Bugs

[NortonJoe]

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!

[Hodgey1]

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.

[Balsams]

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.......

[Hodgey1]

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.

[Canuckbass]

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.

[SgtCrabby]

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..   

[T-Bone]

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.

[Jig and drift]

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.

[Canuckbass]

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!

[Hodgey1]

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

[T-Bone]

Watkins works!

I set-up on two tubes via Amazon. Can't hurt...

[JLG]

Our Thermocells worked well for the skitters, but the only thing that worked for the black flies was beer - lots of beer!

[puckster_guy]

Lots of blackflies and mozzies @redpine staying indoors staining pine to hang next week. About 2500 sq ft. only another 1000 to go lol.

[smitty55]

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

[Canuckbass]

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.