Alaska - flies and other nuisance insects (2 Viewers)

[MiddleRiver]

When does fly season start? May, June,...?
Particularly interested of south-central AK - Denali down to Katmai.

 

[Joe H]

This has been (and continues to be) a heavy snow year in Alaska, so some of my comments may be a bit delayed - things will take a lot longer to melt out this Spring. Normally in/around Anchorage we get the first big mosquito hatches in June. Once they die off as things dry out, the big black horse flies make their appearance, usually around late July through August. Both respond well to high deet repellents but be sure to wash the palms of your hands after using it. As a fly fisher I can confirm high levels of deet will damage the plastic coating on fly lines. I've heard it's bad on the rubber armor on binoculars, but so far my older armored bins haven't been affected.

But bottom line: Expect hungry mosquitoes after the initial melt-off as the temps get warm (50s to 60s), then flies as the summer progresses. It's not that the mosquitoes disappear, the flies are more noticeable.

 

[Jim M.]

Haven't been to Alaska, but tests have shown PIcaridin to be as effective as DEET and doesn't damage rubber/plastic; also 30% DEET is basically as effective as higher concentrations.

 

[MiddleRiver]

This has been (and continues to be) a heavy snow year in Alaska, so some of my comments may be a bit delayed - things will take a lot longer to melt out this Spring. Normally in/around Anchorage we get the first big mosquito hatches in June. Once they die off as things dry out, the big black horse flies make their appearance, usually around late July through August. Both respond well to high deet repellents but be sure to wash the palms of your hands after using it. As a fly fisher I can confirm high levels of deet will damage the plastic coating on fly lines. I've heard it's bad on the rubber armor on binoculars, but so far my older armored bins haven't been affected.

But bottom line: Expect hungry mosquitoes after the initial melt-off as the temps get warm (50s to 60s), then flies as the summer progresses. It's not that the mosquitoes disappear, the flies are more noticeable.

Thanks ;-)
We'll prob be there in May, and it sounds like snow may actually be a bigger concern. Hoping to travel Denali Hwy :-o

 

[Joe H]

Good luck on your trip! I know the Denali Highway has opened as early as late April during some years, but May is more likely, and this year will be hard to predict. We've had a little more snow than last year, so if we don't get much more the opening should be around the same time as last year (I'm not sure when it opened last year; the kids and I drove it mid-July last year to coincide with the best Grayling fishing). If we get a bunch more yet, then it will be later.

Edit: You probably already know this, but some rental agencies don't allow their vehicles to drive the Denali due to the lengthy unpaved sections.

 

[MiddleRiver]

Good luck on your trip! I know the Denali Highway has opened as early as late April during some years, but May is more likely, and this year will be hard to predict. We've had a little more snow than last year, so if we don't get much more the opening should be around the same time as last year (I'm not sure when it opened last year; the kids and I drove it mid-July last year to coincide with the best Grayling fishing). If we get a bunch more yet, then it will be later.

Edit: You probably already know this, but some rental agencies don't allow their vehicles to drive the Denali due to the lengthy unpaved sections.

Thanks again! Yes re rentals ;-) and Yes, I'll have a Tenkara rod with me
Surely an Arctic Warbler will cooperate and be there early and visible, no? LOL

 

[Joe H]

You sound well-prepared for the trip - the travel rod is a great idea, though it might be a bit early when you are on the Denali for the best fishing. I'll post two pictures that have little to do with birding except I had a pair of 8x20s on while fishing with the family on Tangle River, near the Tangle Lakes campground (a bit over 20 miles in from the Paxon side). In one, the family is using the committee process to release a fish. Eventually the fish just tossed the hook and swam off on its own. In the other I was letting my daughter use my fly rod after she got a cast from her rod snagged above a good hole. She got a nice Grayling and then we retrieved her fly. It's a picture worth more to me than I can say. The pictures are from late July - it's a pity the best birding and fishing don't coincide. I'm sure you have A Birder's Guide to Alaska by George C. West. I have the 2002 edition but I know it's been updated. I found it very helpful in tracking down Smith's Longspur on the Denali Highway 20 years ago. Arctic Warblers should not be difficult in that area if the road is open.

 

[MiddleRiver]

You sound well-prepared for the trip - the travel rod is a great idea, though it might be a bit early when you are on the Denali for the best fishing. I'll post two pictures that have little to do with birding except I had a pair of 8x20s on while fishing with the family on Tangle River, near the Tangle Lakes campground (a bit over 20 miles in from the Paxon side). In one, the family is using the committee process to release a fish. Eventually the fish just tossed the hook and swam off on its own. In the other I was letting my daughter use my fly rod after she got a cast from her rod snagged above a good hole. She got a nice Grayling and then we retrieved her fly. It's a picture worth more to me than I can say. The pictures are from late July - it's a pity the best birding and fishing don't coincide. I'm sure you have A Birder's Guide to Alaska by George C. West. I have the 2002 edition but I know it's been updated. I found it very helpful in tracking down Smith's Longspur on the Denali Highway 20 years ago. Arctic Warblers should not be difficult in that area if the road is open.

haha that is awesome ;-)

I might bring a legit fly rod but the Tenkara is such a compact package that it makes travel a lot easier. Camera gear, birding gear, scope/tripod,... uh 'honey I think i ought to bring a fly rod'. Scope creep as they say, LOL.
We're renting a small, basic, conversion camper van for the Denali/hwy leg of the trip. Starting out at the bird festy. Excited about this one!

Yes, I did get the West book... quite a tome!

I might be back for more quez in a month or two ;-)
thx

 

[Elkhornsun]

I use a garden sprayer to treat all our pants, shirts, hats, neck gaiters, and socks with a diluted solution of permethrin. Costs 10 cents per garment and last through more than 6 washings. The permethin is safe for human contact and is great at repelling a wide range of insects including mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks.

On exposed skin we use a 15-20 percent picaridin solution to repel bugs and it will not damage plastics and synthetic clothing the way that DEET does.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I use a garden sprayer to treat all our pants, shirts, hats, neck gaiters, and socks with a diluted solution of permethrin. Costs 10 cents per garment and last through more than 6 washings. The permethin is safe for human contact and is great at repelling a wide range of insects including mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks.

On exposed skin we use a 15-20 percent picaridin solution to repel bugs and it will not damage plastics and synthetic clothing the way that DEET does.

Thanks. I'm also a big fan of permethrin (as long as not wading in streams...).

Hopefully the timing will be just past heavy snow but just before annoying insect season, and not too early for migrating birds... LOL

 

[Joe H]

I saw a local update on the Denali Highway road conditions posted on-line so I thought I'd share it here. Man, that's a lot of snow!