This is what I found out from Steve at Big Hook Camps.

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I told him we were only interested in transportation and canoe rental.

Flight cost using wheeled aircraft to Sandy Lake and then floatplane to their base camp on Central Lake where the canoes are kept and back to Red Lake. $500

He told me the canoes weighed 70 lbs but knew nothing else about them. He was not the one who usually deals with the canoes but thought the rental was $40 per day.

Their operation is set up with all guest arriving and departing on Saturday. Longer canoe trips would need to end on a Saturday.

They charter all the flights and so the charter has rules and limits. 100 pounds per person, $1.75 per pound for each additional pound for the first hundred over the limit, then higher.

They have a small plane that they use for camp checks but it is not used commercially. This means that all trips would start and end at Central Lake with no other options available from them.

I mentioned that some might be bringing in Pak boats in a duffle bag. That puzzled him but I explained that that was becoming more common.

There is fire damage in areas because they are not put out.

There is a 50 mile loop that goes west from Central Lake and goes through the top of South Lake and then NW up to West Lake before returning to Central Lake via the south part of East Lake. Portages are not maintained but he said this was a known route.

The many miles of the top of East Lake are very shallow. He said most is about 3 feet.

He is a little concerned about a bunch of paddlers coming in. There seems to be some lakes that he stays off of in an understanding with some First Nation people. We were going to get more of this info by E-mail later. For the first month after ice-out and again after Labor Day the First Nation are using the waters the most. For the summer months activity is at the lowest level.

There are no known Pictographs.

Walleye, Northern and Perch are the only fish.

I have had a day to ponder this new approach and it looks like an attractive alternative. This would simplify the whole process as each party would be scheduling and running their own trips.

At this point I am looking at making it up there this summer using Big Hook. Solo or with others is undecided. I am waiting for more info on those canoes. It may be time to purchase a Pak Boat like DD's. If I was outfitted for four weeks with a Pak Boat I would probably use all of the 100 pound over weight charge. If I used their tandem and had a change of partner after two weeks we would probably fit easily with the allowed baggage rate of 100 pounds each.

Thoughts?

DentonDoc wrote on Apr 6^th, 2013 at 2:17pm:


I could not find an answer for that but their web site is packed with info and maps. Some special perks too for those who desire!

Beer & Soda Pop are available at our camp. If you wish to place an order, please call or email our office well in advance (at least three weeks ) before your arrival at camp. Your order will be delivered to your outpost camp. The cost is: $3.25 a US/Can of beer or $1.75 US/Can of soda pop.

Guys,

I have been reading your blog about doing Opasquia Provincial Park in 2013. I have been doing fly-in trips to this park via Big Hook for 23 years. 

Thought  I might throw in a few comments to give you a better understanding of how Big Hook operates. Bottomline, I really like the walleye fishing in this park.   I have been to several of the Big Hook camps over the years including Cocos, Southwest, West and South Lakes. Southwest has loads of 13 - 17 inch walleyes, in fact incredible numbers...just not very big ones. Cocos and West have a great combination of walleyes and northerns ...numbers and size.

I have settled in on South Lake for the past 15 years and normally go the 2nd week of August. I will be there Sat 8/10 - Sat 8/17/13 with 4 buds of mine .Its the smallest cabin of all the lakes but I like the numbers and potential for large walleyes here. Northern fishing is just OK.  They provide 15 hp  four stroke motors  with 14 - 16 ft LUNDS and gas for a week and provide staples like potatoes, beans, canned fruit and vegs, cooking oil, onions, etc, ...you just bring meat and whatever. There is a shower and oven  and outdoor grill. Bring sleeping bags... and you sleep on bunk beds with foam mattress.

I usually overnight at Balmertown Hotel  on Friday night before trip ... comfortable rooms ...and nice restaurant for so far north.

You leave Red Lake at predesigned time on a Saturday usually at 2 hours intervals starting at 6:30 am then 8:30 am  etc, You fly out of Wayasa Airport which is adjacent to to Red Lake Airport. You will park your vehicle at Waysaya airport for your duration. You will park in a fenced in area. You will leave your keys with airport personnel and they will have your vehicle waiting for you ready to exit the airport upon your arrival back from your trip.

We have always flew out in a 9 passenger turbo prop plane. You land in Sandy Lake usually in a 1 hour flight. Sandy Lake is a large 1st Nation  Indian reservation. It is a very sandy looking colored lake ... not sure why anyone would want to put a reservation on such a tan muddy colored lake. It is alcohol free on the reservation so you must pack in any liquor in a box or at least packed away unseen. There is a 100 lb limit on gear flying in and of course our group has  always been overweight as we bring in 8 - 10 cases of beer and a assortment of scotch and other whiskey's. The Ontario government is really cracking down on weight limits by the aircraft you are flying in. We used to be able to throw on some extra packs but now they weigh everything.

Steve @ Big Hook will pick you up at the airstrip on the outskirts of Sandy Lake in some old beat up vans. You will then proceed on a 15 minute drive to his dock at Sandy Lake. Steve has his own personal plane there but utilizes 2 to 3 Cessna float planes via Sandy Lake Airlines to move Big Hook customers to their various outposts. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to South Lake via float plane from Sandy Lake.

Normally in August we have not had weather issues that have limited flights in and out of Sandy Lake ... but once we did spend the night on the floor of the commissary at Sandy because of storms. We have had occasional late pickups at our cabin at take out time. The fact that you are 180 miles north of Red lake will at times mean you may have travel issues back and  forth between your camp, Sandy Lake and Red Lake.

Hey, I have to go watch the Final Four on TV ...if you need any more info ... please ask.

Wally
Thanks for the info.
DD
The moraine you spoke of is south of Big Hook isn’t it.