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Date/Time: 05/07/2024 02:51AM
White Otter Wilderness

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Pinetree 02/16/2018 10:09AM
Sometimes like myself it is lack of info to try a new area. I always heard of nice lake trout fishing there,but know very little about the park. I guess it is up to each of us to do a little research. Like type of park(motorized-nonmotorized),usage,scenery,etc. and of coarse fishing.
OldGreyGoose 02/16/2018 10:02AM
I have a tandem trip with my son-in-law "penciled in" for August (not in Whie Otter). If that falls through I might hit the WO area solo in either August or September. --Goose
IceColdGold 02/15/2018 10:06PM
Email sent.


I have a prism also.
Chicagored 02/15/2018 10:57AM
Per the above advice, I have left messages re getting a map and will keep you all posted. I am thinking about a trip possibly in august or the last two weeks of September. If there are others interested, let me know. I am considering this half exploring and half fishing, so I intend some easy traveling, but would like to see the "castle." I prefer to use my prism solo so anyone else would have to provide their own boat. I am very flexible on time, but am looking at a minimum of a week.


mitch
evanstonred@gmail.com
Oneofmanyblessings 02/15/2018 09:15AM
for those who have gone, how would you compare to quetico


very similar, more or less people, plenty of good campsites?



thank you
rdricker 02/13/2018 09:52PM
You could try contacting the BSA base in Atikokan. I know they have maps of both the Turtle River and White Otter areas with both portages and campsites marked on them. They might be willing to send you a photo of them.
OldGreyGoose 02/13/2018 07:20PM
Ontario Parks, on Facebook, is very responsive to messages. I asked them where I could get maps online or by phone, and they volunteered to mail me one! --Goose
IceColdGold 02/13/2018 06:58PM
Chicagored: "IceColdGold: "I have the map of the Turtle River Provincial Park sitting in front of me. The phone number on the back is (807) 934- 6356. I had to call and have them send it to me. It show portages and camp sites in the park, but not east of the park.


Let me know if you want to organize a trip. I'm in.


Tony"



Will you be going to Canoecopia this year?


Mitch"



Only a slight chance.
Chicagored 02/12/2018 09:00PM
IceColdGold: "I have the map of the Turtle River Provincial Park sitting in front of me. The phone number on the back is (807) 934- 6356. I had to call and have them send it to me. It show portages and camp sites in the park, but not east of the park.



Let me know if you want to organize a trip. I'm in.



Tony"



Will you be going to Canoecopia this year?


Mitch
IceColdGold 02/12/2018 08:56PM
jazzman1161: "I'm curious if you made it up to White Otter. I visited there three years ago and am planning a return visit. I went in at Ignace and it was quite a trip. Hope you went because there are some beautiful lakes in that park. "


Where did you exit? Did you portage down to the Castle? I am considering this route this year.
IceColdGold 02/12/2018 08:51PM
I have the map of the Turtle River Provincial Park sitting in front of me. The phone number on the back is (807) 934- 6356. I had to call and have them send it to me. It show portages and camp sites in the park, but not east of the park.


Let me know if you want to organize a trip. I'm in.


Tony
Chicagored 02/12/2018 03:41PM
jazzman1161: "I'm curious if you made it up to White Otter. I visited there three years ago and am planning a return visit. I went in at Ignace and it was quite a trip. Hope you went because there are some beautiful lakes in that park. "


I never did get there. I still have it in the plans for the future. I am still figuring out the way to get a good map with portages and campsites.
Oneofmanyblessings 02/12/2018 11:31AM
looks great
OldGreyGoose 02/12/2018 10:53AM
Good thread. I'm also interested in knowing more...
--Goose
jazzman1161 02/03/2018 08:19PM
I'm curious if you made it up to White Otter. I visited there three years ago and am planning a return visit. I went in at Ignace and it was quite a trip. Hope you went because there are some beautiful lakes in that park.
IceColdGold 01/31/2017 08:16PM
I have never fished the Quetico, but I have been going up to the Turtle River Provincial Park for over 40 years. Clear Water West holds several line class records for lake trout, and White Otter is world class for walleye. Both have gin clear water. The area north of Clear Water west has many very clear lakes that contain trout and northern. All lakes along the Turtle river contain walleye and bass also.


I talked to Barry who own Browns Clear Water lodge when I was up there and he said back in the day, 100 boats would cross the portage from Clear Water West to White Otter on opening fishing. Now he said there will maybe be 10. We used to catch a lot of 16 to 18 inch walleye, now they average more like 22 to 24. Barry makes most of his money from the seasonal sites he has on the lake now. People just do not head into White Otter and camp much any more.


I remember the trip when we first caught a bass probably 25 years ago. Now bass are plentiful in all the lakes on the Turtle.


I don't understand why more canoe people do not head up to this area. When we were up on Dibble and Smirch, we saw one father and son in a motor boat, and one couple in a canoe. They were all from the Sioux Lookout area. They came down to the Turtle to get away from the crowds.


Ask Miss Molly about fishing on Crown Land lakes.
Pinetree 01/31/2017 07:04PM
quote jwartman59: "i was in this area about forty years ago. some of the clearest water lakes i have ever been on. the mad trapper cabin is worth a look. there was a remnant of a ww2 POW camp somewhere in there. i'm sure the bush as taken over by now."


Do any fishing and if you did how would you compare it to Quetico?
ktoivola 01/30/2017 11:28PM
Was on Sanford once and saw a 42lb laker caught..not sure of the other lakes mentioned
Chicagored 01/30/2017 08:48PM
Thanks for the map program. E-mail sent.


mitch
IceColdGold 01/30/2017 03:02PM
I was up to Dibble, Smirch, and White Otter a year and a half ago in September. I have been up to that area many times since I was 10.

This map site shows some of the portages. Try the different option in the dropdown in the upper right corner (t2 or t4) I cannot see a portage from Nora to Elsie.
Mapping Support.com

Send me an email. I will share whatever information I have.

The Castle:

jwartman59 01/30/2017 12:43PM
i was in this area about forty years ago. some of the clearest water lakes i have ever been on. the mad trapper cabin is worth a look. there was a remnant of a ww2 POW camp somewhere in there. i'm sure the bush as taken over by now.
Chicagored 01/28/2017 04:53PM
I am thinking about exploring the White Otter Wilderness this September. I spoke to the people at Canoe Canada and they suggested that a good first trip would be to enter at Pekagoning Lake, work our way up the Turtle River to Smirch, down to Dibble, to White Otter (see the Castle), to Nora, to Elsie, to Sanford, than work my way down to Dashwa to come out. They said this could easily be done in 6 or 7 days.

Has anyone done this route or something similar? Any other suggested routes?

If I don't use an outfitter, are there places to leave our cars at the access points?

Are there maps available that show the portages and maybe campsites? Is the fishing good?

Curious minds want to know.