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Timing? (Read 5598 times)

The Green Mallard Subscriber Offline Posts: 5 Location: Huntington, IN Joined: Sep 19^th, 2013	Timing? Sep 21^st, 2013 at 1:28pm	Quote Print Post
	Hi everyone, I'm a newbie. Never been to the BWCA but am planning a solo trip for next year sometime and have a question for you northwood veterans. I've already got my gear list made, my tentative route planned (entry #47 and heading to Vista Lake), etc. The only thing I'm really having trouble deciding is what time of year I'll go. I'm going for a five or six day, base camp type of trip. Long story, but due to my work schedule I won't be able to take my vacation after the middle of July, otherwise I would go in the fall. I think a fall BWCA or Quetico trip would be the ultimate experience. Some day. Right now I'm leaning towards the first week of June. Any problems with that time frame? I've had a few people tell me bugs might be bad? I can deal with mosquitoes but would like to miss the swarms of flying piranha (black flies) that I've heard so many horror stories about.


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DentonDoc Moderator Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3468 Location: Central Texas Joined: Dec 27^th, 2003	Re: Timing? Reply #1 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 4:22pm	Quote Print Post
	Welcome Mallard - June has historically been labeled "bug month" in canoe country and on a typical year all varieties of winged critters are at their peak. That said, however, the title of your thread is appropriate ... its all about timing. I've been on canoe trips in June where the bug population (even skeets) were minimal ... but I typically plan for them to be bad (e.g. treated clothing, head nets, plenty of deet, etc.) Another issue not mentioned is your interest in fishing. Assuming that might be an important point (since you are base camping), I suspect you might want to be on the water and ready to fish on the Saturday, 2 weeks prior to memorial day (historic opening day for Walleye in Minnesota). So, a mid-to late-May might be your choice. Certainly less bugs then, and fishing usually among the best of the year (all species will be relatively shallow that time of year). The down side is you have to be prepared for some foul/cold weather. dd


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: Timing? Reply #2 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 6:39pm	Quote Print Post
	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


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The Green Mallard Subscriber Offline Posts: 5 Location: Huntington, IN Joined: Sep 19^th, 2013	Re: Timing? Reply #3 - Sep 21^st, 2013 at 8:05pm	Quote Print Post
	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!


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jaximus Senior Member Offline Posts: 343 Location: wisconsin Joined: May 12^th, 2010	Re: Timing? Reply #4 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 12:04am	Quote Print Post
	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.


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Spartan2 Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1605 Location: Horton, Michigan Joined: Feb 1^st, 2005	Re: Timing? Reply #5 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 2:36pm	Quote Print Post
	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.


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Mad_Mat Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1548 Joined: Apr 21^st, 2003	Re: Timing? Reply #6 - Sep 23^rd, 2013 at 12:49pm	Quote Print Post
	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


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The Green Mallard Subscriber Offline Posts: 5 Location: Huntington, IN Joined: Sep 19^th, 2013	Re: Timing? Reply #7 - Sep 23^rd, 2013 at 3:44pm	Quote Print Post
	Mad_Mat wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2013 at 12:49pm: 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 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.


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Westwood Inukshuk Offline Posts: 669 Location: Was Minnesota Now Iowa Joined: Mar 4^th, 2005	Re: Timing? Reply #8 - Sep 23^rd, 2013 at 10:23pm	Quote Print Post
	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.


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: Timing? Reply #9 - Sep 24^th, 2013 at 4:14am	Quote Print Post
	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. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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