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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Quetico Forum Destination: Brent Lake |
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03/27/2018 05:39AM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Reservation made last night... entering at PP with a Sarah Lake EP. Anyone have any fishing and campsite experiences that you’d care to share about Brent Lake or the route to and from? I’ve heard good things about Brent but this will be my first trip there.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
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03/27/2018 02:07PM
I was through Brent and McIntyre just one time, in 2011. I'm assuming you'll go into Brent via McIntyre. The campsite where the wide part of McIntyre starts to constrict at its southern end is reasonable (we stayed there). I've heard good things about the two campsites on the island where the wide part of McIntyre starts to constrict at its northern end. I only saw those from the water, but they looked good.
The 2 portages between McIntyre and Brent are short and easy. The pond between those portages was full of bass that wanted to eat our lures.
The eastern 1/3 of Brent (both N and S shores) had burned at some point prior to 2011. I don't know what the recovery looks like today since nearly 7 years have passed.
The 2 portages between McIntyre and Brent are short and easy. The pond between those portages was full of bass that wanted to eat our lures.
The eastern 1/3 of Brent (both N and S shores) had burned at some point prior to 2011. I don't know what the recovery looks like today since nearly 7 years have passed.
03/27/2018 02:32PM
Not sure why anyone would want to go to Brent? Since the massive die off over the winter, fishing will be tough. But, if fishing is not a priority, you can enjoy the charred remains from the last big fire. The MNR has restocked Brent with fingerling Quetico carp. In a few years they will replace the invasive lakers and waldos. At least you know what to expect.
Livin' the dream. Just another day in Paradise...
03/27/2018 04:44PM
I was on Brent last September and and the fishing was great. We primarily stayed on the western half of the lake last year and plan on heading to this general area again this June and fishing at least one day on Brent. I don't recall a Mordor-like, "charred remains" atmosphere, and the "massive die-off" comment makes me curious. Most of my research and information comes from here, the Ontario Parks site, and the PP site, so I'm curious if there are other sources of information that speak to this that I'm unaware of and need to check out as well? Anything that helps with future planning is a good thing!
03/27/2018 06:27PM
Old Salt... it’s amazing! I’m so glad I asked the question! Fingerling Quetico carp are exactly what we were hoping for! :)
Thanks to everyone else for your input, too. Keep it coming! I’ve wanted to take this trip for several years so I’m glad this is the year.
Thanks to everyone else for your input, too. Keep it coming! I’ve wanted to take this trip for several years so I’m glad this is the year.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
03/28/2018 09:27PM
I was on the eastern end of Brent in mid June of 2016. The burned areas all have bright green understories, so it's still obvious they were burned without being unattractive. Although I always find old growth to be majestic and my clear preference.
The 4* island campsite on the southern end of the lake about a mile or so from where the McIntyre portages come from is really good. Lots of open area and nice and flat. I didn't get to look at the highly rated island site near the portages to Conmee because it was taken when I was there. It's pretty high up on that island (maybe 40-50 feet), so it should have great views looking south. I've heard it's somewhat overused though.
Our fishing on Brent was fairly average for Quetico, although that seems to be more of the exception based on what I've heard. We ended up taking a layover day on Brent. We all did fairly well fishing shorelines for smallies. Minimal luck with walleye and lakers, but I think we hit some funny weather. All of the shoreline and bays were productive for smallies for us.
We portaged into Conmee during our layover day, and I caught three walleye 22-28". And these were caught around the middle of the day! So it's worth considering!
We're planning on spending a day or two on the eastern end of Brent this year in mid June again, so hopefully we'll get more of a taste of what people normally experience there as far as the fishing goes!
The 4* island campsite on the southern end of the lake about a mile or so from where the McIntyre portages come from is really good. Lots of open area and nice and flat. I didn't get to look at the highly rated island site near the portages to Conmee because it was taken when I was there. It's pretty high up on that island (maybe 40-50 feet), so it should have great views looking south. I've heard it's somewhat overused though.
Our fishing on Brent was fairly average for Quetico, although that seems to be more of the exception based on what I've heard. We ended up taking a layover day on Brent. We all did fairly well fishing shorelines for smallies. Minimal luck with walleye and lakers, but I think we hit some funny weather. All of the shoreline and bays were productive for smallies for us.
