The majority of the trips I have taken to BW have all been the week before or the week after Memorial Day.  I just like to use that "holiday" to stretch out my vacation a bit. For the most part "bugs" have not been a big issue.  It seems that we have been very fortunate to be "in" just before they get bad.

Quite frankly, however, I prefer it to be cooler than hotter.  The prefect weather for me is "50's" at night 60's during the day.  It seems that this time of year generally provides it.  So as the day warms up, some of the little biters might start to hatch, but you loose them at night.  that being said, I have had trips where it snowed and trips where is was miserable hot...sometimes in the same trip. 

Of the tips I have taken during various times of the year...I think that timeframe provides the best chance at good fishing and low bugs.

Hope you have a great time!

I have a pair of thin synthetic type gloves that look/feel like liner gloves that I bought from a company that makes bug proof archery gear.

Unfortunately, I have a habit of removing tags from clothing items, because they tend to irritate me eventually.
I can't find them on-line so I looked for something similar in nature.

Got the idea from this site dedicated to Arctic Canoeing. Where bugs are not something to take lightly.

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REI carries these. Not made for bugs but maybe a alternative to other hand wear mentioned.
People have different responses to bug bites.
I get minimal effects from skeeters/black flies, but have seen people swell up or develop pustules from them.

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I have a very high tolerance for bugs.....except those in my tent. That being said I wouldn't be without this garment........it has served me well and is of extremely good quality. I often wear it when there are no bugs around.

My tripping pals have all purchased one and they use them out of necessity. One spring Algonquin trip I doubt we could of spent a week amongst the clouds of blackflies without one.

As per Westwoods suggestion of gloves I couldn't agree more......however I use fingerless fleece gloves instead of leather. The fleece is more comfortable and thick enough so the skeets can't bite through. Fingerless allows you the use of your hands to make breakfast PLUS I really like wearing them at night so my hands don't get cold. Occasionally a skeet finds your fingers but not to often. 

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You never know how the bugs will be in late May and early June.  I now pack a head net for everyone.  Head nets only cost about a dollar or two and take up almost no space.  I also pack leather gloves for everybody.  When the bugs are really bad the gloves will give you protection so you can relax a bit more.

Mad_Mat wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2013 at 12:49pm:



Was actually considering an island campsite, so that would help with the bugs and breeze as well.

Thanks everyone!  This really helps.  Think I'll shoot for the first week of June and just be prepared for worse case scenario as far as the bugs are concerned.

I've gone most trips during end of may first week of june -

weather can vary from cold and miserable to way too hot.  It snowed 2 to 4" one Memorial Day weekend at Dawson Campground in Quetico

Bugs are just as unpredictable, but generally are just starting to get bad in my opinion

key to dealing with bugs at camp is to select a campsite that is on an exposed point where you can get a breeze from 3 directions - that helps a lot to keep the bugs away during the day - doesn't matter so much where you pitch the tent, just so that you have that exposure for cooking and sitting around time;  if possible, select that point away from small streams - black flies hatch in the streams

I love June.  Treat your clothing beforehand with permethrin (mainly for ticks), take a headnet and some good spray with DEET, and if the bugs are bad, live with it.

June has a variety of weather, long days, misty cool mornings, and usually doesn't have 90-degree days to sweat in the sun.  The campsites in the BWCA are still fresh, and there are fewer people because many people are wimps about BUGS and stay away until July or August.   

June is the best time to go--although personally I like the second week of June better than the first.

my group always aims for the first to second week of june. it dates back to when we all were in school and that was right after school let out. temps are usually pretty good, weather is stable and the fishing is great. water temps are cool enough that lake trout arent silly deep and walleyes can be found anywhere.

bugs are bad at night, but with the right clothes (light fast drying long sleeves and pants) they dont really cause too much trouble.

weve gone in may and the nights are cold and there is usually too much rain for my taste.

i also bring a fly swatter, for the little bit of space it takes up its oh-so-worth it! i have one that velcros inside my canoe and one velcroed to my kayak.

Thanks guys and yeah, I definitely plan on fishing.  Smallmouth and walleye are at the top of my list.  That being said, I don't need to catch a lot of fish to have a good time.  I'll enjoy just being there as long as I'm not being eaten alive or stuck in the tent for five days straight due to heavy rains.  Yeah, I know mother nature is unpredictable, just trying to up my odds a bit.

Thanks again for the input!  Keep it coming, as my mind is totally overwhelmed with all of the possibilities!  Lol!

The Green Mallard, I like it, sounds casual but with good food!

I'm going to disagree a little bit with DD and suggest you avoid a May trip. I think there is greater potential of running into Mr Blackfly that time of year and weather can be very unpredictable. But as DD said the fishing can be awesome IF you hit it right. You are going fishing right

June is good. Skeets will be a little tough but mostly at dark and in the morning during breakfast. You could always bring a screened tent if basecamping is the plan. It can also be colder than you might think so be prepared (I like down booties and knit hats for sleeping). Fishing is still very good with the walleyes really firing up in mid to late June before they go to offshore reefs.

AND.......don't forget the amount of daylight you will have in June or July. Stays light till late. That makes for long days. If your basecamping bring some friends or bring a book