So, I'd already decided on my EP and entry date (Homer Lake, May 22) for my solo trip, and got my permit. Then I was talking to my brother, and he said he'd like to go with me, but wouldn't be able to until his kids are out of school, which isn't until around June 1st.

My schedule is flexible enough that it doesn't really matter. I'd like him to be able to go along, but I also want his first taste of canoe country to be a good one. Primarily wondering about bugs and people.

How do the bug levels and crowds compare between late May and early-mid June? Looking at roughly the second weekend of June, if he goes along.

Thanks y'all.

Have done two early June trips. Mosquitoes were nominal. No black flies.
Last May...a week after ice out. Almost no mosquitoes but the black flies were murder. Took me a month to recover from the bites. Lol...never again.

We were pretty much alone on Jordan.

NE Iowa,

That's great you have a chance to go with your brother! One of my brothers came out a few years ago and we had an awesome trip...hopefully yours is the same.

My first piece of advice is to do both trips! Might not be possible with family, work, etc. but thought I would throw it out there. The other option would be to plan for a late August or early fall trip when the bugs aren't quite as bad.

If you decide to go with your brother, prepare for the bugs. June, in my experience, is the buggiest month. My least favorite biting bug in B-Dub is the tick and I prepare accordingly.

Plenty of advice on the various threads to help: bug spray, bug nets, permethrin, clothing options, itch cream, bug screen shelters, etc. It also matters where you set up camp. Open camps with exposure to wind will have fewer bugs, on average, than swampy, small, closed-in areas sheltered from the wind. You don't always have a choice of campsites, but something you can at least be knowledgeable about as you plan. And, if you are on the water fishing or site-seeing, there will be fewer bugs.

I also think it's important to prepare mentally knowing bugs don't have to ruin the trip and are part of the experience.

As for people, you'll see more in June than in May but fewer than July and August. Most of them are friendly and respectful and seek a wilderness experience. With your entry point, you will see people but fewer than more popular entry points. Several good trip reports posted to give you an idea.

Good luck!

By the way, I'm in SW Wisconsin...wave as you drive by!

TechnoScout: "Have done two early June trips. Mosquitoes were nominal. No black flies.
Last May...a week after ice out. Almost no mosquitoes but the black flies were murder. Took me a month to recover from the bites. Lol...never again.
We were pretty much alone on Jordan."

This is typically not how it goes. Bugs are alot worse once June flips and the days are warm. All insects are free game. We went in May last year a week before Memorial Day and had 0 bugs until we got to the exit EP parking lot.

As for people, June is far busier, in my opinion.

YetiJedi: "NE Iowa,


That's great you have a chance to go with your brother! One of my brothers came out a few years ago and we had an awesome trip...hopefully yours is the same.


My first piece of advice is to do both trips! Might not be possible with family, work, etc. but thought I would throw it out there. The other option would be to plan for a late August or early fall trip when the bugs aren't quite as bad.


If you decide to go with your brother, prepare for the bugs. June, in my experience, is the buggiest month. My least favorite biting bug in B-Dub is the tick and I prepare accordingly.


Plenty of advice on the various threads to help: bug spray, bug nets, permethrin, clothing options, itch cream, bug screen shelters, etc. It also matters where you set up camp. Open camps with exposure to wind will have fewer bugs, on average, than swampy, small, closed-in areas sheltered from the wind. You don't always have a choice of campsites, but something you can at least be knowledgeable about as you plan. And, if you are on the water fishing or site-seeing, there will be fewer bugs.


I also think it's important to prepare mentally knowing bugs don't have to ruin the trip and are part of the experience.


As for people, you'll see more in June than in May but fewer than July and August. Most of them are friendly and respectful and seek a wilderness experience. With your entry point, you will see people but fewer than more popular entry points. Several good trip reports posted to give you an idea.


Good luck!


By the way, I'm in SW Wisconsin...wave as you drive by!


"

Thanks Yeti. We used to do tons of outdoor stuff together when we were kids, but with life, work, and family commitments we haven't had as many chances in recent years. So I hope it works out at some point, if not now. Doing two trips that close together wouldn't work with my job, but doing the solo one in May and another in late summer or early fall might be a possibility. I'll have to run that by him. He's actually done more hiking and hunting in the wilderness than I have, just not paddling. So I don't think some bugs will be a deal breaker as long as he's prepared for them.

It's cool that you're across the river from me! Get out paddling on the Mississippi or Wisconsin much?

