My son and I will be revisiting Poohbah Lake while looping back to PP from the Cirrus/Quetico lakes area next month. We LOVE the fishing on Poohbah. That said, is it worth it for us to veer through Wink Lake on our way? What fish species are in there? I'm a trout guy, but walleyes are cool, too, if they have some size.

Any response is appreciated.

(I also posted this on the fishing forum).

I don't know about the fishing but have always liked Wink Lake. I recall a campsite on the east side of an island that looked nice although I have never stopped.
Most importantly, if I have not been on any lake in the Quetico before I always make a point of checking it out.

quote GraniteCliffs: "Most importantly, if I have not been on any lake in the Quetico before I always make a point of checking it out."

That's been my style, too, but after 35 years of tripping in the park those lakes are becoming fewer and fewer! : >)

quote arctic: "

quote GraniteCliffs: "Most importantly, if I have not been on any lake in the Quetico before I always make a point of checking it out."

That's been my style, too, but after 35 years of tripping in the park those lakes are becoming fewer and fewer! : >)"

I am at the exact same point. It does get to be a challenge in that regard. I am now at the point in my Quetico canoeing career that I find myself thinking "just one more time" in regard to a variety of lakes, campsites and favorite places throughout the park. I had a health issue on my last trip last month and at 63 it is a tad un-nerving. Thankfully, I will be giving it my next go at the end of the month on my brother's annual trip, sans my oldest brother that is going to miss this year's trip due to health issues that may prevent him from ever traveling far into the park again. I keep telling myself that when I retire in a couple of years or less that I will have more time to go and will be able to go just as far---just a lot slower. When the day comes that I have to give it up totally it will about push me over the edge after all these years of complete and total love for that place. In the meantime, Paddle On!

Arctic, Ive been into Wink 3 times with my father in-law and fishing has been fantastic. We mainly target smallmouth and walleye and both are plentiful. The last trip into Wink was in 2010 and the smallmouth bite was off but the walleye fishing was the best we've ever experienced over the past 15 years, not only quantity but quality. The water is clear, keep in mind there are limited campsites...the best one being on the Northern large island in the "center" of the lake, one of my favorite campsites in the park. We've only encountered a few other parties on the lake over the years which is a plus as well. One year my father in-law and I located the portage into Poobah, which is marked incorrectly on most maps of the park just FYI. We walked it to the peak and looked at Poohbah, looks amazing as well.
Question for you...how do you guys access Poohbah? Up Poohbah creek from the Maligne and if so how are the portages?

Thanks for the replies! Two years ago we came down the Maligne from Sturgeon and then went up Poohbah Creek (three easy portages). Two days later we left Poohbah via the Memory Lane Portages out the SE side.

What entry point do you use to get to this area? I have used Prairie Portage several times but do not like to use it because there are too many people.

quote gannettpk97: "What entry point do you use to get to this area? I have used Prairie Portage several times but do not like to use it because there are too many people."

We generally use PP, because I can leave my house in the morning and be well up Agnes by late afternoon. We generally do a big loop.

I was on Wink on June 11 thru the 13th in 2014. The smallmouth fishing was fantastic with fish measuring consistently oner 18 inches. We only fished on the 13th due to high winds and rain. Six of us landed about 110 smallmouth. Four in our group fished lake trout in the morning and they caught six as I recall. If I ever get back to that area, I'll return to Wink -- it was great.

My son-in-law, grandson and I fished Wink Lake a few years ago and caught over 150 fish in four hours on the north end of the lake near where the portage from Poohbah Creek comes into the lake. One of us caught a 37 inch norhtern, another a 19 inch small mouth and we finished it off with 2 25 inch walleyes. This may have been just prior to the live bait ban in Quetico.

quote gannettpk97: "What entry point do you use to get to this area? I have used Prairie Portage several times but do not like to use it because there are too many people."

With an early start and being first or second in line, I have never seen 'too many people.' --Goose