I've pretty much decided that I really like to trip late in the year after a good frost and bug killing. September can be wonderful if you time it with the leaf color changes.

I certainly will and have gone at other times. Each has its pluses and minuses. So whats your favorite time to go?

As a side note: I don't think I will ever do May or early June again. Black flies, wetter weather, freezing water that kills if dumped into.

I usually go twice a year. Once the week or two after the week of the 4th of July. The other the week or two after Labor Day. Both are good for me but the Sept. trip is better.

I like as soon after ice out as possible and the last couple weeks of Sept. I'll also do a late August trip if my kids are with me. Like you I hate the bugs and wont trip in them anymore. I don't mind the cold water though.

Really early and really late. Summer is great but not a fan of the fishing and the crowds. Plus the chance of getting those 80 degree days or even worse, lows in the 70s.

Memorial Day

October

Winter camping is super fun.

Don't like heat and slow fishing.

We've learned, recently, of the joys of a bug-free and relatively uncrowded trip after that first hard frost. Our September trips have been grand; the only thing missing is the swimming, I suppose.

But, it's hard to wait that long into the season for a BW trip, so recent years have found me there in July, August, and September. Good and bad things about each time period... still, nothing finer.

Mid to late September. Would like to try a late August rip some time.

If lake trout season was open, October would be paradise up there in my opinion. I find early June and late Sept to both be pretty great.

I will go anytime because there’s something about every month that I like.
May- minimal bugs, high water, lakes are crisp and fresh, portages easier to find.
June- awesome fishing, long daylight hours, moderate temps
July- swimming, swimming, swimming!
August- flies have dwindled, fishing starts to amp up again, swimming!
September- no/less bugs, more solitude, amazing colors, cool nights for sleeping.
October- self-issued permits, spur of the moment trips, snow possibilities.

December- never been, maybe next year
January- silence, animal tracks, northern lights
February- days lengthen, moderate temps
March- winter camping heaven

Just my thoughts,
Tony

Spring. I loved the freshness of everything, the spring flowers, campsites not as trampled down. Mid-to-late June was always my favorite. Bugs were worse then, but the other things I mentioned made up for it IMHO. There is something about the green colors in the woods in spring that just makes me feel more alive. And I enjoyed the many hours of daylight.

We went once in May and froze. I don't think May is my "thing".

My second favorite would be September, probably early September. But I didn't like the short days as you got into late September and early October.

July. In 31 years of tripping with kids and adults, I like the water warm. The bugs have been really bad on only one trip, although I suppose my tolerance for them may be higher than for most. Once, they were really bad on a modest portage which had some swampy areas. It was hot and the sweat was pouring off of us. It was interesting and unexpected to see mosquitoes land on your arm while carrying the canoe and drowning before getting to the skin.

I'd have to say my favorite is mid-late June. I love the good fishing and longer days, but mostly I love to hear the White-throated Sparrows, Swainson's Thrush and Winter Wrens. I can deal with bugs. Later June allows for some cool swimming, too, depending on where you are.
September is nice, too, for the colors.

June is my favorite month. Best fishing month that I've experienced. Although I've only been to BWCA in May, June, July, and August.

Fall is the only time I've been and I like it, although I've also had some less desirable weather.

July because of the swimming

Mid May

Smaller crowd of course, but the big reasons:

1) long days;

2) loons;

3) cool nights;

4) abundant firewood;

5) minimal bugs unless you get unlucky with a hatch.

Bugless, season, so early or late!

Our best trips in BWCA/Q have been late August-early September. Our best trips in Okefenokee have been January and February. And Lake Powell in late April was nice.

TZ

I like warm weather & water, so late July/early August for me.

The worst bugs we encounter is a mosquito swarm that will happen for about an hour right at dusk...usually short enough that you can ride it out with long sleeves and spray, then they are mostly gone until the next night.

I like wetfooting portages and landings without having to wear big waterproof boots or waders.

And I love swimming out there.

Honestly, the idea of tipping a canoe in the frigid waters of May or October scares the heck out of me. I've seen how easy it is to do, and if it happens in those times of the year, you are literally fighting for your life.

