The boys and I are heading for Quetico Lake via Beaverhouse in June. We've been going to Lac La Croix for over 15 years and we've decided to check something else out. Anything anybody can tell me about the campsites, the fishing,the crowds, day trips,how the lake is in the wind and any thing else I may need to know.

I also like to know if we can buy our fishing license at the Ranger station. Are their any resorts on Beaverhouse where we can buy bait?

I'll give this a sjhot with the disclaimer that I haven't been there in seven years -- things may have changed (including my memory).

Even though it is only a few miles, it is about an hours drive down the gravel road to the entry point. Crossing Beaverhouse can be a challenge in the wind!! A BIG challenge. Try to cross early before the wind kicks up.

I believe you can buy fishing licenses from the ranger but not bait. I don't believe there is an outfitter/bait shop on the lake. I know we made those purchases in Fort Frances. I believe there is a native peoples encampment on the lake, but I don't think they sell bait.

The portage from Beaverhouse to Quetico is very short and easy (with an old care along the way). The travels along a waterfall. Watch the landings.

Quetico can really be affected by the wind as well. There are some land features you can take advantage of, however. Campsites I saw were very overused and run down. I wish they would put latrines on those overused sites. That can be a mess.

Motorboats can be used on both those lakes by native guides. You'll see them several times a day. Seaplanes can land there as well.

IMHO, if you can get one portage further, it helps a lot.

You will have more options of places to explore on Quetico Lake than time will permit. It is a big lake and any grouping of the morning crowds at the B'house portage will quickly disperse. Consider taking the south arm to its east end. The southeast bay near the Conk Lake portage is nice. Smallmouth can be caught in the bays that branch off the north and south shorelines of the south arm. The arm branching to the northeast of Eden Island reportedly has some nice campsites. There is a nice sand beach on the SE corner of Eden Island and another along the south shore along the spit of land which partially divides West bay from the main section of the lake. West bay has some shallow weedy shorelines down near the Badwater Lake portage that might offer some early season pike action.

Bannock is correct with the information regarding the availability to purchase you fishing license on the Beaverhouse ranger station and there being no outfitters on the lake. You can purchase your baits at Rainy Lake Sports in Fort Francis. They are located right on the main highway near the east end of town (near the Rainy Lake access points). They were open all night a couple years ago when we went through.

Don't overlook Beaverhouse as a very nice place to spend your last night of the trip. There are a half dozen nice campsites on the east end within 20 minutes paddle of the entry portage.

-YB