While a Canadian fly-in fishing trip offers an escape into the pristine wilderness of Ontario, Manitoba, or Saskatchewan, it also means sharing the environment with local wildlife, including ticks. With the steady rise of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, and Alpha-gal (red meat allery), preventing tick bites is essential for a comfortable and safe fishing trip. Whether you are walking to a remote portage lake, enjoying a traditional shore lunch, or just walking around camp, following these steps will keep you protected from wood ticks and deer ticks.

The most effective strategy starts with your clothing. We recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, even in warmer weather. For maximum protection, tuck your pants into your socks; it might not be a fashion statement, but it creates a physical barrier that ticks cannot easily penetrate. Choosing light-colored clothing makes it much easier to spot a dark tick crawling on you before it reaches your skin.

Chemical protection is your next line of defense. For your gear and clothing, treat your boots, clothes, and hat with Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent before leaving home. Permethrin bonds to fabric fibers and kills ticks on contact – ticks don't die immediately, but they are eliminated before they can embed themselves in your skin. Protection lasts for several months and through wash cycles, providing an invisible shield against pests. Use a high-quality insect repellent containing 20% Picaridin on exposed skin – not DEET, Picaridin – which also protects against mosquitoes. 

When you return to your outpost camp or fishing lodge each evening, perform a thorough tick check. Ticks prefer warm, hidden areas like behind the knees, under arms, and around the hairline. If you do find one, having a Tick Remover Tool or a specialized Tick Key is helpful for safe, effective extraction. By staying vigilant and using the right gear, you can focus on landing that trophy walleye or northern pike without worrying about unwanted hitchhikers.

These same strategies can also be used at home and for your families to prevent tickborne ilnesses.