Lord of the flies

[Love Shack14685]

obviously not dealing with the same problem

Apparently some areas of the country don't even know what we're talking about. I agree with Cap'n Bob of Stargazer - We're on Lake Erie as well. This year we has a day of flies - no exaggeration - thousands of flies. We swatted, Raided, Fogged, Deeted, Off'd, and Skin-so-Softed so many flies that we had to wash them off the decks with buckets of water because the dead ones were attracting the live ones. They landed on Raid soaked cushions, literally covered our dinghy moter sunbrella cover (it looked like moving hair). I finally went below and killed those I could inside and my skipper wrapped up in screening to keep them off him while he steered the boat.

 

[Roger Clum]

Vitamin B works on Mosquitos

I was a skeptic at first, but after sitting in a cockpit with some friends, I started swatting the mosquitos as soon as the sun went down, yet after a while, I noticed they werern't swatting. I asked the obvious question, and they told me that they start taking 100 mg of Vitamin B daily beginning in March, by the time mosquito season arrives, the little buggers aren't interested in them. SO, the next year, I tried it. Amazing is all I can say. Be prepared to pee a little on the orange side. Dr's say no problem...

 

[Warren Milberg]

I recently

was sailing in a stiff breeze in the middle of the Chesapeake. Out of nowhere, these biting black flies arrived. It drove me to distraction trying to sail the boat and swat them at the same time. When I pulled back into my slip, there were hundreds of bloody carcasses on the floor of the cockpit. My blood. Hosed the suckers down the scuppers. Why pick on me? The only thing that can be said for the coming cold weather is the flies will be gone. Can anyone name one good characteristic of these beasts?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Roger, Vitamin B or B-1???

nm

 

[Chuck Wilde]

Bugged

Hi EdI was fascinated to learn of this ultrasonic repeller you are using. Could you tell me where I can purchase one?I sail on the North Channel.RegardsCHuck Wilde

 

[Ed13740]

Flies on the Chesapeake

Hi PeteI sail on the bay out of Middle River and have been assaulted by flies until I tried this concoction of rubbing alcohol, white vinegar and hot sauce I got from a real "old timer". If you did not read my reply eariler today, it's #11. I thought he was crazy but I tried it and have been using it all season and no flies.Ed

 

[michael]

organic solution

"Burt's Bees" has an organic concoction made from citronella oil, lemongrass oil, grapeseed oil,eucalyptus oil, vitamin E, and rosemary oil. Smells not bad and is fairly effective. All natural and you are not using some man-made neurotoxin(DEET) or worse, on your kids. Originally comes from India and Sri Lanka where is used to protect man and animals from mosquitos and other biting insects. Product is called 'Lemongrass Insect Lotion - a farmer's friend -

 

[Warren Milberg]

For Ed

Thanks for your secret recipe for keeping the flies at bay (pun intended). I bet you smell interesting. I suppose your wife could just pop you onto the grill when you get home....

 

[Phil]

I luv deet

I get attacked first. Green heads, mosquitoes, black flies, gnats, doesn't matter. When in Tuckerton NJ I would live wearing deet. The more the better, 15%+ is hard to find. I would love to know how the indians and the first settlers delt with it, at times it could be a blood bath.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Man do I hate flies

I found that the flies here seem to avoid biting you on the bare skin, but prefer to biting thru material, like white socks. It may be due to my using a sun block on my bare skin -- and they don't care for that. Next season, I plan to spray my clothes with sun block and see if that helps.

