Hello all,

Well my wife and I have finally decided to take a trip to algonquin!!! I have wanted to do this for years and it will finally happen. Based on feedback from a number of people that I know, we have decided to simply set up camp on Booth lake and make day trips from there. We both love the outdoors and especially fishing! Being the algonquin rookies that were are this also seems like a good trip to get us "broken in" to the park.

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for us as rookies?
What about the fishing? Is it decent in those parts?

Another question....do you have a recommended outfitter? We need to rent a canoe for our trip. Do they drop them off at the #17 Shall Lake point? If so, is that where I would leave my car for the trip and simply pick up the canoes there? Also, is the #17 point where I would pick up my permit as well?

Sorry for all of the silly questions, I want this to be a great trip and being outdoor people I am sure it will be.

Thanks!

Hey Rob!

The closest outfitter to that access point is Algonquin Bound, I believe. They are right at the beginning of Major Lake Rd, off of highway 60, which is the road that leads to Shall L. They may be able to give you fishing tips for the area, as well. The permit office is right across from the parking lot from which you will launch your canoe (at the end of Major Lake Rd). I went here late October while Algonquin Bound was closed for the season and they still accomodated me with a delivery. How's that for service . I am of the impression that most outfitters in the area leave a couple of resident canoes at the access point for rental purposes (saves them delivery time by simply storying them at the access point). They'll give you a canoe "number", you show up and paddle away with it.

My only tips/suggestions based on what you've said:

1. Be careful of windy days. Some of the lakes in this area are fairly wide open.

2. Watch as you approach the portage into Booth. It was my first time approaching rapids (weak ones, at that) and I had no idea how to do it properly and was swept by the current. Nothing dangerous at all and no tipping, but you can avoid feeling stupid by knowing how to approach them properly.

3. The fishing on the way to Booth is great for Pike. Barry Bridgeford has a triplog on this site detailing some of his catch. Booth also carries Lake Trout if I'm not mistaken. I know that Ryan L, which is the "opposite way" on Shall from your destination, is stocked with splake. There may be other lakes in the area stocked if you may be interested.

4. If you are careful, the rapids from Farm to Kitty are navigable and don't need to be portaged. I saw them run by two groups in the later season (late August, early Sept).

5. Have fun!!!

Booth is a great place to start your interior camping career.

The closest outfitter is Algonquin Bound in Madawaska, right at the corner where you turn to go up Major Lake Road on your way to the access office.

http://www.algonquinbound.com/

Last time I was there, they were renting out Langfords. Yes, they have the canoes already at the landing, but you will need to go in to pay. Call them ahead of time to reserve a canoe.

There's a store, too, where you can grab a few last-minute lures and bugspray and such. (The photo I've included is of our Langford and one that was a rental from Algonquin Bound.)

You park your vehicle at the access office. There's a parking area across the road from the office/residence where you pay for your permits. This office is not computerized, so you'll be getting a handwritten permit.

Do you have an up-to-date copy of the Canoe Routes Map? You can get them at outdoors stores like MEC or Sojourn in Barrie, in addition to the West and East Gates, and online from the Friends website. Only $5.00, and it gives a lot of this information.

http://store.algonquinpark.on.ca/cgi/algonquinpark/00021.html

Have you taken a peek at the trip reports for this area?
Back on the homepage, http://www.algonquinadventures.com/ look for the tab up top, to the left of "Algonquin Adventures".

One of the things that I wasn't prepared for on our first venture into Booth Lake was that getting to the landing of the 535m portage into Booth could be a little tricky.

This is a photo of it in lower water conditions one year...either the middle or last week of September, I think. In higher water, that riffle gets a bit pushier.




Some other folks will jump in here and tell you about the fishing. From my experiences, it's been sm bass and a pike. You could troll your way from the landing at the access office all the way to Booth, if you like. Weeds in Kitty Lake get a bit high at the end of summer.



Barbara

You know, Bryce, while I was composing my AA reply, I was also replying to an email, looking up links, finding my photo in the CCR Gallery, previewing and editing the AA reply a couple of times,

then finally hit the submit button....

just to find you here already, with the answers posted 20 minutes earlier.


phhtttt










Barbara

Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one who had trouble with those rapids preceding the Booth portage! My tripping partners smooth-sailed to the landing while I had myself stuck sideways like a goon!

To be fair, your reply had pictures. You win

I think I lost those extra "photo" points because I ended up as "Anonymous" again....keep forgetting to retype my name after doing previews. D'oh.

Yeah, it wasn't pretty the first time we "ran" that riffle, but we got the canoe up there. (Ours is the one in the foreground/right hand corner of the photo.)

Haven't attempted to run the 90m channel. Just a whole lot easier to carry, even if it is the darkest, tree-rootiest, most bat-infested portage under 100m in Algonquin. (Yeah, I don't like that portage.)




Barbara

My two cents worth:

Yes, call Algonquin Bound for your rental and tripping needs. They've always been very good to us.

