Most specifically, if there are campsites in the southern part of Dibble or Smirch lakes.

Hey Tom!

I rented from Canoe Canada last year and went into White Otter when Q closed. Jeremy at Canoe Canada was very, very helpful, but no one seems to know if there are campsites in the southern half of Dibble or Smirch. High winds kept us from investigating. My bunch is headed back there this year, but so far, no one seems to know much about those particular areas..

Park personnel actually told me I couldn't camp anywhere

I found a website where you can download a PDF that shows canoe routes thru-out White Otter,
You have to join the site to be able to access the PDF.

These are routes used by the Northern Tier Boy Scouts.

It shows the length of the trip, estimated paddle time
and even better the MAPS you need to do each trip

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  There is one lodge on Clearwater Lake. They are open all year long. They should be able to give you some good info.

A couple of those canoe routes start/end on Clearwater lake. That's nice if your solo or don't want to schedule a pick-up or have a 2nd vehicle at end point?

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I have tripped twice into White Otter now, both times from the Hwy 622 put in. Once all the way round to Clearwater West..once out to Dibble then back to the bridge put in. Fishing was excellent. I do not recommend paddling from Smirch to Bending Lake through the rapids when the water is 3-4 feet higher than normal......Back  to the Q for us this year though.

As to why people might put in at the 622 bridge instead of Clearwater,  if the wind is up, and it seems to be high an inordinate amount of time in that park, Clearwater West and White Otter are not fun to paddle. You can manage it though from the river side.