look in the portage database - there is the "Staircase" portage that can take you directly from Sturgeon Narrowns to Russell lake, kindof into the NW corner of the lake

I wouldn't worry about "high water" conditions this year - its been on the low side of average, though that could change with signifiant rain. Went up it on May 31st this year and had no problems in a tandem canoe.  Getting up to the portage db mentioned isn't all that hard - start up the left side and hug the shoreline taking advantage of the eddies behind rocks and points- keep your bow straight into the current, and only as much angle as needed to move left or right - take a break here and there in the quieter water, then ferry across (if you don't know how to do an "upstream ferry" put google to work and find out) to the portage which is on the right side of the channel as you are going upstream - note! the portage isn't all that obvious as the landing is on big sloping rock (i.e. you won't see a beaten down pathway - its myabe 200 feet or so of trail)

I've gone upstream to Russell half a dozen times or more, tandem and solo - I can recall one solo trip when the water was higher than normal when it was tough going, but I made it anyway, and I think there was one tandem trip when it was high and a workout to get up to that portage, but still doable.  If you really don't want to try it, take the staircase.