OMG the Black Flies!

Ross · Sep 2, 2012

We were down on the Sassafras wednesday and thursday nights and there were a few. The devils will bite right through a Tee shirt. I never anchor real close in to shore.

njsail · Sep 2, 2012

The flys were insane on barnegate bay NJ this weekend too. They made sailing much less enjoyable and at anchor it felt like we a fly hotel....we pulled up anchor and left. There was no mercy anywhere.

Bill Roosa · Sep 2, 2012

Try a bimini with curtains. The bug screens option is well worth it.

tommays · Sep 2, 2012

There was no wind so we went up to Mount Marcy and there was still no wind even at 5400 feet

BUT there was the worst bugs of every possible kind i have ever ever ever SEEN and yes that is a REAL BUG

By the way the bug spray does kill the lobster which is NOT so good

Slow Mo^cean · Sep 2, 2012

I know about the flies you speak of, but haven't experienced them in masses. Last night when I was out, we started getting swarmed by all sorts of critter. I lit one of those 3 wick citronella candles inside the cabin (with the hatches open) and withing 15 minutes we were almost bug free in the cabin.

Cmp1110 · Sep 2, 2012

If anchored at still pond avoid the south shore if there is a southerly breeze it blows them
Out at you

higgs · Sep 2, 2012

they are terrible and we get them on the Great Lakes, though not as bad the past 6 yeas or so.

Keep your feet up off the cockpit sole. They like still air. if you get your feet and legs up in a breeze, that helps.

Killing them only makes the problem worse over the long run - in my opinion. The ones you kill are the slow, stupid ones. That leaves the faster, smarter ones alive to reproduce even more faster, smarter flies while we cleanse the gene pool of the slower, stupider flies.

RichH · Sep 2, 2012

Yes, the no-seeum black flies were out in full force this weekend on the upper eastern shore; plus, out in the bay the stable flies (the ones with rasps on their nose to help them dig-in) even in 10-12 kts. Be glad you didnt have the stable flies ... they hurt like hell.
With the no-seeums its usually a spring and early summer phenomenon; they have been thick (as flies) after the heavy rains earlier in the week.

All these species dont like wood smoke. I use either 'punk' or the lighted insecticide/citronella laced punk spirals to create the smoke ... and you sit downwind of the smoke. When fishing from a dink I use Noxema skin cream (blue jar); also works well on the BIG black flies that you get in the north country. Apply it thick.

..... and the mosquitos were also out in full force, being most active at dusk and dawn; ditto green heads and horse flies during the heat of the day.

Its been 'moist' & humid after the summer drought and probably the moistness and high humidity has caused a late heavy hatch.

The no-seeums and mosquitos wont bother you is you're anchored 50 yards offshore.

An electronic 'fly bat' works wonders, especially to sweep out the cockpit foot well where mosquitos and no-seeums seem to congregate.

thinwater · Sep 2, 2012

Bill Roosa said:
Try a bimini with curtains. The bug screens option is well worth it.

Exactly.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/04/banning-bugs-slider-screen-for-pdq-32.html

Screens for everything. Just came back from 3 weeks on the Chesapeake, Delaware, and coast.

kloudie1 · Sep 2, 2012

Ya might try this :
http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent
It works in the swamps and marshes on mosquitoes and deer flies and other biting things..
I am not involved with the company.. I found that this works better than other things I've tried here in south Louisiana.. The Thermacell is nothing like the little coils that slowly burn.. It emits a vapor that keeps the critters at bay. Ya have to be cognizant of the wind and direction so that the vapor is blown to you and not away.. I have one going in the cockpit footwell and another just inside the companionway. In really bad conditions, a third may be needed in the front hatch

Benny17441 · Sep 2, 2012

We got attacked one day sailing in the Long Island Sound; I had not seen so many of them since spending a day at La Renteria horse race track. We only had rolled up magazines to defend ourselfs but it was a blood bath. That night we went and purchased a couple of Texas size flyswaters and were ready for the next day but they never showed up again for the duration of our trip. I vouch for the thermacell as it is real effective against mosquitoes but do not know if it would work against these horse flies. It is amazing how they can fly a couple of miles out to sea and hone on a boat as if they had radar. I will defer to local knowledge as far as how long their season may last.

captron · Sep 3, 2012

I second the Thermacell, bought one and extra butane cartridges and repellent this week at Home Depot, (24.95) we used them this weekend at River Dunes in eastern NC lots of mosquito's there but this worked great, it also doubles as a latern practical sailor has a very positive review of the product along worth positive on line reviews.
Hope this helps.

Capt. Ron

Sailm8 · Sep 3, 2012

This doesn't keep them away but it sure is fun:
http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-fly-swatter-40122.html

brazenarticle · Sep 3, 2012

another vote for the thermacell

bought my thermacell on amazon and got some refills this year at Home Depot. Look for sales, they can be a bit pricey.
Second line of defense are Ikea mosquito nets. They are on hoops and get stashed under cushions in the cabin.