This summer I'm planning to put in at Stanton Bay & head toward Olifaunt.  I am confident that under decent conditions I could get to Olifaunt on Day 1 even with the kids along, but I am fairly determined to spend some time fishing the B-chain (Bisk-Beg-Bud) because it's such a pretty little chain of lakes & seems like it should be good fishing.

So...does anyone know much about campsites on, say, Beg or Bud?  I've been thru before, but didn't really look for sites & I've checked the PCD, so I know there's not a lot of posted info out there.  

I'm only looking to spend 1 night, so the need is not for the highest grade site.  I've considered 1EZ (shield rock at the portage out of Beg) & 1FM (@ the put-in to Fern), but really wonder about Bud proper also, and alternatives in case some or several sites are taken -- I know this is a reasonably popular route.

If you have thoughts -- even incedental stuff at sites you didn't use like "that looked OK from the water" or "we saw people camped there", feel free to reply or PM me.  

Thanks!

-Tom

I stayed at 1FM, it's nice. There's a trail coming out the back side of the site from the pool below the falls. I wouldn't think it's used much for portaging the run-out into Fern. Maybe if people had trouble going up stream someone would use it.

The portage trail around the falls is on the opposite shore from the campsite.

  (You need to Login or Register not too far west of 1EM.  ;D   If I forget, remind me with a PM. 1EW is better than camping on a portage (1EZ).

1Ew on Bud looked like a nice site as I passed by - its just below the rapid and portage from Beg, so fishing that fast water right from camp would be doable.

I've stayed at 1FM on Fern twice- its a nice site, but fairly heavily used - don't expect to find much firewood laying around - you'd think that fishing in Fern where the river current runs in would be good, but I never caught anything there.

db wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 6:31am:

(You need to Login or Register not too far west of 1EM.  ;D   If I forget, remind me with a PM. 1EW is better than camping on a portage (1EZ).

Yikes - that site looks like where KF & MP camped on their bushwack adventure to Belaire!  

Thanks to both of you for the info!

-Tom

Last summer we were supose to put in at Stanton Bay but due to the road wash out, we had to put in at French. This caused us to be wind bound the first day at the east end of Pickerel (1PG). The next day we made it to Olifuant via the B-chain, long day.

We fished the out flow from Bisk on Beg and caught a couple for lunch. I don't recall seeing the 1EZ site but I wasn't looking either. Do remember there was a lot of flat shield rock there. We had lunch right across at 1EW which had space for a couple tents max. Trolled down Bud but didn't catch anything.

We checked out 1FX on Bud but it only had space for a couple tents. Didn't check out 1FM but from shore it looked nice.

The portage from Fern to Olifaunt is about 1,250 yards, it goes up high along the "rushing" water, very senic portage. Be carefull and don't put in at the first lake, about 800 yards, continue until the trail ends at the water. There is a set of rapids, a lake, then another set of rapids before Olifaunt.

On Olifaunt, there is a set of rapids you can run if the water is not to low right by site 1AT. Spent the night on  18E which I thought was 18R.

Have fun, the B-chain is a very senic route.

We have camped a couple of times on the point of the peninsula that extends out from the west side of Bisk Lake.  It is just across from a peninsula that reaches out from the east side of the lake.  This site is not marked on the McKenzie maps.  It was ok after a long paddle from French Lake.  Fishing was ok for SM and Pike.

Fishing was good in Beg lake for SM and Pike.  My wife caught a 42 inch pike in Beg.  

We have camped on the island in Bud Lake that lies north of the portage into Fern Lake.  Campsite not marked on McKenzie map.  Ok campsite but it was infested with friendly mice.  They chewed a hole in a pack that was sealed tight.  No food was in the pack.   Did not fish in Bud Lake.  Ok SM fishing for us in Fern Lake.  

Thanks for the info guys!
From the aerial photos, it looks like there should be one on the island in Beg.  Anybody know?  I wish I'd taken time to check it out more on my last time thru - we were just trying to make time on a thruderstormy day & I didn't stop to check anything out.  Live and learn!

Thanks again -Tom

I have been down the B Chain at least 6 times over the years.
We usually break the paddle from French to Olifaunt into 2 days because we have done the trip mostly with kids.
We always camp on Bud lake. There are at least 4 sites to pick from, not all of them prime, but all usable.
There is one right below the portage from Beg on the west shore looking at the pool below the rapids. There is one on the east shore in the narrow part of the north end of the lake. The one we camp at is on the south side of the 3rd Island coming from the north. It is open, sloping rock with a decent flat spot. Most people take the north channel so not much traffic. Good walleye fishing in the current on either side of the island. 4th site is on the middle of the larger island out from the portage to Fern. Decent spot as well. Nice sound effects being near the rapids to Fern. We have caught quite a few bass and northerns in Bud as well as the afore mentioned walleyes. There is an eagle nest across from "our" site as well. In 2008 it had 2 young ones in it. Let me know if you want more info.
Have fun.
Gene M