Thursday, June 5 2025 – Jean Lake to Bentpine Lake (20km, 4 portages)

I woke at 05:30 to the sound of light rain on the tent and promptly went back to sleep. An hour later we slowly packed camp under a moody sky and set off up the huge Jean Lake on calm waters for its far east end.

Rain fell gently around us as we turned south and paddle and fished our way to the 400 meter carry into Burntside Lake. This portage was easy to find and follow and we continued catching various species of fish as we paddled our way through the gorgeous Burnside towards the creek leading to Claire Lake.

As others have indicated, the first portage along the creek from Burntside towards Claire Lake was hardly a portage at all. We managed to get our stuff lugged over but I think in higher water people just paddle it.

After learning on previous trips that comments on portages can be handy, I was very thankful to have printed out some hints for the next portage. I’m not sure we would have found it without them. This portage was fairly easy once we found it and soon we were paddling Claire Lake – a lovely small lake under a calm sky.

The 700 meter portage from Claire into Bentpine Lake was interesting. Still a dream compared to many in WCPP, this one was very tough to find from the Claire Lake side and required some maintenance from my bucksaw. It was probably one of the rougher carries of the entire trip but still relatively easy all things considered.

Once we paddled onto Bentpine we felt we were in paradise. We were planning to spend an extra day here and as we approached the 4-star “BT” site on an island near some big bays we realized how fortuitous this plan was. The site felt a little closed in but was very cozy with a great sunset view. If only it had some rocky points it would easily be a 5-star, but we weren’t about to complain.

As we lounged around camp, resting from our days paddle, a canoe with 2 gentlemen paddle close by and we chatted for a bit. It turns out they were with a party of 8 and staying at the other sites on the lake.

They were very surprised to see us and even more surprised that we’d entered from Claire Lake. They’d been coming here for 30 years and only did the Claire Lake approach once, in terrible conditions. They were from the USA and for some reason also surprised we were Canadian, despite the fact that we were in fact, IN Canada.

It was only after supper that we found out just how lucky we were to be spending a few days in Bentpine. We didn’t really feel like getting back in the boat after a long day, but the waters were so calm and the evening so gorgeous that I managed to convince Hanneke to go out for a bit. And WOW. Was it ever worth it! After some luck with my new, strange top water bass lures on Jean Lake, I decided to try them again here. As we drifted the shoreline of a nearby bay, we absolutely HAMMERED Smallmouth Bass. It was nuts. I’ve had great walleye fishing before, but this was even more spectacular.

I now know that we had (accidently) stumbled into a post-spawn aggression. Apparently after laying their eggs in shallow water near shore, Smallmouth Bass vehemently protect these beds. Every time we cast near shore and started retrieving the top water lures, angry bass would SMASH them. It was incredibly good fun and soon my hands were beat up from releasing fish. (One compromise Hann demands on canoe trips is that I release all her fish. I submit to this request so that she comes along on trips like this.) We spent a few hours enjoying the chaos as the sun slowly set in clear skies to the west.

Finally we retired to camp, already looking forward to an encore the following day considering we had all day to go back for more action.

Friday, June 6 2025 – Bentpine Lake (Rest Day)

We slept in on a rest day at our cozy site on Bentpine Lake. As I enjoyed a morning coffee to the boreal cacophony of birds I mused that we now had 4 rest days and 4 paddle days ahead of us. We always paddle further than I think we can – both Hann and I enjoy the act of canoeing and even the portages. As long as the weather allows, we always prefer moving to sitting. That being said, today was a well deserved day off and we were both excited to try top water bass fishing again!

Throughout the day on Friday, forest fire smoke grew thicker. By 10:00 we were once again hammering Smallmouth Bass in ridiculous numbers in a smokey haze under a burning sun. This isn’t normally ideal fishing conditions but the bass didn’t seem to notice or care.

Every time we reeled another fish to the boat, several more would follow it in. There were so many fish in the lake that it almost felt overdone. According to the gentlemen we’d chatted with the day previous there used to be no bass in here at all. It used to be a walleye lake.

Speaking of walleye , I did manage to catch one while trolling a Len Thompson spoon back to camp which was nice. I should have tried fileting a bass but didn’t once we knew there was walleye to be had. The smoke grew even thicker as we went out in the afternoon and again in the evening for more action. The fishing was so fun we didn’t want to pass it up. I am now firmly hooked (pardon the pun) on top water bass fishing.

We turned in relatively early yet again – the evenings were getting cool and with no fire the bugs were coming out fiercely once the sun lowered in the sky. There was some wind in the forecast and with a huge Sturgeon Lake on tomorrow’s menu we wanted to be up early enough to avoid some of it.