Quetico100 10 Quetico Lakes to be used by Guides in 2015

FYI

I talked to a Quetico park Superintendent in Atikokan today and she said the following 10 Quetico Lakes are being used by approved members of the Lac La Croix Guides Association for guiding purposes (motor size 10 hp or less):

Quetico, Crooked, Tanner, Cirrus, Minn, Iron, Wolseley, Beaverhouse, MacAree, Poobah.

Aircraft landings may also occur on Beaverhouse and Poobah lakes.

Not sure if my link to a Quetico Park pdf will work but I was directed to www.quetico100.com and go to Maps/Planning and then $ 2015 Park Fees and you can see 2015 Quetico Motorized Lakes among other things.

I used to worry about the lakes they would be using in fear of it being noisy and/or busy.

I soon found out that I almost never saw or heard and them. In fact I only remember seeing a motorboat one time in all my years up there.

Tumblehome,

Good to know. I am heading up to Poobah this year for the 1st time and I was hoping that the Indians used up their 2 year approval for guiding on Poobah. But it looks like they have permission for 2015. Hope I don't see a float plane and boats when I am up there over the 4th of July. Ruins the solitude we all want.

I know someone posted that they found a bunch of garbage and some walleye carcasses on an island used by the Indians on Poobah when they were searching for a campsite. Would be a real turnoff!

I think the new Quetico superintendent has a native Indian heritage. I wouldn't look for restrictions on guiding in Quetico to get any tighter now.

This 'isolationist' response is rather surprising coming from you, Wally 13. I figured you would be placing an order for them to fly in beer for you to celebrate the 4th, in approved containers, of course.

My son and I camped on Poohbah last year and found at least 50 walleye carcasses on "our" site. Boats, gas cans, tents, too.

In past years we have found chainsaw cuttings and camp furniture on the same lake. The idea that First Nation folks have a superior land ethic, or special relationship with the land, is generally NOT the case--as I have seen all over the North.

Old Salt,

... a few beers on Poobah on the 4th of July would be great.

Guess I will have to stick to sippin' bourbon around a campfire with the boys.

Artic,

+1 on the first nation joke. In Crooked, saw an island in Canada ruined by them when they used as a base camp. IMO, they are the worst at abusing the land in the BW/Q that I have witnessed.

Has there been much rotation of lakes?

I was told that there is supposed to be a rotation of lakes every 2 years.

But apparently that is not the case for 2015.

After 2015 and probably 2016, I think I'm going to phase out my tripping to Quetico and look for less traveled places where there isn't as much "leaving more than a trace behind". I believe I'll drive further but take longer trips to justify the drive, probably hitting Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi.

I've seen what natives can do to fisheries in Wisconsin and Michigan, and if they can get the same thing done in Quetico, I'm sure they'll try, especially if they get sympathetic people in high places overseeing the park.

Maybe I'm wrong to think that, but that's what I'm thinking.

I have been in Wabakimi, Woodland Caribou and Opasqua and there are signs of native use at each. I found that in the mention parks the sites are still a mess but these parks get used less so there are fewer sites. In my limited exposure I have seen less in Woodland Caribou than the others.

In my opinion lakes in Quetico assigned for native use should not be rotated. Why move the destruction around keep it in one place. I think both the natives and visitors would be better served this way.

Yea, I wonder if removing the rotation and having them stick to certain lakes every year would be better or worse. Spreading the destruction vs focusing it more heavily on a few lakes.

I really don't understand why LLC members can't be held accountable for their ways. Bogus how the laws can't be enforced on them because they are first nation. They want to live their ways and claim stewardship over their native lands. Anyways....you know where I'm going with this....

Some of what we visitors call trash they would call camp improvements. Fish dressing tables, stash of can goods, 5 gallon can of gas, tin can that can be used for a cup next time they are there.

They won't need that old tin can for a cup next time because they'll be bringing fresh tin cans.

I thought that the motor use was grandfathered in and as soon as the elder members passed, it would go away.

are the native guides allowed to use live bait?

quote CanoeKev: "are the native guides allowed to use live bait?"

Does it matter? They do what they want to. White laws don't apply.

I'm planning on being on Iron a day or two this year but on the US side. There isn't much of Iron that's in Canada, but I'm sure they'll be up at the base of the falls when fishing.

quote CanoeKev: "are the native guides allowed to use live bait?"

