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.

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.

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:

Thanks for the map program. E-mail sent.

mitch

Was on Sanford once and saw a 42lb laker caught..not sure of the other lakes mentioned

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?

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.

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.

Good thread. I'm also interested in knowing more...
--Goose

looks great

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.

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

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: "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

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.

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

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.

for those who have gone, how would you compare to quetico

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


thank you

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

Email sent.

I have a prism also.

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

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.