Planning a trip to Quetico's Brent Lake and hoping some good folks will share any information that might be helpful in planning our trip. Our main activity will be fishing (walleye, smallmouth, and lake trout), but we also want to cover a moderate amount of water and see the area's sites. We have never been to this area. In fact, this is just our second trip into Quetico, though we have been enjoying the BWCA for 15 years or so. We will be a party of four in two tandems, two tents. We are planning on a mid June entry date and a trip length of 9-11 days. One option we are considering would be to base camp on Brent, maybe a few nights on both the east and west ends, and make daytrips into surrounding lakes/rivers. Another option would be to do a loop through the surrounding lakes with layovers every other day or so on particularly attractive fishing/touring lakes. Our current thought is to start with a tow to Brewer Rapids, then travel east to the Brent area, then head back west eventually exiting through Argo with a pickup at Bottle Portage. We would rather not do any backtracking other than the tow. Is this a good route? Any must see sites/photo ops (other than the Darky pictos and Curtain/Rebecca Falls)? Any small gem lakes off the beaten path? Any top notch campsites in this area (not listed on the PCD)? Best fishing lakes/bays/hotspots? As you can see, there are lots of questions. We would truly appreciate any information or suggestions anyone would be willing to share. Thanks!

Don't go to this area if you ever want to go back to the BWCAW. Once you fish it the BWCAW will seam like a let down. There are so many options. If you go up the Darky River--fish all of the pools below the rapids. Then again you could head up through Gratton (LMB), Wickstead for smallies, largemouth, Nortons.

Brent--all I can say is fish the narrows, but the possibilities are limit less on that lake. There is structure,narrows, points,reefs that hold fish all over the place. Bays hold pike. The wider areas will be deep enough for trout.

Tim

some long carrys --from mcaree to wickstead involves a big one and darky--now renamed darkwater--to brent is a honker..i would return to argo by way of cone lake.at the east end of brent you will find the carrys and creek to burt--very good bass fishing in the pools below the rapids..you may want to go north into minn lake from mcaree
and follow the darkwater river--darky on old maps--to darkwater lake..i met so guys who came thru that river and were bug eyed about
the fishing along it..but as it has been said--all prime fishing
thru that area..

Snakecharmer here is a little more info after reviewing some of my notes. I only know of a few camps on Brent usually I just fish it as I pass through. There is a nice one in the narrowings that head north on the west end of the lake on an island. Fish around those islands then fish the narrows as the lake heads east again. The area north of the island camp also has trout. Check the PCD it has as much or more info than I can offer.

As you leave if you want to camp close to bottle portage. There is a great camp on an island just south of Rebecca Falls. From there you could access Rebecca or Curtain easily to fish in the current---warning it will be busy with all of the illegal day trippers and fisherman from the U.S. side during the day. You can camp right on Rebecca Falls their are 2 sites one on each side of the island. Be ready for the traffic but nice in the evening--they might be a little tight for 4 people. Another option is to stay in McAree site right across from Rebecca--great site also--good access to fishing.

If you want a cool option Head up the Darkly river--fish it all the way up to Darky--Brent--head south to Earl or Ted--head west to Elk--cone--Argo--out to bottle. Lots of solitude on Ted--elk--earl.
If you go that route email me for more info before the trip.

Tim