I am just curious what people use for bug protection in the BWCA. I am taking my first trip in early June. I have read that the bugs could be bad and I want to be prepared. I planned on taking some Coils and good bug spray. Are Mesh hats and shirts necessary?

Depends on how much bugs "Bug" you.

I don't mind them as much as others so I bring along some DEET and a hat and that is all. I do not bring coils or mesh. I do wear long sleeves and long pants until Mid July to avoid getting bit by ankle biters and getting sunburn. After Mid-July the bugs seem to taper of and then shorts are fine, but I still usually wear long pants while paddling to avoid the tops of my thighs getting burned.

If Black Flies bother you a lot (and early June may or may not be prime black fly time-it usually is mid June when they are worst) then I would bring a head net at least and maybe even a bug shirt to keep them from biting you. DEET does not deter black flies and coils are useless. I would leave the coils at home, bring some DEET and a head net if the bugs really bother you.

One thing that I have found to be effective, and I go the last week in June, is a product called "Bite Blocker" I have found it to be effective on gnats, mosquito's, friendly flies and ankle biters too. I found it on line and eventually found a hardware store here in my homwtown in Arkansas that carried it. It is all natural with no deet... but it does sting a little around the eyes at times. I sent Adam a bottle and hopefully he can vouch for it after he tries it out!
Bruce

I agree with Bogwalker. DEET is all you need for the run of the mill BW bugs. Black Flies however are another thing entirely. Only solution is to block their access to your skin. Bug suits and head nets work pretty well. On trips when the black flies have been really bad I have even worn gloves and duct taped the wrists. In camp a smokey fire helps, then the choice is smoke or bugs. Pick campsites that offer good breezes to help blow the bugs back to cover. Avoid campsites near running water during peak black fly season as they live in greater numbers there.

Just another thought. Since we all know you will get bit, bring a bite stick or benadryl or cortisone creams to help with the itch and or pain.

And if you have any ladies in your group and they don't want to end up with scars on their legs or arms, don't use the bite relief that comes in a pen like thing and is mostly alcohol. It dries out the skin and will leave a scar if used in one place too much.

Better to get one that is made with a lot of menthol oils and eucalyptus oils and the such.

And the best thing I have found for the black flies (gnats) in early season is the Ben's 100. What it has different than the Muskol I am not sure, but it seems to work better.

Bring a head net, it will be the best 2 ounces you can carry in your pack in case of bad bugs during portaging or for evening fishing.

I will be going in next friday (May 21) and my group is very concerned about black flies. Is this high season for them? I have heard any time between late may to late june is fly season. I usually go in late summer, so I don't have to deal with them.

Please let me know so I can be prepared for them!

Thanks
Willy

about the coils... they're junk. headnets are handy if the bugs are really bad, but otherwise excessive protection.

Black flies can occur anytime between late May and late June. It has been so cool and windy so far that I wonder if teh hatch will be a little late. You may be OK going in this week. Let us know when you get back what they are doing. I got back last Tuesday and outside of a couple of mosquitos and some gnats and flies (not black) we did not have bugs.

I have been going up there for years and use a product from 3M called "Ultrathon". It comes in two ways a cream and an aerosol can. I have only used the cream because aerosol is banned in the BWCA but it works like a charm! They say it has a controlled release of DEET that lasts up to 12 hours. I would highly recommend this product, it has always worked great for me and isn't so stinky like most other repellents that contain DEET. Here is a link if your intrested.

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/ultrathon/

guess i will be getting a head net seeing how im goin on june 11th
but im currious if any one knows of anything good for my dogs so they are not driven mad by bugs and eat any passing hippies?