Black flies

black flys breed in moving water only...streams , run off , any moving water and will be around until these dry up or at least get educed in volume...so heat is the fastest way to see them diminish


mosquitoes are the opposite and only breed in still, stagnant water

we are experiencing the perfect spring so far for an abundance of both which have just started in most areas of the province

light colored clothing
deet 20-30%
and no perfume,after shave etc.
all help, but you cannot avoid them completely if venturing outside

Report from weekend in the west arm area: Black flys are around but weren’t biting much (yet). Mosquitos are very bad and biting. The wind helps when it’s up.

Mosquitoes have started. Not bad yet, and it gets cool enough at night to keep them at bay. But the ones that are out are hungry. That said, supposed to be 29 Sunday.. so brace yourselves.

A lit cigarette will make a hungry swarm of blackflies all but disappear. I have heard peppermint extract works too, haven't tried it yet.

Maybe it is time to take up smoking

Lol. I must be smoking the wrong brand, cause the bast***s chewing me up every night lately at home.

I'm smoking Elite Menthol. I am not a heavy smoker, but find myself lighting up in the boat a lot lol. I used to smoke Players (not menthol) and can't really remember if they worked as well or when I noticed it? I'm gonna say the regular smokes had the same effect, 'cause I don't remember them not working

We have a bottle of "Miracle Coat" fly spray they sell/used to sell(?) for horses. We have it for the dog, but do not remember buying it or where we got it The bottle has lasted forever, and it is very effective. It just does not seem to last long. Seems that by the time it dries they are trickling back.

Dragonflies will be hatching soon. They do a pretty good job too flying around the boat

I have never got chewed by black flies so bad as the last week. my neck is destroyed, having a beard is BAD. they get caught in it. smoking didn't help me much but it did seem to make a slight difference. this would figure after my earlier comment on this thread of usually not getting too annoyed on the west arm by black flies

hopefully you taking one for the team left them full!

Our group arrives in a couple days, and hope they've backed down a bit. I've been on countless trips in the last 30 years, not sure I've ever been less sure about conditions than I am right now - water level, bugs, water temps, fishing depth, minnows or worms, are the weeds popping through, are the docks underwater.

hopefully you taking one for the team left them full!

Our group arrives in a couple days, and hope they've backed down a bit. I've been on countless trips in the last 30 years, not sure I've ever been less sure about conditions than I am right now - water level, bugs, water temps, fishing depth, minnows or worms, are the weeds popping through, are the docks underwater.

lets see if I can help

water level - incredibly high but about 12-18 inches below where it peaked

bugs - worse then I've ever seen for BF's mosquitos are just the normal brutal

water temps - warming up, our area went from 60 to almost 70 in less then a week

fishing depth - walleye pretty much where you would normally find them, pike are moving shallower now

minnows or worms - both have been good as walleye bite is decent enough

weeds popping through - no, not unless your in real skinny water

docks underwater - any dock that isn't a floater is definitely pinned under water with barrels. mine need at least a foot still to support their own weight with nothing holding them down.

hope this helps, but only reporting the west arm, not sure on other areas

good luck!

hopefully you taking one for the team left them full!

Our group arrives in a couple days, and hope they've backed down a bit. I've been on countless trips in the last 30 years, not sure I've ever been less sure about conditions than I am right now - water level, bugs, water temps, fishing depth, minnows or worms, are the weeds popping through, are the docks underwater.

lets see if I can help

water level - incredibly high but about 12-18 inches below where it peaked

bugs - worse then I've ever seen for BF's mosquitos are just the normal brutal

water temps - warming up, our area went from 60 to almost 70 in less then a week

fishing depth - walleye pretty much where you would normally find them, pike are moving shallower now

minnows or worms - both have been good as walleye bite is decent enough

weeds popping through - no, not unless your in real skinny water

docks underwater - any dock that isn't a floater is definitely pinned under water with barrels. mine need at least a foot still to support their own weight with nothing holding them down.

hope this helps, but only reporting the west arm, not sure on other areas

good luck!

Thank you!

I'll be headed to the south shore, close to the start of the French. I'll report back what I see!

Glad to hear the water is getting better, sorry to hear the bugs are having a banner year.

Muckers packed, interested to see for the water-level, I'm glad the camp is back quite a way from the water line. Maybe we will be parking boats on the beach.

Just spent a week in the Espanola area June 22-29. There were still Black Flies around especially on the cloudy overcast days. They were all around me while i was fishing but i found they were not that bad. I would say the whole week i got about 10 -15 bites. Used bug spray on my neck and behind ears seemed to work.

What surprised me is that although i wore pants all week while out fishing i still had some bites on my legs. I guess they find ways to crawl under, you really need to put your socks over your pants.

Also there was an infestation of 'friendly flies' although they dont bite they are annoying always landing on you. Was told they were introduced to take out the caterpillar larvae.