Ok so we're only 9 days away from our trip. Last year we felt we got real lucky with the bugs. We're not sure if it was the wind or the bugs were light but we had it easy last year. Not sure what to expect this year but we want to be prepared. Does anyone have a report on the bug situation and also what do people use to help combat the pesky creatures? Thanks and Happy Father's day to all the dads out there. Ziggy
ThemaCell works great.
Quote from: Oarin on June 18, 2017, 12:27:42 PMThemaCell works great.
Hi Gary,
I looked up Thermacell on the internet. Their web site says that Thermacell provides protection against mosquitoes. So what do you use to protect yourselves from Black Flies? I've read that the Black Fly season is not yet over.
Jay
Hi Jay, I no longer go up North during the bad black fly time. If they were still around I have a light weight bug suit that Capt. Guy gave me that works great. Deep Woods Off works well too. Gary.
I work outside everyday in bug season, do yourself a huge favour and stop at a Canadian Tire and get Watkins cream in white bottle. I apply once in morning to exposed skin and go bugfree all day long. Works for all bugs.
If using aerosol cans, spray on hands then apply to exposed skin. No reason to spray rest of body. I've had the same can for many year before I switched to Watkins.
And don't touch your fishing lures after applying... wash throughly.
Ditto for the Watkins cream....used it for years once I found it at Costco...Been at the cottage every weekend since April and once bugs hit started using the Watkins... no issues with black flies or skeeters..rub it on arms and legs and in hair like Brylcream.....stuff is amazing and really lasts ..neighbors running around in bug shirts and the wife and I are in T shirts and shorts...
I came back a couple of days ago and talked to a couple of buddies who live there. They said the bugs are still bad. The Deer flies showed last Sunday to add to the fun lol. Thank God for a screened in porch
I just returned yesterday from 3 Seasons Camp. I will post a full report in a few days. Those mosquitos and black flies were tough for me to deal with. Worst I've experienced in 19 trips but this is the earliest June week of those 19 trips. Camp owner Reggie, told us that the mosquitos and black flies are "the worst" he has experienced "in the 12 years" that he has "owned the camp." I wore a bug suit that unfortunately (the bottoms) had a few holes that were caused by encounters with either sickle, circle, or treble hooks. Like a bullet wound, the exit holes are always bigger than the entrance holes, and those pesky black flies found their way in. The backs of my calves must have 50 bites! When I noticed a few black flies on the inside of my bug suit, it was too late. I swear that those black flies can bite thru the mesh of a bug suit if the skin is right up against it!
C.C.
Just came back Saturday. Bugs are EPIC right now!! Thermocell works for all of them; I hunt bear nearly every spring in Moffet and believe me, they work!! The problem with Thermocell is the wind can blow the vapors away. I do like to have one in the cabin and fish house for the fanged invaders. +1 on the Watkins, heard of it but never used it. I'm still working out of a bottle of Sawyers Jungle Juice which also works very well. Even so, I have to defer to Canuck; I think "how is it possible to work outside" every time I go. BTW, the fishing was great except it was a little hard to get fish SMALL enough to meet the slot...not really a bad problem to have!
Thermocell works great, just don't expect immediate results. If working in a small area it's perfect and after 5 mins you're usually bug free.
just returned from Bush Country and will post report but bugs are about as bad as we have had in many years. Agree that thermocell works on mosquitoes but black flies are problematic. citronella candles help a little but seems the flies are best handled by the cigar smoke and a breeze.
Yeah...only way to avoid the bugs is avoid the time when the bugs are at their worst.
I swore off every going in early-June again after our trip a few years ago out to Lac Grindstone. I was practically schizo by the time we left and 'controlling' the bug nuisance each day feels like it's a full time job. Not relaxing...
It's just not worth it and fishing isn't any better then versus late-July / early-August when the only bugs you encounter are skeeters for about 1/2 hour each evening and the occasional deer fly zap during the day. Typically black flies are long gone by then. But if you must go during bug season, I suppose the only sure-fire protection is, literally, cover yourself head to toe in clothing that can't be compromised. Again...no thanks.
Sounds like Captain Crappie may subscribe to a later-season trip in the future if possible; your tenor is similar to mine after we got back from Lac Grindstone.
In the same situation here. We are heading up with the family and a first time trip for the older girls. Ordered the Watkins, I have head nets, citronella candles and a thermo cell. any other suggestions? Don't want the girls to have a bad first trip because of bugs.
Get more than 1 Therma Cell. For our camp fires at TBL outpost we set 3 out about 5-10 minutes before we head to the fire pit. Works really well.
Sitting around the fire at night we use Off Lanterns ....work well to keep mosquitos away..