The short rapids between Farm Lake and Kitty Lake (about 100 m.) can be waded with the canoe and gear in it on the way in, and that way you can judge if you want to shoot the rapids on the way out. If it seems too shallow, you'll have to take that short, but ugly portage that Barbara know so well. Shooting the rapids won't get you into any dangerous trouble, but you may get hung up on rocks and have to get out to rectify the situation. If in doubt, take the portage.

There are lots of nice campsites on Booth Lake. Set up on one, and explore the lake. Fishing for bass and pike is good.
Lake trout are also caught on Booth.

Stainless

This is great guys!
I cant believe how much feed back you have provided already! Incredible.

Is it June yet?
I am a somewhat expereince camper and canoe'r (not a word I dont think) so I am not overly worried about the actual trip in or out (although i have never portaged). My concern is making sure that I make day trips to the right places and truly enjoy the wilderness. I do plan on fishing but I dont like to eat fish so it will be 100% catch and release (after a photo of course).
I think I will even bring a lead core set-up to go deep for some lakers. It may not be effective that time of year (first week of July) but who knows.


I just got my canoe trails map in the mail last night and have not had the chance to open it yet. Probably tomorrow I will map things out officially. I also got a TOPO map of Booth lake. That should be helpful.

Should I book a site now if I know my dates for sure?

Rob,

You should take a day trip down and back McCarthy Creek. You'll see it on the map.
Pack a lunch. While paddling, watch ahead for beavers swimming in the creek. And there will be bird sightings.
We have also seen moose feeding in the creek in June on several occasions.

You should also take a day trip up to Tattler Lake and check out the cabin. Again, pack a lunch.

Bass season opens June 27 this year I believe, so if you are arriving that weekend I would make a reservation as it could be somewhat busy. Before that date you won't need one, but I always like to make one in advance, just in case.

Cheers,
Stainless

Careful...June is heavy blackfly season so be certain to bring along some DEET to keep them at bay. Read your map thoroughly as well since it is a fabulous resource. Also, browse through the triplog tab on this site...Barry's assembled a goldmine of information for seasoned and inexperienced trippers as well.

My tentative plan at this point will be to head up June 30th and stay until July 5th. I was hoping that the blackflies would slow down by then. I guess depending on the year that could still be bad at this time.

Yeah, it's hard to predict the severity of the blackflies and mosquitoes and deerflies...

We did the portage to Ryegrass Lake as a lark. I seem to remember wandering off the portage to the north. It was a mass of blowdowns. Neat to see, in its way.

When you get to the landing at the 550m to Booth, go up to the top of the hill, and you should see the trails leading to the river. That alone is a nice sight to see.

And take a bread at the sidetrail to the dam, just before the end. Check out the dam, report back to let us know if that huge tree is still stuck in it.

Don't forget your fishing regs...there's exceptions to be noted, especially the sanctuaries in that area.

And the no fishing within 100m of a dam.



Barbara

No, don't take a bread....a better idea would be to take a break.


geez.




Barbara

Hey Rob,

Booth Lake is a very popular route, make sure you reserve the dates fairly soon to guarantee a campsite. You can easily make Booth lake from the Access pt in 2 hours or less. Depending on your skill/risk or just plain entertainment level, you can line (upstream) both portages fairly easily, although you'll get wet doing it (I always enjoy that part of Booth lake trip). You can run both as well, but you'll likely scrape bottom a few times Booth - Kitty at that time of year if we get a typical season (e.g. drier than last year). You'll have to carry your gear over the dam anyway though - but try the west side of the dam as the walk is 30'. If you elect to portage both are easy imo - the one to Booth can be logged jammed with people though, so just wait your turn should there be a lineup as the spacing is limited. Get out and play in the shallow rapids there, fun for the kids.

Lots of wildlife in Booth L, we've seen Bear, Otter, Moose (including 3 dead ones over 2 trips), snakes, all manner of birds including owls and of course pine martens. Very nice sand beach campsite along the east shore close to where the lake narrows (mid-lake area) and lots of raspberries to pick that time of year around the Tattler Lake cabin (at least there was when we were there).

Bass fishing is excellent in that lake, here's a pict of my daughter with 2pd smallie caught right off the campsite (and subsequently released) 2 Summers ago.



There are ling and Lake trout in Booth Lake you can try for with your lead-core line, and Pike lurking about as well. Bass and Pike in Farm/Crotch/Kitty - troll on your way up to Booth and you'll likely hit one or two. Try the emergent rock beds for bass in the evening and weedbeds for pike/smallies.

Rob, I seem to recall some interesting topography in between the islands on Booth. Does your map show this? A fellow tripper seemed to recall "bowls" of depths. Sounded neat.

Bryce,

check out this website http://anglersatlas.com/
Type in Booth lake (or any lake name for that matter) and they have TOPO for it. they have many lakes here and they are all free. Not the most detailed TOPO of all time be decent for sure.

I am also working on getting a depth finder that I can take in the canoe with me. I will hopefully be able to borrow one from a friend.

SM
thanks for your post. That is very good info and makes me very hopful that fishing could be very fun through here.

I honestly cant wait at this point and it is only the first week of February!

Im not sure why but those last two "anonymous" were me
ROB