Algonquin Adventures / This might be early, but...Bug In?

**Posted by MooseWhizzer Dave** 4/28/2024 4:31 pm

Now that Ice Out has taken place, there's a limited period of time before Bug In occurs. I've got a trip 5/3 - 5/6. In most years that's prior to flying demon season, but Ice Out was pretty early this year, and I'm wondering about an early Bug In.

I can't get a feel for what the sustained temperatures have been like. I think we are just getting to daytime temps that would awaken the swarming giant but the nights absolutely not.

Trying to decide if I bring the nobugzone because uh-oh, or maybe just carry the bugshirt because pesky times ahead, or just the bug hat because they look so cool.

Last edited by MooseWhizzer Dave (4/28/2024 4:32 pm)

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 4/28/2024 5:20 pm

I'm heading in for a solo paddle starting on the 3rd for 9 days. I'm travelling solo. I decided to pack my bug jacket as a precaution and an appropriate amount of bug juice. I personally think I won't need it, but its a "nice to have" incase the wee beasties do emerge earlier than normal.

**Posted by Peek** 4/28/2024 6:03 pm

There are a couple black flies buzzing around here in Huntsville, but they aren't biting just yet. Won't be long tho - a couple days of warm weather is all it takes.

**Posted by TripperMike** 4/29/2024 7:35 am

Dave, I’ll be in from the 4th - 7th and my thought is that they will be buzzing, but I doubt they will be anywhere close to needing a bug shelter. The forecast has jumped by 6 degrees since last night so it’s a crapshoot at this point.

Personally, I don’t get savagely attacked like some friends of mine so I’ll probably just take a bug jacket for sanity purposes if it comes to that.

For context, in 2022 I went in on May 12 and they were out and biting, but not enough to have to retreat to our Nobugzone.

**Posted by trippythings** 4/29/2024 8:53 am

I was in the park Friday/Saturday and the bugs were starting to come out (not in large numbers) and were not really biting yet. I did get two bites in the 24 hours that I was there, but I think they tend to like my blood. My friend stayed an extra night and said that by Sunday afternoon they were noticeably out in larger numbers than when we arrived Friday, but still not really biting. With the warm weather, my guess is that they'll be out in full force by this coming weekend. But hopefully I'm wrong.

**Posted by IanTendy** 4/29/2024 9:04 am

Yeah...I just booked May 17-20 and I'm definitely bringing the NoBugZone as a "Cube of Sanity" to cook and sit in. Bug shirt, hat, and repellant clothes are also coming out big time.

I'm used to camping in June though, so figure this will just be part for the course.

Who knows, maybe the early out means early in? A man can dream...right?

**Posted by MooseWhizzer Dave** 4/29/2024 10:12 am

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It looks like most everyone else is also in "I dunno" shoulder-shrug mode, just like me. My initial thought was I'd throw the no bugzone in the car and play it by ear, but experience tells me if I put something in the car, I cave in and take it in the canoe. I'm betting I chicken out and take "everything". I dislike carrying the extra weight, but the thing about the nobugzone is it is also a substitute for a tarp, so even if there's no bug use for it, there can be a weather use for it. (This also explains why I couldn't find the stakes for my tarp yesterday....they were with the NBZ...).

**Posted by Guyute** 5/03/2024 2:31 pm

I just returned from 4 days in the park. No biting bugs yet, and I didn't see many blackflies at all. There are a ton of midges around, though, to get into your mouth, ears and nose, but I'll take that.

**Posted by ShawnD** 5/04/2024 8:30 am

In solo from May 13-20. Assuming bugs. Won’t bring the big bug tent when solo. Will have an ultralight hammock with bug net ( 11 ozs total) though for some sanity if they get bad where I can read etc. and still enjoy any sunshine.

**Posted by MooseWhizzer Dave** 5/05/2024 10:35 pm

Just got back. It was cold and windy where I was today, so bugs weren't in evidence today, but the two days prior they were, when the temperature was favorable and the wind was fairly light. They weren't too numerous or hostile, but a nice couple of consecutive days and they'll be all ready for some tasty people to come along.

**Posted by John McClane** 5/07/2024 12:35 pm

Bugs were starting this past weekend. Victoria Day weekend won't be pretty!

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 5/07/2024 8:50 pm

Just came out from the north side of the park. Black flies are out in swarms but not yet biting (it wouldn’t surprise me if that changes in the next day or two). Mosquitoes virtually nonexistent still.

**Posted by John McClane** 5/16/2024 9:35 am

Heading into the Park tonight. Any updates?

**Posted by Ray K** 5/17/2024 8:49 am

Mid last week they were swarming, but only got a few bites. I would expect this weekend would be a more intense.

**Posted by ShawnD** 5/17/2024 3:23 pm

I came out yesterday. Yesterday black flies started up around 7pm. The 3 days before that they were pretty much non existent.

Last edited by ShawnD (5/17/2024 3:24 pm)

**Posted by AlgonquinLakes** 5/20/2024 6:38 pm

Just came out from the Shall area today. Mosquitoes are out and biting. Black flies are out and biting. It’s the start of the bugocalypse.

**Posted by Lenny** 5/21/2024 4:22 pm

Yep came out of Brent area and first couple of days weren't too bad but was happy to get out when we did. Both mosquitos and black flies were thick and biting.