Lake levels have not begun to recede from the high water mark that is usually reserved for a short period each spring after the winter thaw. There have been a lot of rainy days, but it does not seem to be enough to keep our lakes full. The minor flooding up here is in no way comparable to the rest of the state, and maybe the over-saturated counties to our south have something to do with why it is taking so long for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) lakes to drain.
Flooded portages in the lower lying areas are so buggy that I was told you can actually hear the swarms above your canoe while speed walking through the marsh. Steve Foster, Seagull Creek fishing guide, said he backed away from a campsite where his group was planning to eat lunch this spring because there was a dark cloud of black flies hovering above.
There have been many days this season that we decided to eat lunch in the boat rather than be attacked by blood sucking mosquitoes and flesh eating black flies.
The best way to avoid the attack is to wear some bug gear. There are a few companies selling head nets, shirts, and suits depending on your tolerance for wearing such an outfit. It took me a few years of being pushed to the brink of insanity before slipping into a head net. They look silly, but I would not work in the woods in June without one.
When I first moved up here in the ‘90s the hottest “bug dope” on the market contained 100 percent DEET, which is an abbreviation for a word invented by scientists that only scientists can pronounce. This stuff was so powerful it would melt the monofilament fishing line upon contact. It also ruined my favorite Phish CD Picture of Nectar when I inadvertently dusted it while spraying myself down in the truck.
DEET was then limited in bug repellents to something like 10 percent or less and was basically useless unless you applied approximately 10 times as much. Now there are many natural bug repellents with ingredients such as citrus, mint, eucalyptus, lemon and many natural fragrances so bold that Dead Heads have been trading in their patchouli oils. The “pungent naturals” do seem to repel bugs (and people) for a short while, but nothing is safer and less obnoxious than a protective net.
Repellents using 100 percent DEET are now being offered again and not because it has become any safer for your skin. The increase in insect-transmitted diseases has caused DEET to become the lesser of two evils. Do your body a favor and invest in a head net before heading into the BWCA this year. The bugs cannot bite you if they cannot get to your skin, so long hiking pants and shirts will help keep you from spending a miserable evening scratching bites instead of enjoying the stars.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
Leave a Reply