I'm doing a family trip next summer with kids (age 8, 10, 12).  I am targeting the SW portion of Quetico, which I've done before.  I'd like to do do a one way trip from Lac La Croix (Bottle portage??) to Prairie Portage.  To allow us to spend more time on the lakes in the SW part of the park and stay off Basswood and Crooked (I prefer smaller water over big water) I'm looking at tow options on Basswood.  It seems that the farthest west outfitters will take you is Washington Island or Back Bay of Basswood.  I'd like to get even farther west if possible, to save paddling time.  I might call the outfitters to ask why this seems to be the practical western limit of tows on Basswood, but do any of you know why this is the case, or if there is a way by "special request" to get farther west?

If you look at a map of the motor zones on Basswood, you will see the limits of where motors are permitted. Motors are permitted as far west as the portage from Back bay to Pipestone bay. I believe that is the practical limit of the western reach. While motors are permitted to the narrows north of Pipestone, that is only reachable from Fall lake which requires two portages each way. I am not aware of any Outfitters using this method.

From Moose Lake, LaTourells and Williams & Hall are two excellent options. I recommend Andersons for the tow to Bottle. ;)