Attached is a fish species chart for Quetico that has been updated as of January 2018. 

This comes from and was compiled by Quetico Park Biologist, Brian Jackson.  Brian asked me to pass along his email in case people have any questions or if they have knowledge of fish species in lakes that they don’t have listed or haven’t confirmed yet.

(brian.w.jackson_AT_ontario.ca)

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I would like to thank Old Salt for sharing an older version of this document with me at Canoecopia, which spurred me to email to the park office for a clean copy of the document.  I was pleasantly surprised when I received the updated version. 

Thanks for posting this.
I compared this list to the one in the NEW BW & Q Fishing Guide by Michael Furtman I reviewed in the book forum.

This is more detailed and includes the GPS coordinates. It lists by my count 234 Q-Lakes while the  Furtman guide lists 187.

  In fairness to the difference, I'm sure some of those lakes are so remote most people wouldn't even attempt to get to them.

The Furtman guide has BWCA lakes as well so that's a plus.

You can NEVER have too much info, so if you're a serious fisherman or just curious, having both of them wouldn't be all bad.

Hey db, can you please pin this to the top? Thanks! 8-)

Comparing Old Salt's older survey (2012-ish?) with this one, one difference is there are fewer species listed. The older document had Sturgeon, White Sucker and Cisco on the list as well.

arnesr wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 2:38pm:

Attached is a fish species chart for Quetico that has been updated as of January 2018.  This comes from and was compiled by Quetico Park Biologist, Brian Jackson.  Brian asked me to pass along his email in case people have any questions or if they have knowledge of fish species in lakes that they don’t have listed or haven’t confirmed yet. (brian.w.jackson_AT_ontario.ca)

arnes -

Thanks for posting this!

Hmmm... at least one surprise in the document.  It claims there are lake trout in Kawnipi Lake.  Um, I suppose if someone drug one down the Cache River on a stringer from Cache Lake - and if it got loose somehow - and THEN that single fish miraculously got found by the researcher, well, it might account for such a finding.  As for me, I have yet to meet anyone who has caught a lake trout there.

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 4:58pm:

arnesr wrote on Mar 15th, 2018 at 2:38pm: Attached is a fish species chart for Quetico that has been updated as of January 2018.  This comes from and was compiled by Quetico Park Biologist, Brian Jackson.  Brian asked me to pass along his email in case people have any questions or if they have knowledge of fish species in lakes that they don’t have listed or haven’t confirmed yet. (brian.w.jackson_AT_ontario.ca) arnes - Thanks for posting this! Hmmm... at least one surprise in the document.  It claims there are lake trout in Kawnipi Lake.  Um, I suppose if someone drug one down the Cache River on a stringer from Cache Lake - and if it got loose somehow - and THEN that single fish miraculously got found by the researcher, well, it might account for such a finding.  As for me, I have yet to meet anyone who has caught a lake trout there. Jimbo   8-)

Furtmans Guide has LT in Kawnipi Lk as well.  :-?
Maybe they got flushed downstream thru the Falls Chain.

How many people knew that Burntside Lk has LT in it? I know that for a FACT. Still, I doubt there is more than a handful?

I think any lake that has decent size feeder stream year round could during high-water times get a few escapees from more diverse stocked lakes.

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Quetico Fishes lists LT there as well (Fish Survey 1697-1973).

Anybody know of anyone who has actually caught one on Kawnipi?

Actually, I do agree with ST.  Feeder streams DO come from lakes that certainly contain lake trout.  There should be some in there. I just don’t know anyone who has ever caught one, that’s all.

Jimbo  8-)

After having caught every fish in Kawnipi, I can categorically state that none of them were lake trout. The habitat in Kawnipi is not conducive to their long term survival and reproduction.

While Kawnipi continues to enjoy a healthy reputation as a fishery, it is no longer worth the trouble or time to go there. Best advice is to avoid it and go somewhere else. ;)

I can verify that Burntside (the one in Q) has lakers. In our only fall trip year, we caught several in shallow water up on the north end, including two doubles.

Isn't this where OS usually trots out that ole bathography joke? ;D ;D ;D

I fished Kawnipi for 30 years and never caught a laker.

HighnDry wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2020 at 9:28pm:

Isn't this where OS usually trots that ole bathography joke? ;D ;D ;D

The depth of your comment leaves me gasping... ;D

That's good but the "bath? Sure I take a bath in the lake" was the one I was looking for  :D :D :D

Of course!  ;D ;D

I thought you were referring to the study of underwater depths and lake floors. I guess I was a little slow on the uptake...

As for swimming in the lakes, I gave that up when I saw a herd of snappers at our campsite a few years ago. I decided that wipes are my go to choice. They double as fire starter. 8-)

From the Park's Facebook page today:

We are monitoring fisheries in some of Quetico’s lakes this season in order to better manage our aquatic ecosystems.
When you check in at an entry station, our rangers will have the most up-to-date information and will inform you if your trip may encounter a research crew. Estimated research dates and locations will also be posted at all six of our stations.
For more information on the broad-scale monitoring program in Quetico please see our 2024 park tabloid.
More generalized information about the program is also available at   (You need to Login or Register

When we came out on Thursday (6/13) we observed a couple of motorized inflatable boats on Beaverhouse with crews tending the sampling nets.  We also saw a third motorized aluminum boat that headed West, but it was unclear if that was a first nation guide or part of the fisheries crew.

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