I sail on Lake Michigan, and when we go out with a light wind the fly’s attack the boat and everyone on board.. Has anyone found a good way to keep them down to a reasonable level? Or is there a good repellent that I could use.
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Flys?
Flys? Fill the cockpit with water and trout. They love flys! Actually have you tried Skin-So-Soft from Avon. They also have a version that has sun screen in it too. I think you can find it on the internet too. Really don't know if they are going to love the stuff or hate it but it will keep the mosquitos at bay too.
Flys? Fill the cockpit with water and trout. They love flys! Actually have you tried Skin-So-Soft from Avon. They also have a version that has sun screen in it too. I think you can find it on the internet too. Really don't know if they are going to love the stuff or hate it but it will keep the mosquitos at bay too.
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Ken Palmer
ankle-biters
We also have the small fly on Lake Ontario. They love to attack your ankles, and seem to come when the wind is at it's minimum. They even will show up miles from the nearest land. I have found 3 things that work, try them in this order. 1. Sail fast. Of course, if there is enough wind to sail fast, then there are usually no fly's. 2. Kill the most aggressive with a fly swatter, and let their carcasses lay on the cockpit floor as a warning to other ankle-biters. 3. When you have had absolutely enough of these pests, get out the Raid and fumigate the area. Good luck, and remember to wash down the deck of fly guts when back in port. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
We also have the small fly on Lake Ontario. They love to attack your ankles, and seem to come when the wind is at it's minimum. They even will show up miles from the nearest land. I have found 3 things that work, try them in this order. 1. Sail fast. Of course, if there is enough wind to sail fast, then there are usually no fly's. 2. Kill the most aggressive with a fly swatter, and let their carcasses lay on the cockpit floor as a warning to other ankle-biters. 3. When you have had absolutely enough of these pests, get out the Raid and fumigate the area. Good luck, and remember to wash down the deck of fly guts when back in port. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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John Goacher
Reinforcements
We have tried everything over the past few years, and the only thing that seems to half-work is the fly swatter. If we make a game of it, then they don't bother us as much. However, we have noticed that when you kill one, his friend goes off and returns with reinforcements. A fishing friend says he has noticed them clinging to the side of his boat in swarms, queueing up to come aboard and feed on your ankles and legs. I swear that some of these guys can bite through sneakers. No spray, lotion, bug-killer or soap-in-a-bowl trick has worked as yet. I'm going to try sugar-water in a 2 liter pop bottle suspended from the stern rail the next time. (Read that somewhere, but I don't have high hopes for success). The only solution seems to be to get the boat away from them. They seem to appear around the scum-line where the fishermen (and presumably the fish) congregate. Good luck. John s/v Perennial
We have tried everything over the past few years, and the only thing that seems to half-work is the fly swatter. If we make a game of it, then they don't bother us as much. However, we have noticed that when you kill one, his friend goes off and returns with reinforcements. A fishing friend says he has noticed them clinging to the side of his boat in swarms, queueing up to come aboard and feed on your ankles and legs. I swear that some of these guys can bite through sneakers. No spray, lotion, bug-killer or soap-in-a-bowl trick has worked as yet. I'm going to try sugar-water in a 2 liter pop bottle suspended from the stern rail the next time. (Read that somewhere, but I don't have high hopes for success). The only solution seems to be to get the boat away from them. They seem to appear around the scum-line where the fishermen (and presumably the fish) congregate. Good luck. John s/v Perennial
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Doug
100% Deet does the trick!
We use a product called Muskol with 100% deet which does the trick, even with the Smith Island flys of the Chesapeake. We bought it at our Marina, but there are other products which should be comparable (Consumer Reports reviewed some). Comes in a small squirt bottle and a little goes a long ways. Squirt the ankles first. You have to wash it off at night, which probably helps with the flys too.
We use a product called Muskol with 100% deet which does the trick, even with the Smith Island flys of the Chesapeake. We bought it at our Marina, but there are other products which should be comparable (Consumer Reports reviewed some). Comes in a small squirt bottle and a little goes a long ways. Squirt the ankles first. You have to wash it off at night, which probably helps with the flys too.
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Ned Strain
Ankle-biters II
Ken's right. I'm on Lake Michigan also and when the wind is light and the temperature's way up, the flies are everywhere. I remember one particular hot, stagnant afternoon when the flies covered the mainsail - truly turned it grey (and we were several miles out). I wished I'd had a shotgun to blast them as they swarmed on the main - I would have had to motor back, but the feeling of having killed so many at one time was a great fantasy.
Ken's right. I'm on Lake Michigan also and when the wind is light and the temperature's way up, the flies are everywhere. I remember one particular hot, stagnant afternoon when the flies covered the mainsail - truly turned it grey (and we were several miles out). I wished I'd had a shotgun to blast them as they swarmed on the main - I would have had to motor back, but the feeling of having killed so many at one time was a great fantasy.
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Donnie Hatchett
no more flies
We also have Flies on the Cheasapeake Bay and a very big problem some times of the year. I went to grocery store and bought a spray called Yard Guard and sprayed the Cock Pit and the fly problem ended. no stain just respray after each wash.
We also have Flies on the Cheasapeake Bay and a very big problem some times of the year. I went to grocery store and bought a spray called Yard Guard and sprayed the Cock Pit and the fly problem ended. no stain just respray after each wash.
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Ed Schenck
Forever grateful!!
Doug and Donnie, if either or both of those suggestions work we will be forever grateful here on Lake Erie!! Thanks for the tips.
Doug and Donnie, if either or both of those suggestions work we will be forever grateful here on Lake Erie!! Thanks for the tips.
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