If you're going to Clover, do it in the Spring. I'm told McDonald Creek can be unpaddleable by the fall, but my own experience of trying to get to Clover in August was that I simply couldn't find the 1950 meter portage into Turcotte. I mean I eventually found the start of it from the creek, and the first ~150 meters getting to the tree line was not fun, but then once into the forest I quickly lost the trail entirely. Eventually I gave up, but I was having an all-round lousy day and probably threw in the towel too easily. 

In any case I went back the following Spring (with AlgonquinLakes), and while staying on the portages was still a bit challenging at times, being there before the leaves were out made a world of difference. 

No current to speak of in McDonald creek, it's very sluggish.