Jimbo- I have been part of a party of 5 that have been going to Opasquia PP the 2nd week of August for over 20 years. I have been flying in to South Lake via Big Hook Wilderness Camps. It is a remote fly-in camp known for its fabulous walleye fishing. My trip usually begins staying overnight at the Balmertown Inn Balmertown, Ontario. We take an early morning flight out of the Red Lake Airport on a 9 passenger turbo prop freight plane operated by Wayasa Airways. You fly 180 north to a large 1st Nation Indian Reservation on Sandy Lake. We then take a 25 minute float plane to one of 6 or 7 lakes of your choice. Steve and Evie Hartle and their son Nathan have owned and operated  Big Hook for many years.

The lakes in Opasquia are really a flowage and stain colored and full of good sized walleye. Large Northern Pike are present as well. I heard that Opasquia PP was open to canoeing a few years back but I haven't seen a canoeist yet. The shoelines of most of the lakes are rugged and not the best for campsites. I have found only 1 site  that we can use on South Lake to have a shorelunch and it is only average at best.

I doubt it would  cost you $7K for a trip to Opasquia. It runs us $1,159 per person for a party of 4 -5 for a 7 day/nite Saturday to Saturday trip...price includes flight to and from Red Lake, gas, motor, 14 ft boats, solar power, shower, potatoes, canned vegetables, cooking oil, ice etc. Just bring meat, sleeping bags, clothes, and fishing gear.

Steve and Nathan Hartle can be reached at 920-893-3525 BHWC@aol.com     (You need to Login or Register  They vacation in Florida in the winter and Nathan does several shows in the winter. I am sure they could help you out with any questions you may have and can provide you with a way to get into Opasquia at a reasonable rate.

Bottomline, I am not sure you would like to go thru lakes that have a cabin and fisherman in boats but the park is quite big and there aren't cabins on every lake. The only portage trails I have seen are where Big Hook has cached boats to be used to portage into a lightly fished lake. Like you I prefer remoteness. WCPP may be the ticket but Opasquia PP may be worth a look. The wildlife ( bear, moose, mink, otter, eagles, osprey) are plentiful.

Writing this note has got me revved up to paddle. Probably going to Brent Lake in Quetico the 2nd week of June 2011. Not sure about my entry point Lac La Croix ( Bottle or Black Robe) or Prairie Portage. Plenty of time to figure that out.