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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Black Fly Situation
 
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Jackfish
05/26/2021 09:59PM
 
Serious answer... prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Anyone can speculate, but no one really knows. Have a great trip!
 
gotwins
05/26/2021 10:43PM
 
Went into Snowbank on 5/17. Black flies were bad for the first 4 days. Got better by the 20th, but then the mosquitoes joined the party. Wind helped, and the black flies were the worst around running water, of course. Used the headnets a lot.
 
2NDpaddlers
05/26/2021 08:59PM
 
I am headed into the BWCA next week. Those that have been out, what has the black fly situation been? Are things going in the right direction and black fly numbers going down, or is next week going to be prime hatch? Just wondering what I can prepare for.
 
fadersup
05/26/2021 10:24PM
 
Jackfish: "Serious answer... prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Anyone can speculate, but no one really knows. Have a great trip!"
Nailed it.
 
Pilgrimpaddler
05/26/2021 11:31PM
 
We went in at LIS North on 5/22, had a few black flies at the parking area and then a few gnats over the next 4 days. No mosquitoes and really not many black flies. It was so bug-free it was almost unnerving! It was plenty windy but, still ... we didn’t put up the screen shelter and there was no need to even have the bug screen zipped shut on my Lean.
 
moray
05/27/2021 08:27AM
 
Went in at #47 Lizz on 5/16 to 5/22. Black flies were around when we were on the water fishing but not nearly as bad as same week last year. Mosquitos came out at dusk in camp but were pretty lethargic even with warmer temps. Never used the head nets we brought. Last year went in Moose lake and had head net on whenever I was fishing. You just never know.
 
HayRiverDrifter
05/27/2021 08:35AM
 
Also, check the 2021 Bug Reports thread at the top of this forum.
 
A1t2o
05/27/2021 08:47AM
 
Bring gnat spray. It works decently enough and is much better than nothing. Usually it keeps them out of your face but you have to reapply often. That and cigar smoke have been effective deterrents in the past for me.
 
x2jmorris
05/27/2021 09:29PM
 
I got out today in roughly the Sawbill area. They were terrible on Monday but they were few and far between on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. That said another batch could hatch at any moment. I survived with only 6 bites that I anticipate itching for the next few weeks.