I have a group of up to six men, many in their 60's and 70's. We are planning an 11 day trip in September with base camps on Cirrus, coming in from Beaverhouse and back out the same way. Would appreciate camp site locations and fishing info on Cirrus and Quetico lakes. We fish all species. I like walleye, lake trout and big northerns. Several other men want lots of smallmouth action. Your comments please.

Good luck on your trip, George. There are several paddlers here that have been on Cirrus and I'm sure you'll get some good responses. Unfortunately, Cirrus is one lake that I haven't visited yet so I can't help you.

Be sure to hang around, ask more questions and post a trip report after you return. Have fun planning!

I've only been through there once but seemed like lots of great sites. I had lunch at 3F and thought about staying it was so nice, ended up on 34Y for a night. (Both island sites with limited firewood on the island if that's important to you.) If you go a little further, lots of great sites on Kasakokwog and Quetico. Great site at the western end of the pond between Quetico and Cirrus just north of Eden Island. See the pictographs on Quetico along there. For something different, the long sandy beach on Quetico just south of the Quetico River has a couple of sites.

Do look at the pcd and if you have a chance to chat with Stumpy at a wingnight, make sure you have a map or recorder to get it all.

I would love to camp on Quetico Lake on that huge expanse of sand beach on the carry over to West Bay. Beautiful place.

BillConner01:

Thank you for this tip. We were On Quetico in 2011, saw the Pictographs but we were on our way out and did not have time to fish it much. Caught some smallmouth along the cliffs.

Cirrus looked to be a great destination for us older guys who no longer want to portage and pack all day long. I figure we can get into Cirrus from Beaverhouse in 1/2 day and have lots of time to explore and fish this huge lake

GeorgeM

I'm 60 - for a few more weeks - and made it to Cirrus by 9:30 or 10:00 am from BH - by portages along Cirrus Creek. First had been a logging roadbed and very easy and interesting remnants; second leg was almost as easy and short.

You might scan my trip report. I think all of the passages from Cirrus to Quetico are pretty easy. The portage form Cirrus across from Sue Falls to Kasakokwog was a bit more challenging. Next time I'd schedule a lunch stop at summit.

I've only been on Cirrus in winter, but the long vistas and high shores were intriguing. I've heard it's a very deep lake. Very curious as to how deep, as I like to record and compare these things... Looking forward to going back. If you don't like to portage, then the big lakes of NW Quetico are for you.

BillConnor01:

We just barely missed crossing paths in 2011. Four of us went into Burntside in early September, going and coming back through Quetico and Beaverhouse. Saw the Pictographs on Quetico but did not get into Cirrus. Decided on Cirrus for 2013.

Went through there this past September - portages were a breeze until the long one to Kasakokwog (which if you're looping back to Beaverhouse you won't hit). Stayed at one of the two islands at the far eastern end of Cirrus (near Sue Falls) - found it to be a comfortable site for the two of us (may be a bit of a stretch for a party of six though). Can't comment on the fishing, as a cold front blew through and really killed any serious fishing activity - the winds were fierce too, so we were somewhat limited to shore fishing. Beaverhouse is getting to be my favorite entry - ease of put in, immediate seclusion, winds generally in our favor (for W-to-E travel), etc.

George, you might want to stay in Quetico Lake instead, as there are many more great campsites, most within an easy day's paddle from Beaverhouse. From past experience, Quetico Lake has produced excellent fishing results for all four types.

Hope you enjoy your trip, wherever it takes you.

AdamX

GeorgeM: Are you entering from Beaverhouse into Cirrus or Quetico? (Two separate entries.) I have one trip going in and out via Cirrus LINK and have made several other trips into Quetico from Beaverhouse. This trip report has some good info on a few Quetico Lake campsites: LINK If you need more specific information let me know. --Goose

Goose:

We plan to enter Cirrus directly from Beaverhouse. I've never been on Cirrus but have been on Quetico several times. I like to explore new places. I'm sure we'll side trip to Quetico for fishing. Thank you.

GeorgeM

I haven't been on Cirrus, but we did a sort of crossing route from B-House all the way to French, via the northern arm of Quetico, then Kasakakwog and McAlpine. We stayed on a real nice site on Kasakakwog (boy is that a pain to type), that is on an island around the middle of the lake, the northern of the two islands there. PCD calls it site 'BJ'. I highly recommend it, if you are going through there at all.

Most of the campsites I've seen on the western part of Quetico are overused, so be aware of that. Anything around or on Eden Island gets a lot of traffic, relatively.

McAlpine Creek, connecting Quetico to Kasakakwog and also Kasakakwog to McAlpine, has some neat old logging remnants.

That's all I can really offer for that general area. Well, also, the southern branch of Quetico Lake, I've had very good luck fishing for Lake Trout.