are the bugs bad at Hatteras?
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With almost 25" of rain in the past 2 months standing water everywhere, I don't go out after dark, nor do I leave my windows in the truck down. When the wind dies down a bit, if you are outside and unprotected prepare to be carried away. They are bad, and Dare co>'s spraying program is a bandaid, on a cut that needs stitches.
A few bleeding heart eco types here, have ended aero spraying, which is really what we need to get rid of the larve.
A few bleeding heart eco types here, have ended aero spraying, which is really what we need to get rid of the larve.
This is a rather lengthy post, but after all the bites I've had and good fishing I've missed, I made it a mission to beat the bastards.
Bugs...lets narrow it down to one...marsh devils...mosquitoes.
Per the beach...not so bad, unless you get a land breeze and then you'll be worried about the flies more so than mosquitoes. For the beach I use Avon Skin So Soft. It works...
Here are some tips for fishing:
Be ready to fish the moment you park. Stop off and put your waders on, prepare your tackle, use the bathroom, etc. in a less buggy area before you get to your spot. For instance, if I fish Bodie Island Light, I stop off before I turn off 12 and get ready. I get back in the car, waders on and all, even have a fly on my leader and when I park by the gate, I jump out, grab my rod and necessary items and walk/run to the water. Before I started doing this, probably 75
% of my bites were between the car and the water.
If you wade the backwater or hang around the inlets, once you get a ways out in the water, it's not so bad. I don't care how hot you are...put on bug proof clothing. I think Cabelas sells a thin "bug proof" shirt. Haven't tried it yet, but I might get one for the fall. They will bite through my chamois shirt...look into a headnet for the really bad days (which can be most of them). Don't wash your clothes with detergent containing deodorants and use no softeners in your dryer. Frankly once I get a shirt nice and "DEETY", I don't wash it...it gets real stinky, but I don't get bitten.
Avoid yellow colors during the day and when night fishing, try a red filter on your lights. Easier on your eyes and you wont attract as many bugs.
As for repellents, I have tried all the naturals...eucalytus, lemon, cactus...they love the stuff. Even the Avon SSS does not help much...although it helps on the beach against the flies. So...if you don't mind using it, get a lotion or spray with as much DEET as you can stand. I use Bob's Bug repellent(95%) on the bad days and it will hold them off. Combined with a the right clothes, you'll be fine. Just don't get it anywhere near you bait, tackle, flies, lines, or any kind of poly clothing.
Cigars don't really help...the smoke does keep them away but you produce more CO which attracts them to you.
Has anybody tried that stuff from 3M? Ultrathon?
In answer to your question...yes the bugs are bad.
Sorry for the windy post, hope this helps.
Bugs...lets narrow it down to one...marsh devils...mosquitoes.
Per the beach...not so bad, unless you get a land breeze and then you'll be worried about the flies more so than mosquitoes. For the beach I use Avon Skin So Soft. It works...
Here are some tips for fishing:
Be ready to fish the moment you park. Stop off and put your waders on, prepare your tackle, use the bathroom, etc. in a less buggy area before you get to your spot. For instance, if I fish Bodie Island Light, I stop off before I turn off 12 and get ready. I get back in the car, waders on and all, even have a fly on my leader and when I park by the gate, I jump out, grab my rod and necessary items and walk/run to the water. Before I started doing this, probably 75
% of my bites were between the car and the water.
If you wade the backwater or hang around the inlets, once you get a ways out in the water, it's not so bad. I don't care how hot you are...put on bug proof clothing. I think Cabelas sells a thin "bug proof" shirt. Haven't tried it yet, but I might get one for the fall. They will bite through my chamois shirt...look into a headnet for the really bad days (which can be most of them). Don't wash your clothes with detergent containing deodorants and use no softeners in your dryer. Frankly once I get a shirt nice and "DEETY", I don't wash it...it gets real stinky, but I don't get bitten.
Avoid yellow colors during the day and when night fishing, try a red filter on your lights. Easier on your eyes and you wont attract as many bugs.
As for repellents, I have tried all the naturals...eucalytus, lemon, cactus...they love the stuff. Even the Avon SSS does not help much...although it helps on the beach against the flies. So...if you don't mind using it, get a lotion or spray with as much DEET as you can stand. I use Bob's Bug repellent(95%) on the bad days and it will hold them off. Combined with a the right clothes, you'll be fine. Just don't get it anywhere near you bait, tackle, flies, lines, or any kind of poly clothing.
Cigars don't really help...the smoke does keep them away but you produce more CO which attracts them to you.
Has anybody tried that stuff from 3M? Ultrathon?
In answer to your question...yes the bugs are bad.
Sorry for the windy post, hope this helps.
Interesting. I don't have waders and will likely just fish from the pier. I don't want to leave my wife with the two youngsters while I'm off fishing all day. I do that every weekend. 
Is the ferry to Ocracoke easy to get on, or do you have to have reservations?
Is the ferry to Ocracoke easy to get on, or do you have to have reservations?
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831 Posts
Good info Mummichog..........
As said, it's the land breeze or no breeze that gets you bit. Sometimes you can avoid this by going North or South of the "Point".
As far as Ocracoke,
As said, it's the land breeze or no breeze that gets you bit. Sometimes you can avoid this by going North or South of the "Point".
As far as Ocracoke,
No Reservations, but not always so easy to get on. Depends on when you go, can be a rather long wait at times. Be sure and take your bug spray when you go, and don't miss the last ferry back
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1,481 Posts
Yeah, that's very helpful info mummichog.
Once you're in Ocracoke - don't forget to visit my favorite watering hole - Howard's Pub. One time, Mrs. C2H&G and I wondered why we had the whole Ocracoke beach to ourselves when we drove on the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day. When we stopped the truck, the entire windshield was covered in mosquitos and other flying bugs. Spent the day in town where the bugs weren't bad and at the Pub.
Once you're in Ocracoke - don't forget to visit my favorite watering hole - Howard's Pub. One time, Mrs. C2H&G and I wondered why we had the whole Ocracoke beach to ourselves when we drove on the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day. When we stopped the truck, the entire windshield was covered in mosquitos and other flying bugs. Spent the day in town where the bugs weren't bad and at the Pub.
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