I have been on many trips in May and only once in 15 years have I been close having a problem with ice out. That year ice went out on May 5th and I went in on May 6th. Be advised that ice out is a relative thing, that is reletive to the lakes in question. In general small lakes will open much sooner than the very large lakes. Rivers will be open before lakes, and lakes with currents will also open sooner. So early May should not be a problem unless you are going to a very big lake (Still by May 8th all lakes will most likely be open). As far as bugs go you may get some black flies around water that has warmed a bit so stay away from campsites on shallow bays or near marshes, and one that faces south west (since the wind is generally out of the south west that time of year). In general the bugs do not get to what I call bad until mid June. Although I know the black flies can be bothersome their bigger cousins are much more troublesome and they are almost never out in May.

Posted by Jake on January 15, 2002 at 13:15
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