Black flies near the coast? (Portland, Wells: how much, buy, teach)

[lizbet46]

My family would like to travel up to Maine the last week in May. Apparently, this is the middle of black fly season. I was wondering if the black flies are a serious problem near the coast, since that is where we were planning to be. We were thinking of staying in Ogunquit or Wells, near Portland, Camden, and/or Bar Harbor. Can anyone tell me how much of a problem black flies would be in those places? And is there a bug repellant that really keeps them away? Thanks.

[ADSLubec]

Originally Posted by lizbet46

My family would like to travel up to Maine the last week in May. Apparently, this is the middle of black fly season. I was wondering if the black flies are a serious problem near the coast, since that is where we were planning to be. We were thinking of staying in Ogunquit or Wells, near Portland, Camden, and/or Bar Harbor. Can anyone tell me how much of a problem black flies would be in those places? And is there a bug repellant that really keeps them away? Thanks.

Here is a link to the black fly report. Historical maps are available.

Maine Nature News - Current Black Fly Report

Alan

[corgis]

Usually coastal areas aren't affected as much as inland due to sea breezes.

[angelo129]

I've found they're not much of a problem directly (and I do mean directly) on the coast, but a little wooded patch five minutes inland can be a completely different matter.

If you've never experienced black flies, it's impossible for anybody to tell you whether they'll be a problem for you or not. They seem to leave some people alone and make a real meal of others. I've been out walking with people who didn't get a single bite or even notice black flies were around, while I had a bloodied scalp and was bitten so badly that my eye bulged out like Popeye's and turned completely black. If they take a liking to you, they can be really vicious and will bite where you've never been bitten before. They'll also crawl inside elasticized long sleeves and get into your hat if it's not practically glued to your head. Then again, there are those who walk with seeming impunity while I have a cloud around my head that accompanies me wherever I go.

I haven't found anything that helps to keep them away if they really think you're a tasty morsel. If you have no experience with them, I'd advise staying close to the shore. Very close.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Ah, yes; the annual question. Black flies are most numerous near clean fast flowing fresh water streams. They are least numerous on long points that jut out into the ocean. They appear first in southern Maine and they emerge further north as streams warm up.

As to trout fishing, "When the flies are bitin' the fish are bitin'."

[Coaster]

Ben's 100 is the only thing that has worked for me. Not sure you can even buy it anymore. I stocked up a few years back when they started diluting it. I know people who swear by various herbal remedies -- pennyroyal and citrus seem to be popular -- but all they do for me is attract more blackflies. And I already draw every biting insect within a five mile radius.

[Casper1212]

Hubby was telling me that one of the guys at work was fishing when he noticed blood on his hands. When he rolled his sleeves up, blood was running down his arms from where black flies had bitten him. Gee, I'm glad we have a screened in porch.

[Acadianlion]

Black flies don't bother me at all. It is one of the main benefits of being a curmudgeon.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

You can get Ben's 100 and Repel both up here. We need it. I don't use bug dope much. I'm one of those people not affected much by black flies. I think we develop an immunity over time. We ran into a family on top of North Traveler Mountain once and they came running over to us asking, "What is happening to us?" I told them they were black fly bites.

"But we have not seen any black flies." I showed them some hiking around on their clothes.

"These little things do THIS?"

Yes, indeed. I gave them some bug dope. On the way back down there was a couple sitting on top of a rock ledge looking down onto Lower South Branch Pond. A big black bear walked along just behind them. The bear stopped, looked at the couple and went on his way. The couple never saw the bear.

I went down to them and said, "Nice view." We spoke for a moment and I told them about the bear. They thought I was kidding them. I told them to write their address on a piece of paper and I would mail them a photo of them with the bear less than 10 feet from them.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

Black flies don't bother me at all. It is one of the main benefits of being a curmudgeon.

Teach me, Obi-Wan, teach me!