Deer Flies

[timcsaw]

Quick question: Does DEET keep these nasties away?

- Mark

Deet is known to deer flies as "barbecue sauce". I've never found it to be much of a deterrent to them.

WARNING
[Fish story]

I was brook fishing on a small, overgrown stream and FINALLY got my line into the perfect little spot... I knew there was a brookie in there and had tried numerous time to get the bait into him... just as I got it on the spot, a deer-fly lit on the back of my hand (100% deet covered hand by the way) and he went to chewing. I was frozen and intent on not moving my pole or line. It was a test of will... he chewed... I kept still waiting for the fish... he chewed... I waited... FINALLY I set the hook and noticed that the fly had chewed so much that I had blood dripping off my hand (little SOB). Even with me working the hooked fish... he kept chewing. Sure that the hook was set, I SMASHED the little SOB to fly-paste!

Caught the nice 9 inch brookie to boot! (worth the blood loss)

[End fish story]

We have many black flies here in New England which can really be a bother. They bite and really hurt... and they leave a wicked itchy welt (worse than any mosquito). Unless they are in a swarm though, Deet works pretty well against them. I've only ONCE had to resort to a head-net in a swarm. Not so much because they would bite, but because they were SOOOooo thick that I couldn't keep them out of my eyes, nose, mouth and ears (deet or no deet, it sucks to inhale black flies!).

 

[KershawLover]

I hate any of these little suckers. They are so annoying and the only way to get them to stop their little spree is to actually physically kill them.

Also, I think that the OFF! Deep Woods stuff actually keeps them away. But be careful the deet in that is so strong that it'll mutate you.....

 

[timcsaw]

I hate any of these little suckers. They are so annoying and the only way to get them to stop their little spree is to actually physically kill them.

Also, I think that the OFF! Deep Woods stuff actually keeps them away. But be careful the deet in that is so strong that it'll mutate you.....

The only thing I've found to work on deer flies is Citronella oil... you know... the kind you put in those Tiki torches. If you douse yourself in the oil and set yourself on fire, they'll stay away (most of them anyway).