Hello all,

I already posted this in the fishing forum, but since many there might'nt've been to the NW portion of Quetico, I figured I'd add it here, too. I hope that isn't against policy...

My significant other and I are bringing our dads into the Q for a fishing trip. The two dads are both in fairly ill health (her dad has heart problems; my dad has leukemia.) Doctors have cleared both for an easy trip, and we figured the northwest side of Quetico allowed that. Lots of water to paddle with few portages.

The plan is for this to be mostly a fishing trip with maybe a move or two to change basecamps. We have eight days. Entering mid-June.

I've done a lot of research on this site and in the Boundary Waters Journal, and most fishing reports *seem* to be better on Cirrus Lake (maybe because a lot of people zip through Quetico to get to Jean and lakes beyond?). We certainly could fish both Quetico and Cirrus, too. But our current thinking is to either hit Cirrus, Kasakokwog, and Soho OR to head east on Quetico Lake, basecamp there, and daytrip towards Oriana, Conk, and Jean.

I am NOT asking anyone to publicly disclose any hotspots. I know the campsites on Quetico are pretty nice, but we probably won't be spending much time in camp, anyways.

Any advice about which directions to head? Up to Cirrus and the lakes near it? Or to the eastern end of Quetico Lake?

I am personally familiar with only the west end of Cirrus, and actually have not spent that much time fishing it. I do know the steeply uphill portage from Beaverhouse to the no-name before Cirrus is quite a climb before leveling out. I would recommend eastern Quetico. Quetico Lake has a reputation for being hard to fish, except for the east end. From their you can easily fish a variety of water, including Quetico, Conk, Jean, etc. I'd be sure to check out the meandering bay north of the east end of Quetico -- there's supposed to be a 4-star campsite up there and lots of walleye. Western Jean is good around Ivy Island from my limited experience there. Interested to see what others suggest, especially in the Cirrus area. (I've heard Kasakokwog is pretty and good fishing and that the portage in from Cirrus is tough.) --Goose

Given that both dads are in I'll health, I would minimize travel and moving camp and focus on fishing and exploring. There are four picto sites along north shore of Quetico. Good laker fishing around Eden island. There is a nice camp on channel to Cirrus. Good waldo fishing on both lakes close to camp. NE bay is good fishing. I would avoid difficult and long portages.

Thanks for the advice, old_salt. We're not planning on doing any "major" portaging. The gf and I will be doing ALL the heavy carrying, so the dads will just have to make it over the portages. Doctors say that's OK.

We don't plan to move much. Over eight days, we might change camps once or twice. If the fishing is good, maybe we won't have to change at all. :)

I would stick to Cirrus or head towards Jean. I'm not gonna say that the fishing isn't good in Quetico, but I think the fishing will be easier in the other 2.