We portaged into Conmee during our layover day, and I caught three walleye 22-28". And these were caught around the middle of the day! So it's worth considering!
We're planning on spending a day or two on the eastern end of Brent this year in mid June again, so hopefully we'll get more of a taste of what people normally experience there as far as the fishing goes!
03/29/2018 11:08AM
cburton103: "I was on the eastern end of Brent in mid June of 2016. The burned areas all have bright green understories, so it's still obvious they were burned without being unattractive. Although I always find old growth to be majestic and my clear preference.
The 4* island campsite on the southern end of the lake about a mile or so from where the McIntyre portages come from is really good. Lots of open area and nice and flat. I didn't get to look at the highly rated island site near the portages to Conmee because it was taken when I was there. It's pretty high up on that island (maybe 40-50 feet), so it should have great views looking south. I've heard it's somewhat overused though.
Our fishing on Brent was fairly average for Quetico, although that seems to be more of the exception based on what I've heard. We ended up taking a layover day on Brent. We all did fairly well fishing shorelines for smallies. Minimal luck with walleye and lakers, but I think we hit some funny weather. All of the shoreline and bays were productive for smallies for us.
We portaged into Conmee during our layover day, and I caught three walleye 22-28". And these were caught around the middle of the day! So it's worth considering!
We're planning on spending a day or two on the eastern end of Brent this year in mid June again, so hopefully we'll get more of a taste of what people normally experience there as far as the fishing goes!"
I've done a couple of lunch stops on the SE island 4* campsite (LD) ... large, flat, well used and potentially exposed to westerly winds. There are some representative pictures on PaddlePlanr. PP also has a few snaps of the island campsite (JM) across from the Conmee portage. I doubt its 50 feet up, more like 30, but there are good southerly views and tent pads are somewhat separated (Landing and parking for a couple of canoes is on the east side.) Again, this site gets a fair amount of use (and was inspected from a distance by a couple of groups while I was camped there.) On the western end of Brent are another couple of campsites on an island (F1 and F2). Again both get a fair amount of use. The last time I camped in the area, F1 was occupied so we took the smaller (but very adequate) F2 (take out on the south edge of the campsite with a short slight incline to the main part of the site. (I don't know that the two sites are connected by a trail, but one of the residents did walk over to our site to return a loaned knife sharpener we'd drop off on the way in ... the delivery was accompanied by a wee dram of some very good single malt scotch, which was much appreciated.
I'll be returning to this area toward the end of June ... exact dates are not known since we are coming in from the west and might do William/Conmee in route to Suz and Burt and hit Brent on the western return with at least one layover day planned. (Anyone put eyes on a flotilla of solo canoes ... at least 6 ... I'll be with a "chatty" group, so don't be afraid to give us a wave or engage in some conversation.)
So Jackfish, if your trip is (say) a couple of days after July 4th, give me a shout and I'll see what recent intel I can pass along.
dd
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs" chances are you missed something. (Inspired by Rudyard Kipling.)
03/29/2018 08:14PM
I will just say that if the weather is good you will have a great trip! Enjoy yourself, be safe, and save some fish for me :) I think the others have answered your other questions.
P.S. This is a great grand slam lake where all species can be of a large size.
P.S. This is a great grand slam lake where all species can be of a large size.
So many fish,so little time
03/30/2018 08:03AM
Guys, thank you very much for the info. This will definitely help the planning process.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
03/30/2018 08:34AM
AmarilloJim: "Brent has LT?"
One of the bigger lakers I've taken in Quetico was on Brent.
dd
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs" chances are you missed something. (Inspired by Rudyard Kipling.)