NEIowapaddler: "

YetiJedi: "NE Iowa,



That's great you have a chance to go with your brother! One of my brothers came out a few years ago and we had an awesome trip...hopefully yours is the same.



My first piece of advice is to do both trips! Might not be possible with family, work, etc. but thought I would throw it out there. The other option would be to plan for a late August or early fall trip when the bugs aren't quite as bad.



If you decide to go with your brother, prepare for the bugs. June, in my experience, is the buggiest month. My least favorite biting bug in B-Dub is the tick and I prepare accordingly.



Plenty of advice on the various threads to help: bug spray, bug nets, permethrin, clothing options, itch cream, bug screen shelters, etc. It also matters where you set up camp. Open camps with exposure to wind will have fewer bugs, on average, than swampy, small, closed-in areas sheltered from the wind. You don't always have a choice of campsites, but something you can at least be knowledgeable about as you plan. And, if you are on the water fishing or site-seeing, there will be fewer bugs.



I also think it's important to prepare mentally knowing bugs don't have to ruin the trip and are part of the experience.



As for people, you'll see more in June than in May but fewer than July and August. Most of them are friendly and respectful and seek a wilderness experience. With your entry point, you will see people but fewer than more popular entry points. Several good trip reports posted to give you an idea.



Good luck!



By the way, I'm in SW Wisconsin...wave as you drive by!



"

Thanks Yeti. We used to do tons of outdoor stuff together when we were kids, but with life, work, and family commitments we haven't had as many chances in recent years. So I hope it works out at some point, if not now. Doing two trips that close together wouldn't work with my job, but doing the solo one in May and another in late summer or early fall might be a possibility. I'll have to run that by him. He's actually done more hiking and hunting in the wilderness than I have, just not paddling. So I don't think some bugs will be a deal breaker as long as he's prepared for them.


It's cool that you're across the river from me! Get out paddling on the Mississippi or Wisconsin much? "

Email sent about local paddling. Sounds like you and your brother will have it all covered. Cool of you to make sure his first experience in the BWCA goes well.

Late May has been, in my experience, relatively light bugs with a few exceptions. At that time of year it can literally get a little buggier each warm day. So by moving your trip back a week you can expect a likelihood of some bugs but if you go as early as possible in June you won't be that far from a late May experience. Better than not going or not being able to take the brother.

As mentioned, expect the worst and hope for the best but above all, be prepared for moderate to bothersome bugs and don't let it ruin the trip. Maybe a lightweight bug shelter for a place to get away from them while relaxing around camp?

I wouldn't recommend waiting until mid or late June if you can avoid it. IMO late June is about the worst time for bugs in a normal year.

Hope this helps and it's a great trip.

I am from Northern Wisconsin so maybe I am conditioned to the bugs but really have not had that many poor bug experiences up in the BWCA. We usually go late May to Mid June and can not recall many terrible bug experiences. It has never been an issue for me. I do recall a couple bad portages and some bad evenings on other random trips in July or August where the mosquitoes get bad at dark but that is it. I have been on around 20 trips. We are out fishing pretty much all day every day when we are up there so maybe that is why...? I would not worry too much about bugs late May or early June. If you are in a swampy area it will likely be worse so look at topographic maps and plan campsites accordingly and that should really help. The worst thing for me are those biting flies that target the ankles and those seem to be just random places that they are bad.

TechnoScout: "Have done two early June trips. Mosquitoes were nominal. No black flies.
Last May...a week after ice out. Almost no mosquitoes but the black flies were murder. Took me a month to recover from the bites. Lol...never again.


We were pretty much alone on Jordan."

Not that this tells you anything but I had very similar experience in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan last May. I was up there a week or so after ice out (mid May as I recall) and experienced persistent black flies all day long. They were bothersome enough during the day that I cut my trip short by a day.

Lastly, I have been on number of BW trips around fishing opener and into June and don’t recall the bugs being very bad.

I’ve been going in late May (typically the week before Memorial Day weekend) and have found the bugs to be very light to nonexistent then. I’ve got a Homer permit for May 20 this year so hopefully thee bugs will cooperate again this year.

June has had some terrible mosquito problems for me.

I’m pondering a similar dilemma only Late May vs 1 week prior. I have an EP 38 permit for May 25th for a solo over memorial weekend. Worried about bugs and people but also worried the week prior being too cold and not getting enough seat time in the new solo canoe before the trip (first trip in a true solo).

I might switch and go in the week prior since all indicators are showing we’ll have a much earlier ice-out than last year.