Yes all types, on any lake. So much for stopping invasives in the Q :)

T

I have seen a few spots that were most likely left a mess by natives. I, too, wish the Quetico Park would phase out the special access by the First Nation. It does take away the solitude and sense of remoteness on the lakes they access by air or with a motor. I remember one trip going straight from Prairie Portage to Pooh Bah and feeling we were "away." We were more than a tad disappointed to see a boat fishing with a motor as soon as portaged into the lake.

I am not trying to stir controversy or conflict, but on the other hand I think some of the criticism of the rights of First Nation band members and the Canadian Government might be a bit misguided. First it is important to remember the Q is a foreign country and they get to do what they want. We may not like it but need to be respectful of their position.

And the First Nation? Given the history of the treatment of Natives in the past, including the fairly recent past, I think we need to be mindful of what went on in this area and how it impacted the Native rights, land and lifestyle. I grew up just south of the border in this area and I saw what happened to our local band members and how their lot in life was certainly diminished.

I always think of the expression of "walk a mile in a man's shoes before you judge them" or whatever the quote is when I think of our perceptions of Natives in the Quetico.

quote timatkn: "

quote CanoeKev: "are the native guides allowed to use live bait?"

Yes all types, on any lake. So much for stopping invasives in the Q :)

T "

Exactly, the bait ban had nothing to do with invasives.

quote walleye_hunter: "

quote timatkn: "

quote CanoeKev: "are the native guides allowed to use live bait?"

Yes all types, on any lake. So much for stopping invasives in the Q :)

T "

Exactly, the bait ban had nothing to do with invasives. "

That's why I roll my eyes when people proclaim The Quetico has done it right by banning bait to control invasive species :) there is no bait ban, just hire a First Nation guide you can use minnows, leeches, crawlers anywhere ya want. In some ways you can argue Quetico is worse on invasives as they can be flown into lakes in the middle of the park where in the BWCAW minnows aren't practical in the interior.

I still like Quetico, but don't give them credit for a half baked policy.

T

Do the Indians guide other Indians? If not, then non Indians are also guilty of any abuse.

quote AtwaterGA: "Do the Indians guide other Indians? If not, then non Indians are also guilty of any abuse. "

Not sure what ya mean by abuse? The Native's are following the rules as set up by the park--they aren't guilty of abuse. I suspect their clients have no idea the rest of the Park bait is banned, but even if they did they are still well within the rules to hire a native guide and use live bait. The only abuse I see is a misguided Park policy.

If you are talking about the "abuse" of the park or camps some have reported by Native's (I haven't personally seen it) then you are correct although the guide is clearly in charge so I put more guilt on them than a client. Most people defer to the person in charge and if they don't agree they will just not use them again--it is the rare person who stands up for what is right in the face of authority. Remember the clients are in the middle of no where with the guide.

T

quote timatkn: "

quote walleye_hunter: "

quote timatkn: "

quote CanoeKev: "are the native guides allowed to use live bait?"

Yes all types, on any lake. So much for stopping invasives in the Q :)

T "

Exactly, the bait ban had nothing to do with invasives. "

That's why I roll my eyes when people proclaim The Quetico has done it right by banning bait to control invasive species :) there is no bait ban, just hire a First Nation guide you can use minnows, leeches, crawlers anywhere ya want. In some ways you can argue Quetico is worse on invasives as they can be flown into lakes in the middle of the park where in the BWCAW minnows aren't practical in the interior.

I still like Quetico, but don't give them credit for a half baked policy.

T"

Pretty expensive minnows & leeches...

To all this chatter in here, these natives may not be the cleanest or well dressed in Patagonia, but they do know how to fish and do love their land. I've fished with some of these men. They are not talking about your peoples dirty ditches on a web forum. It's their right and they live there 100% out of the year. Not for one 4-5 day trip. A lot was taken from these people and I could give one rat's ass if I saw a native fishing with a motor boat. I'd probably ask for a bump. Laters!!

Lighten up, Francis.

Learned some interesting things at 'copia on this topic. According to the quetico superintendent, there are only 4-5 guides working at this point, and many of the allowed lakes go unguided all year. The 2016 list looks to be substantially the same as 2015.

quote Atb: "Learned some interesting things at 'copia on this topic. According to the quetico superintendent, there are only 4-5 guides working at this point, and many of the allowed lakes go unguided all year. The 2016 list looks to be substantially the same as 2015."

Thanks for the update. 4-5 guides working the Q is a lot more than I thought were left. Originally guides/motors were supposed to be completely banned by 2014, I think they thought use would stop on it's own when they set the date, but hasn't happened. I think we will always see some guide use in the park. From what I have seen is Campbell's employs most of the native guides so their guests can fly into the interior and especially Poobah---I am sure that is a pricey day trip :)

T