
"

I was in the Isabella area. Mosquitos were pretty bad during the day as well.

Canoearoo: " "

Just added a reminder to pack a small can each of white and black paint. My son will be thrilled with this work around. Thank you!

Canoearoo: " "

Time to shop for black and white striped socks :)

Patagonian needs to come up with a new line of clothing ;)

4keys: "

mjmkjun: "Suggestion: bring a spray bottle of Permethrin (diluted) to spray directly on the dog's coat, legs & feet. Maybe a freshly soaked handkerchief around the dog's neck?"

Have you tried this? I thought Permithron was not to be used on human skin, so I would think it would be bad for a dogs skin / coat also, especially if they lick themselves.


I know years ago there was a spray we used on the horses, but I don't recall the ingredients or name. Maybe something like that would be safe for dogs.
"

Not for use on human skin but fine on dogs & horses. Spray on a rag to carefully wipe on the face so doesn't get in dog's eyes. Don't let dog lick it's coat until it's dried. Suggest an application before starting on a portage so the dog is involved and distracted with activity. verify
edit: a word of CAUTION. If you've just dosed your dog with frontline or equivalent just before your trip to the BWCA then it would be best to get a pro's feedback. To be safe, ask your vet if you can apply permethrin after a dosage of frontline/or the like. Gotta be careful not to double dose flea and tick medications.

One thing I found that helps for just 15 mins or so (which is a major break when they are thick is Picardin. Last year in early June they were the thickest I've ever seen them and it was 90F. Exposed legs you would swing with palm and kill 3-4 and within seconds you leg was speckled with 10-20 of them. Deer was worthless, Picardin worked until it wore off in about 15 mins. Much better than nothing. Was on Stuart earlier this year and again Picardin worked.

Not sure why Lake Superior shoreline gets'em so bad...but it does. Sandal wearers worst nightmare!

WhiteWolf: "One thing I found that helps for just 15 mins or so (which is a major break when they are thick is Picardin. Last year in early June they were the thickest I've ever seen them and it was 90F. Exposed legs you would swing with palm and kill 3-4 and within seconds you leg was speckled with 10-20 of them. Deer was worthless, Picardin worked until it wore off in about 15 mins. Much better than nothing. Was on Stuart earlier this year and again Picardin worked."

I hired an old-timer to cut a tree on the property. He cuts firewood for extra income since he's retired and often goes deep into the woods at times. I gave him a spray can of Picardin. He stopped by the following week to tell me he'd never found anything as effective. Bugs stay away. I'm surprised it held off stable flies for only 15 mins. Picardin doesn't damage (melt) techie fabrics as deet can do.

My wife's solution: two extra headnets, one for each lower leg. What can I say, it seems to work.

BeaV: "Not sure why Lake Superior shoreline gets'em so bad...but it does. Sandal wearers worst nightmare!
"

That is truly frightening, BeaV. Was that a recent shot by chance?

Jaywalker: "

BeaV: "Not sure why Lake Superior shoreline gets'em so bad...but it does. Sandal wearers worst nightmare!
"

That is truly frightening, BeaV. Was that a recent shot by chance? "

Not recent...3 years ago about this time of year. On the North Shore near the Canadian Border. The worst I've ever seen boat flies. A friend and I went to shore to dump water out of canoe after a thunderstorm passed and was greeted by these guys. We didn't linger. Looked like it would have been a wet dog's worst nightmare!

Just got back from Wood lake --> Basswood falls solo with dog. Yeah they were bad. Biting me through my socks and up my pant leg but far worse for my dog. The poor dog wedged her snout up into the bow with her paws over her face in desperation. Her permethrin-treated bandana seemed to have no effect. Picaridin may have been working for me I don't know (spraying it on wet feet and legs?) because Peggy had it so much worse. I didn't know if it was safe to apply any to her fur so I didn't (plus she's always wet if that matters). The buggers had both of us looking forward to portages where they would vanish, then reappear in droves as soon as we launched again. I talked to a guy who said he wears three pairs of socks - not a bad idea but I don't think my day shoes would fit.

On the plus side with all the wind mosquitoes weren't much of an issue, buffalo gnats are long gone for the year, and the deer flies (my eternal nemeses) are winding down - still buzzing my head but not as bitey and fewer in number. We enjoyed mostly bug-free camping. I'm going to try the picaridin rag wipe on my dog for my next trip next week.

BeaV: "Not sure why Lake Superior shoreline gets'em so bad...but it does. Sandal wearers worst nightmare!
"

Our canoe looked like that last year when paddling through the south end of Horseshoe. They were all over us on that paddle. They were particularily annoying to my wife in the bow. My daughter sitting duffer and I kept telling her not to turn around so she wouldn't see the hoards of hitch hikers we had picked up. They stayed with us until we hit the portage to Caribou. Once back on Caribou we were rid of them almost entirely.