AlexanderSupertramp: "I’m pondering a similar dilemma only Late May vs 1 week prior. I have an EP 38 permit for May 25th for a solo over memorial weekend. Worried about bugs and people but also worried the week prior being too cold and not getting enough seat time in the new solo canoe before the trip (first trip in a true solo).


I might switch and go in the week prior since all indicators are showing we’ll have a much earlier ice-out than last year.


"

I can't speak for the BW, but around here holiday weekends are the best time to stay home. I usually avoid public areas on them if I can because of the crowds.

For years we have gone in the Sunday or Monday of the week before Memorial Weekend and have had great trips. Usually leaving by Friday when the onslaught of visitors come in. This year we decided to do it a little different and are going in Thursday before Memorial weekend in hope of , I guess, warmer temps. We have had many nights in the mid 20s and that's not really a problem but then again if we can moderate that a little bit, that's okay too.

We plan on one to two days in to our basecamp site which puts us comfortably setup in our basecamp site by Thursday or Friday noonish before the holiday weekend traffic comes in. Monday(Memorial Day) I think many folks will leave and we will have a few days of relative quiet before we head out. Anyways that's the plan we will see how it works out.

I think that you should schedule your trip as early as possible in June and likely have some bugs but probably not too bad. Looking forward to what you think of the Homer Lake entry and area. Hopefully you will do a trip report for us to enjoy. We explored the Vern River on a bluebird day and it is one of my best memories from recent BWCA trips.

As of now I'm hoping we can go around the 1st weekend of June. Ideally we'd go in on the 1st and stay until maybe the 6th. I'm thinking the weekend after a holiday weekend should be pretty quiet. That's usually the case here at least. I'll have to see if that time frame works for my brother, though. I don't want to push it back further than the second weekend of June, so hopefully it does.

Lindy, I'll definitely try to do a trip report for it, whenever it happens. Really looking forward to it.

In late May you are likely to have less bugs but it will be colder. The black flies come out first, starting in late May, early June, then the mosquitoes. Each year is different but usually I'll see mosquitoes starting to get bad between the first and third week of June. Depends on the weather.

Personally, I find the water temps to be more of a concern than the bugs. I do not want to risk a dump in the lake with cold water. I've never capsized in the BWCA, but hypothermia is no joke.

I'll take the mosquitos and sandflies over the ankle biters and deer flies any day, in which case I think you're safe on either of those weekends.

It will be busier once school is let out.

lindylair: "For years we have gone in the Sunday or Monday of the week before Memorial Weekend and have had great trips. Usually leaving by Friday when the onslaught of visitors come in. This year we decided to do it a little different and are going in Thursday before Memorial weekend in hope of , I guess, warmer temps. We have had many nights in the mid 20s and that's not really a problem but then again if we can moderate that a little bit, that's okay too.

This is mostly my though process as well, as I am going in on that same day and planning on coming out the following Tuesday or Wednesday. Still pondering an earlier entry though because I may have screwed up with choosing Sawbill... Gonna have to be on the water before sunup to avoid the conga lines.

NEIowapaddler: "I can't speak for the BW, but around here holiday weekends are the best time to stay home. I usually avoid public areas on them if I can because of the crowds."

I would agree for the tourist driven towns surrounding the BWCA like Duluth, Grand Marais, and Ely, but at the end of the day BW is still permit only so there can only be a pre-determined amount of people going in anyway for overnight camping. The variables being how long folks stick around in there and how many people are in their parties. I live in Duluth, so on Memorial weekend the only thing I want to do is.... GTFO out of Duluth.

AlexanderSupertramp: "I’m pondering a similar dilemma only Late May vs 1 week prior. I have an EP 38 permit for May 25th for a solo over memorial weekend. Worried about bugs and people but also worried the week prior being too cold and not getting enough seat time in the new solo canoe before the trip (first trip in a true solo).


I might switch and go in the week prior since all indicators are showing we’ll have a much earlier ice-out than last year.


"

Plenty of options for bug repellent/protection... kinda limited on what you can do about people

Ahahn366: "

AlexanderSupertramp: "I’m pondering a similar dilemma only Late May vs 1 week prior. I have an EP 38 permit for May 25th for a solo over memorial weekend. Worried about bugs and people but also worried the week prior being too cold and not getting enough seat time in the new solo canoe before the trip (first trip in a true solo).



I might switch and go in the week prior since all indicators are showing we’ll have a much earlier ice-out than last year.



