Has anyone ever fished these lakes? I will be on a loop from Brewer into Darkwater and haven't decided about going down the Darkwater River and out or down through Argo and out to Bottle Portage.

Thanks.

Fished the one en route to Brent - didn't catch anything as far as I recall. The somewhat of a bushwhack portage(s) from Darky into Brent for a day trip is worth it - Brent is a great fishing lake, especially for Lakers.

I'd recommend the Argo exit if you came in via McAree-Wicksteed route - to fish below Rebecca Falls.

FYI most of Darky was burned in the 2021 fire. Looks like only the NE section was spared.

thanks for the info. looks like quite a bit of fire damage in that area. havent been there since 19.

The lake to the south of the one that you pass through on your way into Brent is referred to as Josie Lake by some. We have had excellent luck catching smallmouth bass there on previous mid-June trips.

thanks shucanoe,

there is no portage marked to get into that lake. do you enter from the north or west?
thanks
ed

I think the lake Schucanoe mentions has been talked about many times as a great bass lake in the BWJ…almost yearly :)

I have done the portage from Darky to Brent a few times and the small lake inbetween Darky and the portage to Brent is good for walleyes and SMB…not sure good enough to fish it instead of Brent or Darky though.

T

It's been about 12 years but I believe we usually entered from the west but we also came in from the north from the bay that cuts closest to Josie. I'm sure there are enough visitors each year that there should be a noticeable trail. When camped on Darky (usually campsite AN) for a few days we would typically find time to venture into Ballard for walleyes and into Josie for smb. Some trips we would then move on to Brent and basecamp there for a few days other times we would continue south through Argo. It's a great area. Will have to make a point to get back there sometime. Quetico is blessed with many of these special areas making the decision of where to go in the Park difficult to often make but it's a great problem to have.