My daughter still asks to make sure we aren't planning on going through that spot again on the next trip.

Canoearoo: " "

What splendid luck! My new Afternoon Paddling Suit just happens to be black and white striped.

That new suit is stunning.

jillpine: "That new suit is stunning.
"

HaHa! Jaywalker might just be THE fun tripping partner. It's hideous but that may be the very reason it works.

WhiteWolf: "One thing I found that helps for just 15 mins or so (which is a major break when they are thick is Picardin. "

I was getting some fly bites on my hands while paddling LIS in June. At the next portage I applied a 20% Picaridin spray and didn't have any more flies on my hands. Picaridin has become my favorite bug spray.

What is the life cycle of these flies? Will they be gone by September? Is it weather dependent?

I saw that they like swampy areas.

jillpine: "That new suit is stunning.
"

add a hat with these and voila your perfect outfit
stable fly tape

yellowcanoe: "

jillpine: "That new suit is stunning.
"

add a hat with these and voila your perfect outfit
stable fly tape "

Of course I'll wear a hat. As the photo shows, I have a fair complexion.

I have that tape and love it for deer flies which are larger, slower, and like to bite the back of the head. Not sure how it would work for stable flies, which love to go for ankles.

rdgbwca: "What is the life cycle of these flies? Will they be gone by September? Is it weather dependent?

I saw that they like swampy areas."

This is an excellent question about the lifecycle - does anyone know? Also, it made me think that I usually have trouble with them in the afternoons, but I can't recall if they every come out much in the morning. Again, anyone know?

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. This is the only thing that I’ve found works for these flies. It only lasts an hour or two, but it works. It does not work well for mosquitoes though. The link is for a spray, but the cream works better if you can find it.

Repel

Jaywalker: "

rdgbwca: "What is the life cycle of these flies? Will they be gone by September? Is it weather dependent?


I saw that they like swampy areas."

This is an excellent question about the lifecycle - does anyone know? Also, it made me think that I usually have trouble with them in the afternoons, but I can't recall if they every come out much in the morning. Again, anyone know? "

Here is science-based information to accompany the svelte suit.
NIH link

Jaywalker: "

yellowcanoe: "

jillpine: "That new suit is stunning.
"

add a hat with these and voila your perfect outfit
stable fly tape "

Of course I'll wear a hat. As the photo shows, I have a fair complexion.


I have that tape and love it for deer flies which are larger, slower, and like to bite the back of the head. Not sure how it would work for stable flies, which love to go for ankles.


"

I tried the tape without a lot of luck. I put it in the canoe on the side, and I think I also tried it on a pack. They just didn't land on it enough. It only takes a handful of those devils to make you miserable.

they were pretty bad on Sag yesterday...dog was unhappy, for sure

jillpine: "

Jaywalker: "

rdgbwca: "What is the life cycle of these flies? Will they be gone by September? Is it weather dependent?

I saw that they like swampy areas."

This is an excellent question about the lifecycle - does anyone know? Also, it made me think that I usually have trouble with them in the afternoons, but I can't recall if they every come out much in the morning. Again, anyone know? "

Here is science-based information to accompany the svelte suit.
NIH link "

Well that was a dense, meaty article on stable flies. And if it wasn't enough for anyone, it actually was review of 89 other primary research papers. Wow.

To answer a few questions about lifecycle, here's a few points I learned:
- Both males and females bite.
- If they can (if host is available) they will feed 2 - 3 times per day
- Eggs are deposited in moist, decaying organic matter, such as lake weeds washed up on shore.
- The overall lifecycle is fairly short. Once eggs hatch, it takes 7-26 days to reach adulthood. Adults start mating about day 5, laying eggs about day 8, and on average live about 2 weeks.
- Females will lay eggs multiple times, requiring additional blood meals each time.
- They generally fly about 40 inches above the ground, and prefer open areas to woods.
- They are easily blown with the wind, which may account for their being out on the lake - there is no good other reason to be there. Your canoe provides both a needed rest and blood meals. They have been known to move up to 100 miles in 24 hours.
- Lower temperatures (like under 60º) inhibits their maturation process and biting behavior. I got the sense we will have these guys until we get a stretch of cooler weather.

We put in near Ely on August 10, 2020, at #6 Slim Lake. On second day the Stable flies came & by the morning they were swarming. Deet does nothing to deter them. They were relentless, following our canoe from campsite 1 to the exit, continuing during portage & swarming even the car. Never experienced anything like it. They even could bite through clothes sometimes. Had long pants, long shirt, hat, but I saw people in shorts being mauled by the critters. I read that they like low areas near water, so maybe some lakes with higher altitude were less affected by them

We entered August 2nd through 8th. We were on all the Knife lakes, Eddy, Kekekabic, the small lakes over to Vera and then out on Ensign. Didn’t have any issues with flies. I had bought some longer socks and some Picaridin prior to the trip since I was worried about the flies.

