Warding off flies on your boat during the daytime?

[KC8QVO]

Any ideas on warding off flies on a boat during the day? I've tried sprays like OFF and I can take a bath in the stuff and it won't stop the flies. I got some of the coil mosquito repellent things that smolder to try. I thought about getting one of those bug zapper lights but my hunch is they won't work too well during the day since the bugs are attracted to the light = not real affective when it is light out. Any other types of zappers that work well for flies during the day?

 

[LippCJ7]

I think you need a bigger motor....

 

[jbcurt00]

I think you need a bigger motor....

Or a vintage 24-1 1950's 2cycle OB

 

[thumpar]

Where the heck are you boating at? The only time I have see a single fly on the water is at one spot we stopped at on the lake.

 

[jigngrub]

Here's some ideas if you're talking about biting flies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Dc3W_gIVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6sYXsrOZ8g

 

[dingbat]

If you find something that actually works you'll make millions. They have found us us 35 miles offshore before. They drink deet for breakfast and use 2 stroke smoke as incenses yet for some reason they are easy targets for a wash down hose. Killed 35 one afternoon

 

[Frank Acampora]

I have never tried it myself---yet-- but here is a tip I picked up at an outdoor restaurant in the Florida Keys: Fill several large food plastic bags with water and hang up around the area. Supposedly the sunlight glinting through the water distracts and confuses the flies and keeps them away. It worked at the restaurant--- there were no flies there for the two days we had breakfast and lunch. This is something I never heard of before and I have not yet had a reason to try it.

My wife and I were eating and we saw the plastic bags hanging from the sides of the tiki hut. Curious, we asked the waitress and she explained that it was for fly control. Go figure. If anyone does try it, report back with results please.

 

[midcarolina]

Believe it or not...... equal parts pine sol, water, vinegar works very good........mix it up in a spray bottle spray on a couple cotton towels tied to your boat railing.

At home on your deck or porch the zip lock bags of water work well, If using bags seems a little tacky to the admiral, go to hobby lobby they have glass bottles that look like clear light bulbs, the threaded looking contact end is the cap....... fill with water hang a few with a string around the porch, looks better than bags and does the job.

 

[jayhanig]

Avon makes an insect repellent that works against those biting flies. I've tried Off and Deep Woods Off; while they work on most pests the flies just laughed at it. Not so the Avon stuff.

 

[Thalasso]

I have never tried it myself---yet-- but here is a tip I picked up at an outdoor restaurant in the Florida Keys: Fill several large food plastic bags with water and hang up around the area. Supposedly the sunlight glinting through the water distracts and confuses the flies and keeps them away. It worked at the restaurant--- there were no flies there for the two days we had breakfast and lunch. This is something I never heard of before and I have not yet had a reason to try it.

My wife and I were eating and we saw the plastic bags hanging from the sides of the tiki hut. Curious, we asked the waitress and she explained that it was for fly control. Go figure. If anyone does try it, report back with results please.

Have read that also. Don't know if it works or not.
The only time i have ever encountered flies on the water is when there isn't any air movement.

 

[UncleWillie]

... They have found us us 35 miles offshore before...

I have run into the Black Flies 20 miles out in lake Erie.
I don't understand what the attraction for them is that far out.
If you are lucky there is one other boat within 5 miles. Nothing but water.
I figure they must keep flying continuously because if they land on the surface the fish will have an easy meal.

That explains why they are attracted to the boat, what what attracts then to the area?

 

[KC8QVO]

Thanks for the ideas.

The lake is in Ontario and I am out fishing when I encounter the flies - not too far out on the lake, and in most cases fishing right along the shore. Either way, I think the flies ride along on the boat. I took a break from fishing and started swatting the flies. I got about 50 of them and they were still relentless. As I mentioned, the sprays were worthless against them.

On our pontoon boat the water bags will work, though only if the sun is shining enough to reflect off them.

I have never thought about the sticky stuff before. Though that works well as a trap, I'd be curious if there is something else I can use as an attractant so the flies go there and get trapped instead of me.

 

[kmccorm2000]

We carry one of the hand held electronic zappers from Harbor Freight on the boat to take care of the pests...it's good when there are just a few bothering you, but obviously wouldn't be good in a swarm. They are cheap and immediately effective.

 

[agallant80]

Off Power Lantern:

http://www.amazon.com/Off-Powerpad-Lantern-1-Each/dp/B001AYPAJG

 

[Teamster]

I use fly spray made for using in barns,....It seems to work,...........It's nasty stuff,.......

 

[r.j.dawg]

Are these house flys, black flys or dear fly's?

 

[ADKcurry]

I know exactly what you are taking about when you speak of biting flies. I live in the Adirondack Mts and those flies are out in the summer. We can go down the lake on the boat and see no flies. As soon as we stop there they are. The only thing we have found that works is a bug repellent called Floph. It is repellant made out of various natural oils. The only thing I could find when doing a Google search is a YouTube video. I buy it locally at a family owned hardware store. Maybe you can find it in your area at small store.

 

[JoLin]

We use the OFF mosquito coils (the ones you light) around here and they work well against our biting green flies. I tried some cheap-o coils once (Summit) that I bought from Amazon and they didn't work at all.

 

[KC8QVO]

I think the coils I bought are the OFF brand. They come in a pack of 6-10 coils and 2 stands. I will give them a shot. Thought if it is breezy I am not sure how well they will work. I would say the flies wouldn't be as bad in the breeze either, though.

Black flies, mostly, and some horse flies - biggun's - they'll fly off with half your leg, I tell ya.

 

[poconojoe]

We use the Off brand Clip On repellant fan to keep mosquitoes away when out in the yard. It's a small clip on fan with a repellant cartridge inside. You clip it on your person. No nasty sprays on your skin. It definitely works for mosquitoes, but I don't know about flies. I would give it a try.