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Last Visit: 06/19/2013 10:52PM
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LoneWolf

05/05/2012 10:19AM

I'm going in for a short trip this weekend. I know this is pretty early for bugs, but with all the plants and bugs down here in the Cities being ahead of schedule by at least 2 weeks I was wondering what the situation was up there? I'll be going in along the Gunflint. I'm mostly wondering about the dreaded black flies.

Thanks!

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack." - Alan Garner, The Hangover.

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Jackfish

Moderator

05/05/2012 10:33AM

Paging Mocha to the white courtesy phone... but I'll bet the black flies will be non-existent.

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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luft

05/05/2012 11:57AM

I am going in next weekend and am anxious to see what the verdict is.

I still need to get permethrin to do our outer layers but I am in finals all next week and have a bad feeling that I am just not going to get it done. We could be "tick pickin" something fierce in our tents at night :-)

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inspector13

05/07/2012 08:48AM

I just got back from Lake County. You should find few if any bugs. While southern Minnesota was basking in the 70s most of last week, it was only that warm last Wednesday north of Duluth. The hardwoods have yet to leaf out. No ticks at my place in the Arrowhead, but plenty in the woods of Pine County.

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LoneWolf

05/07/2012 09:21AM

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to my trip.

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack." - Alan Garner, The Hangover.

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RaisedByBears99

05/07/2012 09:51AM

No bugs at my place, north of Duluth. Quilt and two wool blankets on bed last night.

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prettypaddle

05/08/2012 09:06AM

We just got back from a couple of days in Ely. My husband found three ticks crawling on him and we weren't even in the woods that much.

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NickMc

05/08/2012 09:16AM

Just got home from a trip out of EP16. No skeeters or Fly's yet. A few ticks and tons of Morels.

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TeamTuna06

05/08/2012 09:43AM

quote NickMc: "A few ticks and tons of Morels."

I'll take that trade off any day! Thanks for th update.

"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles." -Doug Larson

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Xand

05/08/2012 01:41PM

Does anyone have a guess as to how the bugs will be during the first week of June? Let's assume conditions have stabilized. I recall reading thwt the black flies usually come later in June but I am be unsure on this. Thanks!

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

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inspector13

05/08/2012 02:07PM

quote Xand: "Does anyone have a guess as to how the bugs will be during the first week of June? Let's assume conditions have stabilized. I recall reading thwt the black flies usually come later in June but I am be unsure on this. Thanks!"

The long range forecast says temperatures will be reaching the high 60’s F in the next few weeks. That should bring out the black fly swarms just in time for Memorial Day.

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Xand

05/08/2012 02:20PM

quote inspector13: "quote Xand: "Does anyone have a guess as to how the bugs will be during the first week of June? Let's assume conditions have stabilized. I recall reading thwt the black flies usually come later in June but I am be unsure on this. Thanks!"
The long range forecast says temperatures will be reaching the high 60’s F in the next few weeks. That should bring out the black fly swarms just in time for Memorial Day."
Hmm. And they usually last a week or two, yeah? Time to cross my fingers that they come early!

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

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msray53

05/08/2012 07:24PM

quote Xand: "quote inspector13: "quote Xand: "Does anyone have a guess as to how the bugs will be during the first week of June? Let's assume conditions have stabilized. I recall reading thwt the black flies usually come later in June but I am be unsure on this. Thanks!"
The long range forecast says temperatures will be reaching the high 60’s F in the next few weeks. That should bring out the black fly swarms just in time for Memorial Day."
Hmm. And they usually last a week or two, yeah? Time to cross my fingers that they come early!"
From my six trips to the BW and Quetico that time of year, you will have bugs. Of course some years are worst than others. Plan to deal with biting insects.

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mocha

05/08/2012 07:44PM

quote Jackfish: "Paging Mocha to the white courtesy phone... but I'll bet the black flies will be non-existent."
the flies have just come out

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LoneWolf

05/10/2012 12:15AM

Thanks, All. Just permethrined my clothes for the ticks and bugs, and double-checked on the head net.

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack." - Alan Garner, The Hangover.

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Ho Ho

05/10/2012 11:56AM

Yep, some black flies over here on the Echo Trail starting yesterday. Nothing too crazy, but they are emerging.

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gopher2307

05/10/2012 07:08PM

quote NickMc: "Just got home from a trip out of EP16. No skeeters or Fly's yet. A few ticks and tons of Morels."

How was the water level on Moose River? I'm going there is a while and some of my party was concerned.

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NickMc

05/11/2012 02:37PM

quote gopher2307: "quote NickMc: "Just got home from a trip out of EP16. No skeeters or Fly's yet. A few ticks and tons of Morels."

How was the water level on Moose River? I'm going there is a while and some of my party was concerned."

Really wasn't bad. This is my first time up that way so I have nothing to compare it too. I can see where there may be small problems later in the year but I wouldn't worry a whole bunch.

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ryebread26

05/11/2012 03:20PM

How was the water level on Moose River? I'm going there is a while and some of my party was concerned."

Really wasn't bad. This is my first time up that way so I have nothing to compare it too. I can see where there may be small problems later in the year but I wouldn't worry a whole bunch."

thats good to hear my group is headed there next weekend.

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MacBadger

05/13/2012 09:22PM

What should we plan on for bugs the third week in June? Never been up to BWCA before August before.

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luft

05/13/2012 11:11PM

Black flies are alive and kicking on the Sawbill Trail... a real nuisance, but not if you are smart and bring a head net! We were not smart :-)

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LoneWolf

05/15/2012 11:34PM

quote MacBadger: "What should we plan on for bugs the third week in June? Never been up to BWCA before August before."
To be sure check back here in a month as things change, and this year the 3rd month of June could be more like early July. My suggestion is permithrin your outer clothes, socks included, and your tent opening and net (test first). Then I always bring a small container of Off!, or similar DEET product, and a head net. I have only needed the head net in early June but it costs less than $5 dollars and packs up super small.

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack." - Alan Garner, The Hangover.

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LoneWolf

05/15/2012 11:40PM

quote luft: "Black flies are alive and kicking on the Sawbill Trail... a real nuisance, but not if you are smart and bring a head net! We were not smart :-)"
I just got back from Gunflint and they are beginning to rear their ugly little heads.

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack." - Alan Garner, The Hangover.

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