 

[Ed13740]

To Pete

The wife does the grilling all right but usualy doesn't wait till we get home.Believe it or not the smell does not linger. We always spray the cock pit and sometimes use in on ourselves, espically at Worton Point.Ed

 

[Paul4414]

Fly & Mosquito cure

Everyone used to laugh at my suggestion until they tried it. I have had great success with using Bounce fabric softener sheets. Just rub them on all of your exposed skin and then put the sheet under your hat, hanging down on your neck to protect it as well. Not only will it help, but yo willnot end up an oily mess such as when you use Skin so Soft.Pauls/v Lady SaraHunter Legend 37

 

[Ed]

To Chuck- Electronics

The electronic repellers are available at many hardware, sporting goods stores and other places. I have seen them at Wal-Mart, Target and Fry's. They emit a very high sound that I guess drives the mosquitoes crazy. The sound is just at the upper range of human hearing, so if you are an old guy like me, you only hear it if you stick it in your ear. No smell or stickyness. Fits in your pocket like a pen. As I see it, you could try this first, and if it doesn't work for your species, then pile on the goop.

 

[Jerry]

Bouce works!

Paul has it right. We use bounce dryer sheets cut into strips and hang it from the back of our golf hats when the bugs start to come out on the course. Try it you'll like it! Jerry

 

[Warren Milberg]

For Ed, Pt II

I'm gonna try your recipe next season. Right now, most of the bugs here have gone south -- not a minute too soon.A few years ago, we sailed up the bay and put in to Worton Creek for the night. It was hot so we sat out in the cockpit with a few citronella candles going. They seemed to do the job. But we made the mistake of leaving a regular candle going inside the boat. When it was time to turn in, the ENTIRE inside headliner of my boat was covered with mosquitoes. Looked like a movie set for a sci-fi film. We spent hours trying to get rid of them and made a real mess of the headliner in the process. Neither of us slept much that night as a few strays kept buzzing our ears. We'll never go back there in mid-summer (unless armed with your secret bug repelling BBQ sauce).

 

[RichH]

Hey Pete ......

Most probably what you experienced in Worton Creek were not mosquitos but a hatch of a certain species of midges. They look like mosquitos but the 'identity' is that their antennae are 'fuzzy' - locally they are known as 'fuzzyheads'. During the spring on a dark/moonless night they emerge from the bay bottom and cover 'everything', are harmless, dont bite .... but do leave a signature 'stain of a green blob' on your gel coat. A simple 'punk' candle that emits a wee bit of smoke will keep them away. Most of the Chesapeake Bay north of Worton Crk/Gunpowder River experiences such 'hatches' in spring and early summer during the 'new' moon; the worst being off Lloyds Creek on the Sassafrass where during a hatch you will have one midge per 1/2 sq. inch of boat surface. Be SURE to cover your sails at night as the 'green blobs' are next to impossible to remove from sail cloth. Citronella, DEET, etc. are useless for FLIES. In the far north where the flies are MONSTEROUS, most folks simply slather on Noxema skin cream and/or stay downwind of a smokey fire. On the Delaware Bay or in the Bloodsworth/Tangier area of the Chesapeake when the flies are a 'problem' I usually burn some 'punks' and this seems to lessen the voracity of their hunger.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Thanks Rich

The plague you described is exactly what invaded our boat when in Worton Creek (also same thing in Tilghman Creek, just inside the point connecting the Miles River to Eastern Bay). As a matter of fact, we still have some green squish stains here and there on the boat from that episode.

 

[Bad Obsession]

A Drop of Nelson's Blood

The plan is to drink enough rum so that the flies and the mosquitos get a hang over from biting you... At least that works while you are at ancor.I was sailing back from Solomin's Island. The wind died and the black flies descended upon my boat like the Black Plague. My wife went inside and had all the screens up. I had to sit at the helm and get eatten alive. My wife looks at me from inside of the boat and says "Do you want bug spray?"Bug spray doesn't work on the evil bitting flies. The only relief was a long sleve shirt (one of the new light fishing shirts) and long pants tucked into my socks (the light fishing type pants). My neck was too hot for the flies to land on.

 

[Ed13740]

For Pete Part 3

I'll look for you on the bay next season. We shall smell like a crab fest togeather but there will be no flies!Best wishes to you and yours for a calm winter and early spring.Ed

 

[Warren Milberg]

For Ed, Pt III

Where is Sue Creek? Can't believe the season here on the bay is nearing its (bugless) end. We've had great winds and few serious storms here this season. Hope the same for you.