Flies at the BBQ

[yakdung]

Firing up the smoker draws flies. It doesn't matter what kind of smoker or what you are cooking, when the smoke rolls the flies come. I built a large patio/deck so that I could locate all my cookers together in close proximity to my kitchen. The patio is also large enough for about 20 people to sit at tables and eat. I did the first cook on it this past weekend and had 23 guests. Everything was good except for the flies. They about drove everyone crazy. I see a number of folks on here that have multiple cookers on their patios along with tables and chairs. Does everybody just put up with the flies or is their some solution to this dilema?

[ame]https://youtu.be/FTVn6OhATaI[/ame]

 

[PNW Smoker]

dang, i might need to get one of those bug-a-salt deals.

I've been grilling and smoking for around four years now (well, grilling for a lot longer than that), and I never had a problem until this year. Boy did I have a problem. It was a mother frikken fly onslaught.

I tried the water in sammy bags, but that didn't to squat. I didn't know I was supposed to add a penny though. My setup would allow sun directly so might now work for me.


I bought a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rescue-FTR-DT12-Reusable-Fly-Trap/dp/B00004TBKG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443566897&sr=8-1&keywords=rescue+reusable+fly+trap"]Amazon.com : Rescue FTR-DT12 Reusable Fly Trap : Insect Traps : Patio, Lawn & Garden@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41v9OyJAbuL.@@AMEPARAM@@41v9OyJAbuL[/ame] and it worked well BUT, you can't just add the bait and expect it to start working. It requires some "stewing" time and good strong sun seems to help that along. After that it was the source of many a fly's death this summer. HOWEVER it stinks to high hell... rancid rotting meat pretty much sums it up.


I hung the classic [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Strips-Catcher-Trap-Victor/dp/B0043GD78O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1443567111&sr=8-5&keywords=fly+strip"]Amazon.com : Fly Paper Strips, Fly Catcher Trap, Victor Fly Bait 4 Pack : Insect Traps : Patio, Lawn & Garden@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41UHmndkiNL.@@AMEPARAM@@41UHmndkiNL[/ame]. They are ugly, but pretty effective. They don't stink. They are cheap. I now have a stash of these in one of my outside drawers.

I'm thinking about getting one of the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Flowtron-BK-15D-Electronic-Insect-Coverage/dp/B00004R9VZ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1443567303&sr=8-4&keywords=fly+zapper"]Amazon.com : Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer, 1/2 Acre Coverage : Home Insect Zappers : Patio, Lawn & Garden@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512ygbPILkL.@@AMEPARAM@@512ygbPILkL[/ame] deals and putting on the other side of the porch where I have everything. I really hate flies and I can't handle another season like this one.

 

[umrebel26]

i was told by a guy who has been doing concession his entire life and he told me to go to Walmart and buy the generic version of Listerine mouthwash and spray that around your cooking area and it keeps flies away

 

[armor]

Bug A Salt is great. I love it. Worth every dime and fun to use.

 

[jham0077]

I had problems with flies on my garage doors, they face west and the sun hits them in the evenings and heats them up. I bought some of this https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...=83953215523&gclid=CJyqyru6ncgCFYk7aQodSfoEHA
It's entertaining. I sprayed the trash cans and lids then the garage door trim. Before I was finished with the second door flies were on the ground. They would land on the cans and attempt to fly away, spinning to the ground. I went got a beer and watched the flies drop. The only problem is blowing the dead off the patio. After a day or two they start piling up.

 

[JD08]

Maybe a little extreme, but cover the porch and screen it in. No flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, or lovebugs.

 

[toys4dlr]

Put up some ceiling fans, they don't like moving air.

 

[BBQLuver]

I'm thinking about getting one of the Amazon.com : Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer, 1/2 Acre Coverage : Home Insect Zappers : Patio, Lawn & Garden deals and putting on the other side of the porch where I have everything. I really hate flies and I can't handle another season like this one.

I got one similar to this but of course haven't had an attack. I'm waiting though. :boxing:

 

[Happy Hapgood]

That Bug-A-Salt looks good. Kinda like what LSU will do to the Dawgs.

 

[smokin30-06]

That Bug-A-Salt looks good. Kinda like what LSU will do to the Dawgs.

The demo video only showed them killing one fly. It showed them shooting a lot of sleepy flied that weren't moving. Can anyone comment on whether they are effective on active flies?

 

[Grabnabber]

Bug-A-Salt does not work for wing shooting. Great for stationary flies and bugs and salting avocados. :laugh:

 

[Happy Hapgood]

Regardless of the Bug Salt, I've been told for a long time that if you don't have flies, you don't have BBQ

 

[cheez59]

That Bug-A-Salt looks good. Kinda like what LSU will do to the Dawgs.

Haha! You gotta get past Ole Miss, Bama and the Aggies to get to Atlanta. Then it will depend on which Les Miles shows up for the game.:wink:

 

[thickstrings]

I was told that a regular paper bag, like a lunch bag, blown up like your gonna pop it [but don"t] with a string around the top hung from the ceiling works....Looks like a wasp nest...apparently the flies nemisis

 

[jacob]

Carefully placed fans solves the problem for me. We especially make use of them when were eating outside around the food. Flies will avoid the moving air and not lite on the grub.

 

[cheez59]

Carefully placed fans solves the problem for me. We especially make use of them when were eating outside around the food. Flies will avoid the moving air and not lite on the grub.

This is something I can do.

 

[bacchus99]

This really works well and is cheap and fun...I can take out a ton of flies in a short time.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-FlyShooter-The-Original-Bug-Gun/product/65860/

 

[Q Junkie]

Here in SoCal we have these things called Orb Spiders.
They creep me out and I get a face full of web every day this time
of year but they do a good job on the flies. These things get HUGE!

 

[el_matt]

In my opinion, don't waste your money, on a bug zapper. They work great at night for moths, mosquitos, etc. However, it seems that during the day, the flies couldn't care less about it. I've seen them land on it, but not go to the light, and get zapped. There are specialty fly zappers, but they are quite expensive ($300+).

Matt

 

[Tom Sellecks Mustache]

I live in Arizona, so we don't eat outside much for the better part of the year, so I don't really have the issue. In the cooler months we still get some flies to worry about, but I can't recall it being more than a few annoying flies buzzing around.

Bees on the other hand, I've had some issues with. I've tried a variety of the bee traps and they all actually seem to work relatively well. I can't recall one working better than another though, just kind of grab whichever one doesn't seem too expensive.