Mk631 wrote on Jan 14^th, 2015 at 5:29pm:

. . . found an ice fishing pole leaning against a tree at the Walter end of the Elizabeth-Walter portage.

I am going to guess that someone used it in the summer and left it behind.  I have witnessed a few people, for what I can only imagine is for the sake of being ultra-light and compact, bringing ice rods into Quetico.  It's a head-scratcher but I've seen it a few times.   :-?