"

Plenty of options for bug repellent/protection... kinda limited on what you can do about people
"

Yeah I have a pretty solid bug repellent arsenal, I guess I mostly have to choose which one bothers me more. It's myself (and dog's) first trip in the new solo canoe so the earlier entry makes me nervous with water temps in the event we dump it. Chose Sawbill so that there would at least be SOME people on our route, in event of emergency...

I guess we could always take the tandem again but it's really just too big to paddle around by myself. The people generally are not an issue unless those people also have dogs, as he's not super canine friendly and with a canoe on my head and portaging with him tied to my waist, it can be challenging to dismount the canoe and getting off the trail for others to pass... so less people = more good, in our case. Which is why I'm really considering the earlier trip to avoid crowded portages. Less bugs would just be a bonus I guess.

I really dont make things easy for myself when I go up there haha

Haven't been to Homer specifically so it may be the same, similar, or completely different- but for the last 4 years I've gone to Mudro the week leading up to Memorial Day. Typically the first few nights of the trip are right near freezing. But by the end of the weekend the mosquitos and the flies begin to appear. If you stick with your current date I'd bet that it'd be cold enough to keep bugs away. Weather can be quite unstable too. If you go after June 1st you can expect some warmer weather and some bugs (although not that bad). Fishing should be good either way. Gone the solo route, and while I do enjoy it, I would personally prefer to go with someone else. Makes for a much more enjoyable trip, imo. You're not losing much by waiting.

I did a trip at this very lake the first couple days of june about 13 years ago, black flies and mosquitoes were absolutely insane. There is a tiny little island on pipe lake that we found spots to lay on that were in the breeze enough to be devoid of them, but the woods absolutely hummed with the little creatures all week. On a positive note, we would have never seen the northern lights if we were not out passing the bottle on the water after dark instead of sipping the whiskey around the fire. Our campsite faced south, doubtful we would have thought to peak our heads out. Good luck is all I can say. Bring bug nets. Last time I'll ever leave home without one.

i usually do openers or fall trips. after ice out as everyday pass's the inevitable will happen.

AlexanderSupertramp: "

Ahahn366: "

AlexanderSupertramp: "I’m pondering a similar dilemma only Late May vs 1 week prior. I have an EP 38 permit for May 25th for a solo over memorial weekend. Worried about bugs and people but also worried the week prior being too cold and not getting enough seat time in the new solo canoe before the trip (first trip in a true solo).



I might switch and go in the week prior since all indicators are showing we’ll have a much earlier ice-out than last year.



"

Plenty of options for bug repellent/protection... kinda limited on what you can do about people
"

Yeah I have a pretty solid bug repellent arsenal, I guess I mostly have to choose which one bothers me more. It's myself (and dog's) first trip in the new solo canoe so the earlier entry makes me nervous with water temps in the event we dump it. Chose Sawbill so that there would at least be SOME people on our route, in event of emergency...


I guess we could always take the tandem again but it's really just too big to paddle around by myself. The people generally are not an issue unless those people also have dogs, as he's not super canine friendly and with a canoe on my head and portaging with him tied to my waist, it can be challenging to dismount the canoe and getting off the trail for others to pass... so less people = more good, in our case. Which is why I'm really considering the earlier trip to avoid crowded portages. Less bugs would just be a bonus I guess.


I really dont make things easy for myself when I go up there haha "

I was really concerned with insects last year taking my dog (June 12-20) but she was just fine...the lady at the Farmers Co-Op told me that typically anything used for horses, can be used on dogs. I had an arsenal for her and ended up not using any of it. She takes the Simparica monthly and then I sprayed her down with permethrin (used cone until it dried) and she wasn't bothered at all...a few flies here and there and some of them she just ate.

TechnoScout: "Have done two early June trips. Mosquitoes were nominal. No black flies.
Last May...a week after ice out. Almost no mosquitoes but the black flies were murder. Took me a month to recover from the bites. Lol...never again.


We were pretty much alone on Jordan."

Not sure where TechnoScout was paddling but I have never heard anyone say bugs are nominal in early June.

The difference between the last week of May and early June is the mosquitoes and black flies carry out their prey in May, and just eat you on site in June!

We did last week of May only one time and hated the bugs so much we never came back at that time of year.

If avoiding people and bugs is the ticket. . .you want mid to late September

Invest in a bug whacker for your tent. It will make ant bugs easier to kill and leave no trae of themselves on the tent wall. Wrap in a plastic bag to keep dry as they can be affected by humidity and ant water. Come up from under the mosquitoes for best results. I never leave home for the BW without one for each tent.