Martin -

Sent you a PM.

East Lake would certainly take some time to investigate ... lots of possibilities.

I've actually plotted out a one-way route that would go from Big Hook Lake to Island Lake (MB).  Via Cocos & Joint Lakes, that route is about 57 miles.  Since your only choice is to fly-in/fly-out you could easily do two different points for put-in-/take-out (and going that direction puts you with the flow of the river).

Alternately, it looks like you could go south from the lodge on Big Hook and head west via South Lake (might even be possible to do a little bushwhacking and get into the south end of South Lake).

A couple of huge moraines to investigate ... huge wolverine population ... what's not to like!

(And, yes.  I did have more than one reason to pick up a folding canoe that could be packed as luggage/gear!  I think this thing was specifically built for river travel.)

dd