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Ryeman
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Went in on EP 8 Moose River South on 5/25/25 and had a remarkably bug-free experience, with only a few gnats in the early evening. These were easily managed with a Thermacell, and I did not apply any insect repellent. I could only recall having one mosquito bite me the entire week.
No ticks or bears (in the BW proper) to report. I did have a small bear cross in front of me on Hwy 2 as I was heading into Ely from Duluth.
Blueberries appear they will be abundant, shortly.
One smaller moose was eating in a bay across from me.
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Cartallen
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Went in at EP 47 - Lizz Lake from May 23-26. No bugs at all until the warm-up on the 26th, and even then they were minimal. No bears or blueberries either, but there were fresh moose tracks after a Saturday rain shower between Allen and Pillsbery. We only saw the tracks, and didn't get to see the moose.
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mnsportsmanjr
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We just got back from site 1488 on the North end of Lake Three from 05/26 to 05/29. 05/26 and 05/27 were mostly gnats but tolerable with face nets. 05/28 and especially on 05/29 the mosquitos really came out in force. I woke up on the morning of 05/29 and it sounded like I was in a Boeing 747 taking off. There were thousands between my hammock net and rain tarp.
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WesternHills
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Temperance River (EP #39 Baker Lake).
June 6 - 10th
Camped on South Temperance.
No sign of bears.
Bugs (mostly mosquitoes) were THICK and swarming - come prepared.
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egknuti
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A few gnats but that’s it! A calm before the storm.
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XYpaddler
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Considering the low temps for this Saturday and Sunday are forecast at or a little below freezing, what impact do you expect this will have on the black flies and skeeters the rest of next week?
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egknuti
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I saw one mosquito on Friday. The gnats were busy as well, but it was so windy on Friday and Saturday the bugs were a non-issue.
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tarheel21
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Out of EP 64 yesterday. Saw one mosquito in four days. Lots of snowflakes though on the paddle out though!
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Vinski
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Went in on EP44- Ram Lake on 20 May and existed at Lizz/Swamp on 23 May. Almost no bugs at all... couple mosquitoes, no flies, didn't even wear bug spray. No animal sightings except for a few beaver and lots of birds. An immense amount of moose poop at campsite #777 on Little Trout Lake next to the portage into Misquah.
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ILuvLakers
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3 days on Ram Lake, out today. Saw one mosquito. White gnats were out a bit but not too bothersome.
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MCHammer1
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Fall Lake to Pipestone 6/11 - 6/15: Bugs were super mild, and the wind was light so I assume the frosty nights have the mosquitos on hold. Flies and gnats not bad either. Very enjoyable trip compared to other June trips I've done where the mosquitos were absolutely THICK.
No bears or moose sightings. Heard a distant wolf howl one early dawn in Pipestone bay area but no visual sighting.
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MaxG
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Entered on Lizz and stayed on Caribou on 6/13. Wind kept the mosquitoes away, but had a few bite us back where we pitched the tents. Overall, they were not bad at all.
Another group told us they had a bear come in their site on the north side of Gaskin. They said the bear came two nights in a row but never disturbed them.
Went in Brule on 6/19. Bugs were not bad at all.
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portagerunner
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Entered/exited through Sag 5/31-6/7 and made loop through knife area. No bear sign; came across wolf scat not far from monument portage. Bugs were virtually non-existent besides a few mosquitos at dusk. Didn't put on a head net or use bug spray the whole week.
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waterwolf22
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Adult black bear seen swimming across the South Kawishiwi River on 5/31 approx
47.89491 N, 91.58413 W
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Pinetree
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Hot weather now means a fast hatch all at once on black flies and mosquitoes-their coming soon to your neighborhood
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CPozanc19
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Got out on the 14th and the mosquitoes were just starting to pick up on Insula. Wind kept them out of our hair for most of the trip but I suspect they'll be out in full force soon.
No word on troublesome bears and none spotted.
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OgimaaBines
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egknuti: "A few gnats but that’s it! A calm before the storm. "
Same,plus a couple of ticks. I was around the Lac La Croix and interior lakes since Wednesday, May 21.
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grizzlyadams
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Back from Stuart - bugs weren’t too bad. Gnats and flies were bothersome at times but not bad. Mosquitoes came out in force the Saturday night after the big storms and drove us into the tents early. Black flies were terrible in the parking lot of Stuart. No bears.
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Karl
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Heading in next Friday morning - anyone have early season intel on current conditions? Been an interesting start with the heat, nearby fires, and the temp cool down
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Explor8ion
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Went in from the north (Stanton Bay) for two weeks starting on May 31. Mossies were very thick - our bug jackets saved us on portages. Once the winds picked up in the later half of the trip they calmed somewhat. A few ticks but nothing brutal. No bears, no moose, no wolves, no flies and gnats were only bad for a few days.
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gravelroad
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mnsportsmanjr: "We just got back from site 1488 on the North end of Lake Three from 05/26 to 05/29. 05/26 and 05/27 were mostly gnats but tolerable with face nets. 05/28 and especially on 05/29 the mosquitos really came out in force. I woke up on the morning of 05/29 and it sounded like I was in a Boeing 747 taking off. There were thousands between my hammock net and rain tarp."
My father and uncle were once camped on Mountain Lake and heard someone navigating the lake in the dark with a motor, back when that was legal. They soon realized it was not some benighted traveler - it was a cloud of mosquitoes.
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montanapaddler
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Went is LIS S last week, skeeters bad in swampy areas but not a concern in others. The worst was the LIS parking lot by far. Got several wood ticks as well. No bears.
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cheezmaker89
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Just got back yesterday from a trip out of Cross Bay - #50 (6/20 - 6/25) Bugs were not bad at all on Long Island, Snipe and Missing Link. A few swampy areas on the portages were a minor problem. Blueberries were just starting to turn color on Snipe. Wild strawberries were ripe if you know where to look. No big mammals to speak of.
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egknuti
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Did not use any bug spray this trip. A few pesky mosquitoes early morning and a moments when the gnats descended and swarmed my cooking area. Deer flies finally came out and gave me a few nasty bites.
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BWCA
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As we get to soft water season, drop your bug, bear, and blueberry reports here.
Read the 2024 bug and bear report
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