I'm with
@T-Bone...The first two years I went to Lac Watson it was in June. Never again! Let me just say that I'm one of those guys that biting insects usually, for some reason, stay away from, but June in the bush I was eaten alive despite clothing, coils, spray etc. (this was pre-thermo cell). I hate that feeling of those darn black flies crawling through your hair, then they take an ounce of flesh out and it itches for a month! Now our trip is typically the last week of July or first week of August and it is like Heaven. Shorts and t-shirt in the boat, swimming with no bug problems, sitting outside and sunning yourself with a cold drink and no shirt; even the cleaning house isn't bad. The up side is that we still catch plenty of fish! So I guess I'm saying my solution to the bug problem is to change the time of year you go up!
After reading some of these current bug reports, I am so glad we decided to try and avoid bug season and go Late July. I know there will still be some, but those stories had me itching. We have are fingers crossed in hopes they will be manageable.
Ahhhhhh...went into ZEC Kipawa this year end May and it was no better no worse as far as bugs go. No big deal. Ya it's not like sitting at home in the back yard in a city, but we just deal with the bugs. City slickers.......
Quote from: Balsams on June 19, 2017, 11:25:33 PM
City slickers.......
As a guy who's lived in the country his whole life, I see the definition of a City Slicker as a individual who thinks a week being attacked by ravenous blacks flies is a good time/badge of honor.
There's some years here where I live, that the mosquitos are so bad at dusk that you couldn't pay me to go fishing. For me, this trip isn't just fishing, its relaxing and enjoying time away with friends. So to each their own on when to go, but don't be critical to those who don't want a week off from work to include a week being eaten by nasty little black files.
On another note, if taking wife or friends just make sure they're not loaded up with perfume!! No bug spray will get rid of bugs.
Shower at night with soap/ shampoo, if showering in morning, just rinse with water... Nothing smelly.
Thermocells work for us.
We've had a couple or years when you had to have the full bug suits and other bug repellant before we found the thermocells..
Quote from: Balsams on June 19, 2017, 11:25:33 PM
Ahhhhhh...went into ZEC Kipawa this year end May and it was no better no worse as far as bugs go. No big deal.
Yeah...choose that (no big deal if you like getting bitten hundreds of times by bugs) or no bugs. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That's just silly.
As an FYI I found the Watkins bug cream on Amazon today. Placed the order, anything to cut down on bug bites is worth a try. The bites do just come with the territory though.
A good Watkins example.
Yesterday I pull up to clients cottage and there are hundreds of mosquitoes flying around truck, enough to make you not want to get out of truck. Bravely I did, run to passenger door where I keep my Watkins, lather up on all exposed skin and hair. Survived working on property with no bites and just didn't see many bugs around.. Watkins works!
For what its worth... Consumers Report tested insect repellants recently and chose "Sawyer Picaridin insect repellent" with no-Deet as the best . I have some, but have not used it yet, I will report back soon and let you know what I think
Quote from: Canuckbass on June 23, 2017, 05:50:19 AM
Watkins works!
I set-up on two tubes via Amazon. Can't hurt...
Our Thermocells worked well for the skitters, but the only thing that worked for the black flies was beer - lots of beer!
Lots of blackflies and mozzies @redpine staying indoors staining pine to hang next week. About 2500 sq ft. only another 1000 to go lol. (http://i66.tinypic.com/v8otp2.jpg)
Quote from: Hodgey1 on June 23, 2017, 10:36:37 AM
For what its worth... Consumers Report tested insect repellants recently and chose "Sawyer Picaridin insect repellent" with no-Deet as the best . I have some, but have not used it yet, I will report back soon and let you know what I think
I have heard about (P)Icaridin for a few years now and recently saw some Piactive(20%) for sale at GT so I bought a pump and a spray. I've been experimenting with it over the last two weeks and haven't been overly impressed. Supposedly good for 10 hours but I was reapplying it some evenings, specially when working up a sweat. They say no oily residue but my skin still felt sticky. So the last few days I went back to the Deep Woods Off at 28% and there was a definite improvement. Plus I have some 98% deet products from the states which is like the old Muskol we all used to use but I will admit I'm somewhat hesitant to use that stuff after doing some online research.
Cheers
Quote from: JLG on June 23, 2017, 11:35:45 AM
Our Thermocells worked well for the skitters, but the only thing that worked for the black flies was beer - lots of beer!
Great if you're sitting around.
Just returned yesterday; it was brutal. Not looking forward to facing the folks at work tomorrow with these beauties I'm sporting. Oh well, part of the territory and experience. Some years, you win, some not so much. This is one of them! ;)
Bugs were the worst I can remember the week of June 10th, Thermocell didnt stand a chance against the black flies, and Deet well if you only have 30% like I did, they practically drank that, they would still land on you for a second and try to bite, actually got ran off the lake for the first time one evening fishing close to shore, there were swarms like I have never seen, reminded me of when I was bear hunting up there, new bug suit is on the list for next year
Has it not been warm enough yet to kill them little buggers off?
