Hello all,
I've got time for one lengthy Q trip this year. I'm curious if anyone is willing to share any thoughts on either of these two routes. My buddy and I are looking for solitude, challenging portages, and good fishing. At the moment, I'm pretty sure we'll be happy with either, but we need a nudge in one direction or the other.

Option #1: Enter at French Lake, head south through Cache to McKenzie, west to Ferguson, down the river to Kawnipi, and then back north through Alice and the B-Chain and out.

Option #2: Enter at Nym, head south through Jesse, Maria, etc. to Sturgeon, south to Pooh Bah, more south to Conmee, and then east to Veron and Delahey. From there, northwards to upper Sturgeon and out.

Any thoughts? We're figuring the fishing will be fine no matter what we choose. The portages are wonderfully unpleasant in both areas. Solitude, I assume, will abound, at least after we get away from the entry points. Alas, there's no time for both.

Carmike

Both sound great and if no factors come into play to tip the direction you go, I would flip a coin. You should win either way.

Sounds pretty great on both.

Option 1 will give you more solitude overall, but Option 2 might be better fishing.

For Option 1, the fishing on Baptism and Trousers is decent enough (it's Quetico!) but nothing spectacular. Cache and MacKenzie though are both very good fishing lakes, and Ferguson (which I have not been on) I've heard is quite good specifically for Northern. If you like Lakers, Cache is a good bet. Fishing for me has always been a secondary thing, but it seems like in general in that NE corner of the park, it's best for Northern, less so for walleye or smallies. Lakers good in the big lakes like Cache and Mac.

Option 2, Sturgeon has a whole mess of good fishing. Not as much so on Jesse for me, though I've heard others beg to differ. Maria and Pickerel on the way in will likely be "crowded" by Quetico standards, even Jesse can get a lot of people, but most of the rest of your routes should be pretty empty I'd think.

On option 1 realize that you will be going against the current when coming up thru Fern and the B chain lakes. You won't see too many people on this route. In fact when we did the B chain last year we saw no one till we got down to Olifaunt and even then only 3 people in a canoe.

On the second option. Marie, Jessie, Walter and Lonely lakes are great. Our group had some good fishing down thru there 3 yrs ago. Beautiful lakes and not too many people in some of the lakes.

Hope you are eating your Wheaties!
Did Option #1 a while ago - tough portaging to get there (numerous spots are extremely mucky), but outstanding campsites and fishing on McKenzie (one of my favorite lakes). Kawnipi fishing is legendary. You will likely see no one until you get to Chatterton Falls area. Am another big fan of the B Lakes.
Have only done first half of Option #2 - you will see other folks for the first couple days. If you're going back out through Nym, then you'll likely bump into others on last day or two. Fishing in Sturgeon narrows has always produced eater walleye for us.
Enjoy!

Option 1) more work, fewer people.

Option 2) great fishing.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I know it's a tough problem to have, needing to choose between two good routes. Both of us are specifically looking to tackle some of the toughest portages Quetico has to offer, so that's a big part of why we've chosen these two options. I think we're leaning towards the eastern side, if only for a bit more solitude. I can't imagine the fishing is *that* much better farther west, but who knows. :)

I hope you go in before we do and clear the path into Cache for us!

We'll be tackling the Trousers to Cache portage in mid-June.

Both routes are a challenge to say the least! I'm a huge Poohbah fan, extrodinary fishery.

I wish I could get to the Q in June, but I have to wait to mid-July due to other less-pleasant responsibilities. How about *you* clear the trail and let me know where not to step?!? :)

In all seriousness, have a great trip, and if you're feeling especially generous, post a report of the trip to help those following you.

quote ksfishguy: "I hope you go in before we do and clear the path into Cache for us!


We'll be tackling the Trousers to Cache portage in mid-June."