So I'm going to spend a layover on McDougal in the Q and want to do another at either Camel or Fred.  I'm looking to do 3 nights at one of these and my priority is a nice site obviously, but doesn't have to be big.  I'll be in a hammock so tent pad wont matter.

I hope to fish that lake and also do fishing day trips from the site. I'd love to get into some large walleye and bass.  This trip is in early September.  Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

TomT -

I don't disagree w/OS re: Sturgeon as a fishery, having just come off a very nice fishing week right there.  It's a big lake and diverse fishery that offers a lot.  We did well both with walleyes & bass there.

On the other hand, I DO LIKE the lakes you've selected and probably for the reasons you have chosen them.  My experience has been: Camel produces very nice walleyes and McDougall is an exceptional lake for smallmouth.  That whole string of Cutty Creek lakes offers great walleye fishing.  With regard to McDougall, I would refer you to a BWJ article written by Tim Mead (our very own "Ancient Angler") back in the early 2000's, I think.  Titled something like "Back to McDougall", it was all about the great smallmouth fishing there.  And, if it's BIG smallmouth you're after, well, I watched my brother take the largest smallmouth I've ever seen just across the portage over on Russell Lake.

I recommend a bit of care with campsite selection on those two lakes.  Most maps will show 3 sites on Camel but only ZC is really any good.  I found the one in the far western bay of that lake to be absolutely infested with no-see-ums twelve years ago.  Since then I've stayed at ZC.  On McDougall, it's tempting to grab one of those "peninsula point sites" and - if the weather is good - you can really enjoy the great views they offer.  On the other hand, if the weather is bad, you are VERY exposed.  I ran into that situation last September on a similarly-exposed site.  Those September storms can be bad news!  If the weather looks shaky, there is a decent campsite tucked in on the west side of that smaller eastern bay that should service you quite nicely.  It doesn't show on many maps. 

September will be a great time of year to visit that area of the park.  I'm envious!

Jimbo   

Thanks for the comments on my work. Been several years since I have been to McDougall. Gotta get back there. With a friend I had outlined a "great smallmouth" trip which included McDougall. He had to pull out, but I still have in on my agenda. The campsites on the points are great. Never stayed on the site in the bay toward the east end of the lake, but it is protected. If you can find my article in BWJ "Storms Over Quetico" the prospects of storm on the campsites on points will be confirmed. That said, perhaps I should argue, there is no McDougall Lake, if there is a McDougall Lake there are no smallmouth bass in McDougall Lake, if there are smallmouth bass in McDougall Lake, they are all small....you can follow the logic.

Sounds like a plan.  But you might want to think twice about having a small site for a 3-day layover.  Small sites get awfully cramped after a day or two.  There's nothing like being able to stretch your legs a bit.