Around 1979 or '80 I read an article in Fishing Facts magazine by I believe Spence Petros. He was smallmouth fishing in Quetico and specifically mentioned Burt Lake as having football shaped world class smallie fishing.

That was my introduction to the BW. In 1983 my girlfriend gave me a Grumman Eagle for my birthday and we went to the BW that spring. I did a couple more BW trips in the 80's before going to Quetico on a solo in 1988.

I took my 16 year old brother to Kawnipi in '92 and the fishing was unbelievable. I had married my girlfriend and we had a son that year so I didn't go again till 2000. I've gone 7 out of the last 8 years and hope to take my dog for the first time in Sept.  I'm not bothering with the BW crowds anymore. If I only go once a year I want to make it count and that's in Quetico. I'm open to Wabakimi and WCCP too. Someday.

Through the years I always remembered Burt Lake. Well I finally got there in 2011 and caught a 19 inch football shaped smallmouth.  I admired it and thought about being 19 and reading that article before letting it go.