03/30/2018 10:19AM
Jackfish: "Reservation made last night... entering at PP with a Sarah Lake EP. Anyone have any fishing and campsite experiences that you’d care to share about Brent Lake or the route to and from? I’ve heard good things about Brent but this will be my first trip there. "
Eastern shoreline of the western end of Brent at that time tends to equal walleye. The Sarah to McIntyre portage is a fun climb. Coming back that way is easier. There is at least one very nice campsite on the northern shoreline in a small bay that leads to the portages of Conmee if you are staying at that end. Sarah has a really nice flat site on an pinch point between lower and upper Sarah (on the way to the McIntyre portage). I also stayed at a fairly nice campsite with one/two tent pads on Side in case your group only makes it that far on day one.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
03/31/2018 12:02AM
HighnDry: "Jackfish: "Reservation made last night... entering at PP with a Sarah Lake EP. Anyone have any fishing and campsite experiences that you’d care to share about Brent Lake or the route to and from? I’ve heard good things about Brent but this will be my first trip there. "
Eastern shoreline of the western end of Brent at that time tends to equal walleye. The Sarah to McIntyre portage is a fun climb. Coming back that way is easier. There is at least one very nice campsite on the northern shoreline in a small bay that leads to the portages of Conmee if you are staying at that end. Sarah has a really nice flat site on an pinch point between lower and upper Sarah (on the way to the McIntyre portage). I also stayed at a fairly nice campsite with one/two tent pads on Side in case your group only makes it that far on day one."
Don't take the aprox. 30 rod portage from Sarah to McIntyre, take the aprox. 60 rod that is slightly south. It is much easier IMO. Not nearly as steep.
So many fish,so little time
03/31/2018 09:39AM
mgraber: "
Don't take the aprox. 30 rod portage from Sarah to McIntyre, take the aprox. 60 rod that is slightly south. It is much easier IMO. Not nearly as steep."
I agree. That short one is very steep.
I was last on Brent in the late 80's and I was solo. My memory is of many young women in bikinis swimming off the 5 star island site in the east end. I also saw a swimming moose crossing the lake while I was traveling in the morning but the girls swimming is my dominant memory of Brent. :)
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
03/31/2018 10:11AM
TomT: "mgraber: "
Don't take the aprox. 30 rod portage from Sarah to McIntyre, take the aprox. 60 rod that is slightly south. It is much easier IMO. Not nearly as steep."
I agree. That short one is very steep. "
I concur. I took the southern one last season on a day trip over from Sarah to McIntyre to check out the message cache. The trail was is good shape. Basically flat by comparison to the short one. You might find a few wet spots after a rain, but otherwise its a no brainer choice for me.
dd
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs" chances are you missed something. (Inspired by Rudyard Kipling.)
03/31/2018 12:50PM
I don't think I ever saw the entrance to the longer 60 rod portage last season when I went in that route. I may have glanced over to the southern shoreline of the little cove where the 30 rod begins and saw an opening in the brush. However, I thought I was just imagining another portage (wishful thinking perhaps). If I head in that way this upcoming season, I'll look for that "flatter" portage :)
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
10/05/2018 11:36AM
AmarilloJim: "Jackfish how was your trip?"
I had to back out of the trip roughly two weeks prior to departure. My wife was diagnosed with a medical issue where she was going to need my support in the following couple of weeks (and beyond, obviously). I couldn't just leave her to deal with it on her own. I needed to be there.
As Paul Harvey once said, "Here is the rest of the story..."
The day the guys headed to Quetico, I went with my wife to a checkup with a specialist who said my wife had been misdiagnosed and there was no problem at all. We looked at the doctor in bewilderment thinking... the person who had originally read the tests put us through hell for almost ten days. We were angry (sort of), but incredibly relieved.
I'll get to Brent Lake one of these years. I certainly have all the maps! :)
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
10/08/2018 10:38PM
Thanks Hex and HnD. We were very relieved.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
12/09/2018 04:51PM
Jackfish, I had a trip up to the Brent area cancelled because of a medical issue with my wife. I would have preferred to cancel the trip because of a "supposed" medical issue!
Anyway, one of our best fishing trips ever involved Burt, McIntyre, Brent, and thereabouts. On day on an overused campsite on Brent, we caught 4 real nice walleye at 2 in the afternoon on a post-cold front bluebird hot day in June. I mean, I cast a jig one time, caught a big walleye. Second cast, a big walleye. Called my daughter over and she did the same thing.
Anyway, one of our best fishing trips ever involved Burt, McIntyre, Brent, and thereabouts. On day on an overused campsite on Brent, we caught 4 real nice walleye at 2 in the afternoon on a post-cold front bluebird hot day in June. I mean, I cast a jig one time, caught a big walleye. Second cast, a big walleye. Called my daughter over and she did the same thing.
12/10/2018 09:18AM
Thanks Joe... very happy things went the way they did. I'll get to Brent someday. I hope things worked out with your wife.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
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