The days we were moving through the small lakes from Kekekabic to Vera the wind was up. That might have kept them off us on the smaller lakes but I never really noticed any flies I’m very happy to say.

Ryan

The stable flies were brutal on Little Saganaga earlier this week

These flies were tenacious at our campsite on Crescent Lake on Tuesday, August 11 and on the water of Brule Lake the next day. I took my nephew for an afternoon paddle in Brule Bay on Wednesday, and I had to turn around after a few minutes because the flies were so bad and had drawn blood through the holes of my Keen sandals. And the flies were really my only complaint about the entire trip.

mjmkjun: "Suggestion: bring a spray bottle of Permethrin (diluted) to spray directly on the dog's coat, legs & feet. Maybe a freshly soaked handkerchief around the dog's neck?"

I know there is a special salve or lotion that my friend puts on his horses. Wonder if that would work on a dogs nose or too tender?

We've had problems with flies in general at our house in mpls. A couple of weeks ago we killed at least 100 swatting and probably another 40 w/Raid spray and another 30-40 with sticky strips in one weekend. Since then we've probably killed 10/day. Haven't discovered a source.

4keys: "

mjmkjun: "Suggestion: bring a spray bottle of Permethrin (diluted) to spray directly on the dog's coat, legs & feet. Maybe a freshly soaked handkerchief around the dog's neck?"

Have you tried this? I thought Permithron was not to be used on human skin, so I would think it would be bad for a dogs skin / coat also, especially if they lick themselves.


I know years ago there was a spray we used on the horses, but I don't recall the ingredients or name. Maybe something like that would be safe for dogs.
"

I have always used Permithron spray on my clothes and I have always sprayed the inside of the clothes and my underwear as well and I have never had a problem with rashes or anything. Some people do though.

Just got back from a trip on south arm of Knife Lake. They were so brutal on Tuesday that we had to move to another lake.There were a few on Gigikiki but at least tolerable. I probably had 50 dead ones in the bottom of my canoe after fishing one afternoon on knife. I've never been there during a stable fly explosion before. There were so many that is was ruining the trip until we moved.

On a better note, the mosquitoes were non-existent this week. We were able to sit around the campfire after dark with no problems. The meteor shower Monday night was incredible.

Fishing stunk.

That's pretty much my trip report. LOL.

Terry

I heard from an old farmer that he would put up a blue solo cup on a stick above his head when driving the tractor. No deer flies would ever bother him. They would just surround the cup.
Never have tried it.

Zwater: "I heard from an old farmer that he would put up a blue solo cup on a stick above his head when driving the tractor. No deer flies would ever bother him. They would just surround the cup.
Never have tried it."

Deer flies are attracted to that shade of blue. In photo below, I cut a Solo cup up and attached to my bike helmet, then painted it with some Tanglefoot. Unfortunately blue barrels and some backpacks are about that same color.

24kGold: "Just got back from a trip on south arm of Knife Lake. They were so brutal on Tuesday that we had to move to another lake.There were a few on Gigikiki but at least tolerable. I probably had 50 dead ones in the bottom of my canoe after fishing one afternoon on knife. I've never been there during a stable fly explosion before. There were so many that is was ruining the trip until we moved.


On a better note, the mosquitoes were non-existent this week. We were able to sit around the campfire after dark with no problems. The meteor shower Monday night was incredible.


Fishing stunk.


That's pretty much my trip report. LOL.


Terry"

That sounds just brutal. Somehow I was hoping they would have faded by now, but obviously they have not. Was thinking I'd see if any decent random permits popped up next week, but now I think I'll wait.

Just got back from the Crab Lake area and I didn't encounter a single ankle biter. Bugs were a non factor over all.

On our way out to Thomas lake a couple weeks ago the black biting flies were the worst I had every seen, biting through clothing and such. Through out the the week it got better each day until finally on our way out we had the ultimate redemption! It got down into the mid 40's overnight our last night and the water surface many of the lakes we traversed were covered with dead flies. Little buggers must not be able the handle the cold!

We just got back from entry #37 a week ago. We got nailed by em. Damn things made me crazy!
They appear out of no where too. You're in the boat, then out of thin air, your canoe is full of them.
Oh well, we still had a blast.

Jasonf: "On our way out to Thomas lake a couple weeks ago the black biting flies were the worst I had every seen, biting through clothing and such. Through out the the week it got better each day until finally on our way out we had the ultimate redemption! It got down into the mid 40's overnight our last night and the water surface many of the lakes we traversed were covered with dead flies. Little buggers must not be able the handle the cold!"

Yes and to think only the females bite.

I can't imagine how happy that Cow was.