Really good article.  Thanks for this.  Honestly this could hold true for anyplace, not just Algonquin.  I've seen some first timers in the Boundary Waters that were in over their heads and would do well by reading this.

+1 on a dedicated canoe pack.  You won't regret the purchase.  They just sit so much better in the canoe as well.  The one I have now is just a cheapo Chinoock Chemun but honestly it's held up really well and I really like all the extra pockets but I have my eye on upgrading to a Hybrid pack from Cooke Custom Sewing.  I see a lot of people in Canada are using the MEC slogg.  Also be careful how large you go on the pack. For solo I find that 70 liters is just about the perfect size.

 

Couple island sites on Rain (Rain lake access) if your fortunate enough to get them otherwise Rain is a nice relatively quite lake with many nice sites. Does have motor access though.  Jubilee is a beautiful lake as well only a couple short portages over. No island sites though. If using Magnetawan or Rain access I recommend Algonquin Basecamp as an outfitter.

Honestly, seeing all those overgrown campsites makes me really want to visit that part of the park.  Like Mark said, I want to camp here just because no one else has.

That C-130 flyover was super cool!  Do you know if it was based out of camp Petawawa?

In the U.P. (which has less water than Ontario) they are horrible and I vowed never to do it again.  I just don't want to be stuck in a bug shelter and wearing a bug shirt all day.  I head out in May and then August and Sept.  With that being said though, at least in Michigan, the fishing seems to be the best when the bugs are the worst.