Ha, Kloudie1. As I read I thought about us Southern dwellers. We know bugs. Thermacell for sure. Definitely know when it runs out! From some LA marsh fishermen, I learned about skin-so-soft bug guard plus with picaridin. It is very effective. Doesn't smell bad, and have sprayed it on my palm and rubbed in to good effect. Between these and a screen I can usually make it. Backup plan with no wind: get away from the island and set the motor and autopilot to go in circles (just kidding)!
OMG the Black Flies!
- Thread starter RWSlater
- Start date
- Status
And if you ever swat (electrocute) a shipmate, even more exersize (got my wife under the fingernail once.... very bad).
RW & Rich H...
Was at Worton Creek Marina overnight on Saturday/Sunday and didn't notice the black flies and/or the mosquitos. Saw a tremendous lightning show down bay that night, though!
Four boats from my club were at Still Pond at the same time and didn't mention the fly problem, but they were anchored well out from the shore beach crescent.
Another boat was over in Georgetown and said it was unbelievably hot and muggy with little air movement.
My dockmate has one of the electronic fly swatters and swears by it--it really does the job!
Was at Worton Creek Marina overnight on Saturday/Sunday and didn't notice the black flies and/or the mosquitos. Saw a tremendous lightning show down bay that night, though!
Four boats from my club were at Still Pond at the same time and didn't mention the fly problem, but they were anchored well out from the shore beach crescent.
Another boat was over in Georgetown and said it was unbelievably hot and muggy with little air movement.
My dockmate has one of the electronic fly swatters and swears by it--it really does the job!
Last edited:
We anchored in Still Pond around 4:30 Saturday. We were well away from shore so the flies were not too bad. We do have a Raid fogger can that we sprayed for a few seconds upon arrival and again after a couple of hours. The flies literally drop to the deck dead and we can sweep them up with a wisk broom & dustpan shortly after use of the product. The fogger and a citronella candle kept the cockpit free of the bastards until we went to bed shortly after 10. We do keep fly swatters handy for the elusive few.
I had rowed the dog ashore shortly after we arrived and the flies swarmed around me as soon as I stepped out of the dinghy. My sister offered to row the pooch ashore shortly before our late dinner. She and her 10 year old left before I could tell them about the flies. They made a world speed record coming back! My niece jumped out of the dinghy about 2/3 of the way back just to escape the biting flies. We were watching and wondering what was going on, as she kept dunking herself under the water.
I applied Deep Woods Off Sunday morning when I took the dog over about 7 am. The flies only bit me on my feet where I had neglected to spray the Off.
I think that our combination of the fogger, citronella and fly swatters is about the best we have found to keep the biting flies under control.
BTW - we enjoyed pretty decent winds sailing back to the Sassafras on Sunday.
DH
I had rowed the dog ashore shortly after we arrived and the flies swarmed around me as soon as I stepped out of the dinghy. My sister offered to row the pooch ashore shortly before our late dinner. She and her 10 year old left before I could tell them about the flies. They made a world speed record coming back! My niece jumped out of the dinghy about 2/3 of the way back just to escape the biting flies. We were watching and wondering what was going on, as she kept dunking herself under the water.
I applied Deep Woods Off Sunday morning when I took the dog over about 7 am. The flies only bit me on my feet where I had neglected to spray the Off.
I think that our combination of the fogger, citronella and fly swatters is about the best we have found to keep the biting flies under control.
BTW - we enjoyed pretty decent winds sailing back to the Sassafras on Sunday.
DH
Another vote for Thermacell. Keeps the cockpit clear if there's not too much wind. Magic.
Below decks, you can't beat one of these in the hands of a 10 year old boy (in mind if not in body)
http://www.amazon.com/Martin-100-75...8&qid=1346722905&sr=8-21&keywords=fly+swatter
Carl
Below decks, you can't beat one of these in the hands of a 10 year old boy (in mind if not in body)
http://www.amazon.com/Martin-100-75...8&qid=1346722905&sr=8-21&keywords=fly+swatter
Carl
Deadhead...
You musta left Still Pond in the afternoon. When I passed by at 9:30 Sunday morning, there was little wind and I had about a mile visibility in foggy conditions all the way up to Turkey Point.
You musta left Still Pond in the afternoon. When I passed by at 9:30 Sunday morning, there was little wind and I had about a mile visibility in foggy conditions all the way up to Turkey Point.
Just got back from Home Depot. Bought the initial ThermaCELL pack. Needed it this week. I will order the refills from Amazon or eBay. Also bought a Citronella candle also. Probably head to Harbor Freight to pick up the electric Zapper swatter as entertainment for all. Now watch, this time I'll anchor out a little further from land, there will be a great breeze all night, it will be dry, and there won't be any flies! But alas, I'm ready for the bastards
When I was at Moab a couple of years ago I was camped along the Colorado river. I made the mistake of putting on a headlight on when getting ready for bed. My head was instantly covered in flies, I couldn't breath. I had flies in my eyes, my nose and down my throat. What a nightmare. As soon as I turned out the light they went away and it was only me and the mosiquitos.
I was on a cruise well over 150 miles off the DelMarVa peninsula and we spent every waking minute of the day swatting black flies in mid June. Not sure if storm winds blow them out there or if they fly out there on their own but they're out there.
Flying sailplanes, we used to see bugs in the thermals 4-5000 feet up.. I suspect many of 'em get lifted up there and then come down in the down-drafts over the cooler water..??
It is frustrating to be off shore a ways and get a boat load of bugs all of a sudden.. I reckon the fish like it !
It is frustrating to be off shore a ways and get a boat load of bugs all of a sudden.. I reckon the fish like it !
Saturday morning was a west wind onto Barnegat Bay and I've NEVER seen flies like this. Biting black flies. We soaked ourselves with backwoods off, then sprayed the cockpit sole, seat cushions and bimini with the stuff and they were still swarming us. Coming back up the channel into Forked River there were at least 30 buzzing around my legs below knee level. My wife broke the fly swatter!
We noticed the little suckers are cannibals and were feasting on the dead. So when we got back to the slip everyone vacated the boat for the beach bar and I hosed down the cockpit and opened all the hatches (there were at least a dozen in the salon).
With the food source (us) gone the flys vacated the boat. By the afternoon the wind clocked around 180 degrees and according to some friends who went out no flies.
Been seeing some really unusual spiders around the house too. Weird.
We noticed the little suckers are cannibals and were feasting on the dead. So when we got back to the slip everyone vacated the boat for the beach bar and I hosed down the cockpit and opened all the hatches (there were at least a dozen in the salon).
With the food source (us) gone the flys vacated the boat. By the afternoon the wind clocked around 180 degrees and according to some friends who went out no flies.
Been seeing some really unusual spiders around the house too. Weird.
I can't swear to it ... yes I can ... the black flies got worse after I sprayed everything with OFF spray. It was like yum yum to them. I'm ready now. If they are that bad again, I'll just set the boat on fire right where she sits
Don't do it the light will just attract more flies.
This is nothing more than the coming of the Apocalypse December 21, or is that November 6?
- Status