bigpike wrote on Jan 20^th, 2011 at 3:49am:

So it seems there are no easy ways into Pooh Bah, is there any other access options we have other than Crane Lake or Lac la Croix? We do have 10 days to paddle total. You guys have me a little spooked on the current flow of the Maligne. It certainly is an intriguing lake to get to.... Thank you guys again for the input, I appreciate it!!

You never mentioned how many are in your crew? Having more than one vehicle would expand your options.
I mentioned going in thru Beaverhouse/West bay/Badwater/Bentpine Creek/Lower Sturgeon. Traveling solo, with 2x on portages, I made it from Beaverhouse to Lower Sturgeon in one day, stating at 7 am to about 5 pm. Even if you stopped 3/4 of the way, your looking at no more than a day and a half tops.
If you had a vehicle stored a LLC, you could arrange for a pick-up at Bell Island. From Lower Sturgeon, a day should put you on Poohbah. A day from Poohbah to Bell Island or less.
No easy way there other than fly-in.
I'd rather paddle small lakes/short portages, than fight a heavy current going up the Maligne. Going from Badwater to Jean and then down is dicey when the wind is out of the E/NE, which is the usual spring pattern.

You can run the North shoreline of Beaverhouse even in windy conditions. Once on Quetico lk, you take the short sand drag over on the peninsula separating the lake from W. Bay and your at the Badwater portage. Long but mostly flat and not a bad as it's been made out to be.
I've done it solo 2x, took about 1 1/2 hr double portaging. A few mud holes and the ever present ominous spirits :o, but not a big deal, just keep you head down and give no mind to the the feeling you being watched :-?
Nice campsites on the Lower Sturgeon and good fishing.
Depending on your level of paddling skill, fighting up the Maligne in normal spring conditions can be nerve racking. Putting rusty paddling skills together with treacherous water is a recipe for bad things to happen. Taking a longer but easier Northern route gives you a chance to get you Mojo working and if you do take a spill, you in far more forgiving water ;)