No there was one week of warmer weather 2nd week of June but that has been it.
18 degrees most days and damp which turns into perfect weather for the bugs.
Mosquitoes aren't bad just the black flies.
Wouldn't doubt the bugs will be around to later July this year possibly into Aug.
Was wondering if anyone has tried this? I was at a sporting goods store today and was talking to one of the asociates about coming up to Kipawa in a month and a half. He said as far as bugs go, he learned when he was 6 years old how to keep the bugs away: Take garlic, slice it thin and put it in your shoes between your sock and the soul. The garlic absorbs into your body and they don't like it. Said some old lady told him this as a kid. Was just curious. I might have to give it a try.
I have a friend that eats a ton of garlic before heading into the woods. He swears it works. All I know is I can't go near him when he does so.
If garlic really works, I'm pretty sure I've got enough!!(http://i64.tinypic.com/afk9li.jpg)
For me, garlic only works when you reek of it and it covers the warm blood smell of people.
You have to go through a ton of it.
@Oarin: I'll take any surplus you have of that garlic ;D . I once grew it myself and I miss that fresh stuff.
Sarg. the wife is Italian and a heck of a cook. We use a lot of it and the German kind keeps well. 63 last year and we ran out!! 90 this year should do it. Growing it is a no brainer, stick a clove in the ground and watch it grow. As for the bug thing, I'll stick with Deep Woods Off and the Thera Cells. 12 more days!!!!!!
Just got back yesterday ( report to follow)... When we got there the Mullens (Ogascanan proprietors) indicated the bugs were epic which made us a bit nervous since they seem to handle the bugs better than most people...but on the positive side the bugs weren't that bad and when we were leaving the feeling, by the Mullens, was that the bugs may have peaked and they were on a decline. Now the WEATHER and the storms were a different issue...holy cow did it rain at times... but thankfully not enough to ruin a great time!
@Oarin , I understand there is no surplus.
When I planted it, it was several hundred at a time. I have a buddy that's Italian; 1 everything "needs more garlic"
For me, it's planted in the fall. It is about the easiest thing to grow.
Everything is better with garlic!!! I'll be harvesting mine next week right before we leave for TBL. 11 more LOOOONG days to go!!!
Just got back, not many bugs. Enough to put Watkins on and I worked outside on the saw and sander all weekend in between the heavy downpours.
the black flies have died off, the mosquitoes are heavy at dusk.
the deer flies are out now and abundant.
I just got back. The horse flies are out too lol
the only reason I agreed to go in late august was so that I didn't have to deal with any bugs... this better not be the 100 year bug swarm year... I have a Crystal Head Trophy Competition to sleep through and watch
@SgtCrabby win finally
@Dog , I don't remember you agreeing on late August as much as concurring with Flagg and my dates.
You can sleep through the trophy stuff; I plan to.
someone who has been up recently please mark the status of bugs?
The quality of my fishing, sorry sleeping, sorry dozing off, this year depends on not being interrupted by bugs...
Hi Dog.....last week at camp bugs were a non issue. Ya we still got some blackflies mixed in with the mozzies but nowhere as bad as early June. You can hang by the fire at night comfortably and not be chased away. You may need a light spray of deet but not often. Enjoy your trip bro, roads coming thru Red pine are good right now.
I was wondering if anyone has tried skin so soft for bug repellent on kipawa? It seems to work well every else that I have used it. Thanks
Ozmo, my wife Faye has asthma. If she gets a wiff of bug repellant, it can and has caused her to experience an asthma attack. Very scary for her and anybody else who is around her. A friend of hers told her about Avon's Skin So Soft and it's ability to repel bugs. We planned a trip to the French River with Commander Bluegill and one of the items we had with us was Skin So Soft. Well, the bugs were horrendous, She applied the Skin So Soft often. The results were as follows.... It helped a bit with the mosquitoes but did nothing to those black flies! She was bitten up so bad she told me this...." Bob, you know I like to fish, and I like fishing with you, but from now on, you can go without me!" That was the last time she accompanied me on a Canadian fishing trip. That was in 1994. I would not rely on Skin So Soft to repel anything. Use something with deet in it or get a bug suit....and still there is no guarantee that you won't get bit.
C.C.
Thanks Captain Crappie, guess I better try something else. I really appreciate the feedback.
I have to echo the Captain here; some folks swear by it, but many more find it ineffective as a repellant.
Good luck on what you do decide to use.
I've been trying (P)Icaridin this year around home. No deet at all, no scent to speak of and doesn't melt plastic or remove dye. It works pretty good, maybe not quite as good as deet but effective for sure.
Cheers