Before retiring, I'd always tripped between mid-June and mid-August. Preferred Late-June due to better fishing and weather, despite the skeets. Since retiring a few years ago, I've been able to do multiple trips in late-May and early-to-mid-Sep. I can say now I still prefer late-June for the best fishing (despite the skeets), but also really like the first couple weeks after Labor Day for stable weather (usually), less bugs, less people, and pretty good fishing now that I recognize the fall patterns. I'd like to wait longer for more color, but the crappy weather potential is not worth it for me....

June because the fishing seems best. Don’t know if it’s true, but I once read that winds die down after the summer solstice. Going in on June 21 this year.

I like all times of year, but am probably most tentative about going in July due to crowds and bugs. I sure enjoy the swimming then though.

Winter really is special to me up there. The snow holds the history of what happens around you. In summer you may never know if a bear walked through you camp, or if a wolf or moose walked the portage minutes before you. But in the snow you can see all sorts of stories.

Jaywalker: "I like all times of year, but am probably most tentative about going in July due to crowds and bugs. I sure enjoy the swimming then though.


Winter really is special to me up there. The snow holds the history of what happens around you. In summer you may never know if a bear walked through you camp, or if a wolf or moose walked the portage minutes before you. But in the snow you can see all sorts of stories. "

I love your perspective, jaywalker.

However, I agree with TZ. In early September, there are still leftovers of heat and the days are still long enough to really savor, but fall is already serving up its appetizers.

May for fishing.
September for camping.

If I had to pick one I'd pick September. I'm not as gung-ho about fishing as I was 10 years ago.

I've been up for parts of May -->October. All good, happy to be there no matter when.
But my preference is smack dab in the middle of summer, July and August. Now, if I should go then and finding open sites is arduous, I might change my mind. But it's rarely been an issue that another hour of paddling didn't take care of.

As for "bugs" - for me it's best after June. Before July, ticks are all over the place.

I like mid-June. Partially because July is so busy for us already and August is too hot. My wife also went back to school for a few years when we were getting started so that made September trips difficult, the kids are starting school now too so it's not much easier now.

The long days, mild temps, and decent fishing are a big draw though. We also don't have as much extreme weather in June as we do in July or August. The convenience and benefits just come together and make that timeframe work for us.

I like Spring (as soon after ice out as possible) and late Fall, generally October. I do miss seeing the foliage turn color but like the solitude that you find in late Fall. The colder weather doesn't bother me. I have noticed more people during late Fall but mostly on weekends.

I love each time of year for different reasons. For me, like so many other things in my life, variety is key. I love doing multiple trips a year so I can see the wildflowers in as many months as possible.

Is there a bad time? I have gone from May to September and there are good and less good points of each.

Done two trips the last week of may and have been very lucky with weather. Sunny and warmish, mid 50s to mid 60s,, cool at night to the mid 20s and low 30s. But that is not a problem for us. Very few bugs but we may have been just lucky. Good fishing and long days. Liked it enough we are doing another one this year.

Used to go some in June but that is the month I avoid now for the most part. While fishing is good and days are long, the bugs are a their worst and I just don't want to deal with that if I don't have to - and I don't.

Taken a couple mid to late July trips and loved the hot weather and swimming, paddling in shorts and t shirts. Was surprised that the bugs weren't as bad as expected. Caught plenty of fish.

To me the second and third weeks of August are in some ways the sweet spot, but unfortunately the secret is out. It is a busy time but the weather is usually very good, comfortable and relatively stable. Swimming is great, bugs are on the decline. It's a good time to go if you are willing to go in a little further or don't mind a few other folks around.

Ive gone a few times in mid September. Although I know it could be an awesome time to go, we have not lucked out with weather and have had a lot of grey skies and rain. But i am not giving up on that time because I know the potential.

Favorite time? Late may has been good to us. Mid August is great, if I could go then with less people it might be my favorite. September could be great, I am going to keep trying to realize that potential. Bottom line, whenever it works for you to get up there, that's the best time to go.

Given that this thread was sort of a survey, I've decided to count the results so far. I took my liberty with some posts (like: I like ice out, so I put them down as May). I also tallied responses that gave multiple favorites. So far:

May: 8
June: 8
July: 7
August: 8
September: 17
October: 4
Winter camping: 3