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FISHING NORTHERN ONTARIO'S SPANISH RIVER SYSTEM AT RAY"S CAMPS

Kimberly and Justin,

I just wanted to let you know what I wonderful time my father Tom and I had at our first visit to your camp last week.

Please thank Paul, Bill and Natalie for the assistance and tips they provided during the week.

We are sorry that we did not get to meet you, but hope everything went well with enrolling your two children in school.

I have been going to camps and semi-remote camps for over twenty years and your property rates the highest by far. The barge ride in , the set up of the pantry, the organization of the camp, the central shower, to the houseboat all add to the uniqueness of your camp.

We stayed on the house boat but chose to stay docked at the camp. It was great to be five feet away from your fishing boat when unloading, yet close to the cleaning hut, pantry and other fisherman and woman so that you could swap tips and stories. I would recommend this option to any groups that are new to the camp.

Despite a couple of rough days of weather I was able to catch 65 fish. Now that I have started to pick-up the patterns of the lake I am sure that this total will increase in future years. There are not many lakes where you can catch Walleye in full sun at 12 noon in 8 - 10 feet of water (with no weeds)!

Thanks again - I will be in contact next winter to make my booking for next year.

Yours truly,

Craig and Tom Keys

HI, KIM , JUSTIN, AND KIDS,
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY, VERY , MUCH FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS. YOU HAVE HELPED CHRIS AND I TO ANOTHER AWESOME WEEK OF FISHING AND AN ALL AROUND GREAT RELAXING WEEK. AFTER BEING HERE A WEEK, IT IS AWFULLY HARD TO GO HOME. IT HAS BEEN SUPER MEETING YOU AND YOUR KIDS. I ENVY YOU VERY MUCH. I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ROM THE TWO OF YOU. BUT AFTER MEETING YOU, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE MET FRIENDS FOR LIFE. I THINK YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY BUT THANK YOU AGAIN AND IF THEIR IS ANYTHING I CAN EVER DO , PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL ANYTIME. KEEP IN TOUCH, I AM NOT THAT FAR AWAY WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME. TELL JUSTIN WE WILL HAVE TO GO DEER HUNTING SOMETIME.

SINCERELY,
MARK CHURCH
GALION , OHIO

Just wanted to let you two know that Douglas and I had spent some quality time together and the best fishing experience in years. Thank you both for all the help you had given us and to give us the relaxed feeling of being home. We both enjoyed our stay at your camp and look forwards to seeing you both and the kids next year. As you can see from the pic Doug was on top of the world. I can not commit to a date at this point as of yet but will touch base with you over the winter for next years booking. Looks like there will four to six people coming. Say hello to Paul for me, and till a couple of cold ones back. Stay safe and healthy guy`s.

Kevin Balkom

I'VE BEEN GOING TO RAY'S CAMPS FOR 20 + YEARS. THE FISHING HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR. THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE SOME OF THE BEST AND THE PANTRY IS ALWAYS FULL OF ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANT FOR YOUR STAY AT RAY'S. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND RAY'S CAMP TO ANYONE WANTING A TRULY REWARDING FISHING EXPERIENCE ON A CANADIAN LAKE.

PETE MCMAHON
CASTALIA, OHIO

Canadian trip worth remembering.

I don't often make a practice of writing about personal experiences, but a recent trip to the Canadian northwoods has prompted me to make this one exception. 

The purpose of the trip was fishing and the location was Ramsey Lake, a good-sized wilderness lake that is part of Northern Ontario's Spanish River system.  To be more precise, Ramsey Lake is located between the Northern Ontario cities of Sudbury and Timmins, approximately 350 miles north of Toronto.

Our hosts for the week were Pete and Thea Ritchie, owners of Ray's Camps (named after the original owner Ray Cripps).  The Ritchies maintain a quality, smoothly-run operation which includes five units and one houseboat.  For a reasonable fee, guests are provided with their living quarters, food, boats and motors.  

Also included in the cost is the approximate two-hour ride on a barge, taking you and your equipment from the small wilderness logging town of Biscotasing, 15 miles to the end of Biscotasi Lake.  From there, a tractor and trailer carries our clothing and equipment over a portage where it is loaded on another barge for the final two mile trip to the camp.  At the end of the week, the same method is used to depart the camp.

The camp offers a "full plan", which includes lodging, food, boats and motors.  The food plan offered is one of the most unique I've ever seen offered at a wilderness lodge.  The food is kept in a pantry on the camp grounds and guests on the full plan can go to the pantry and take whatever they want, whenever they want.  You prepare your own meals.

Included on the food list is chicken, pork chops, ground beef, bacon, soup and stew, potatoes, onions, pancake mix, cereal, vegetables, coffee, fruit juices, and many other items.  Each guest is also allotted one steak per week.

The boats are 15-foot aluminum v-bottoms equipped with 9.9 horsepower Evinrude motors.  All are in top condition.

The fishing at Ramsey Lake is second to none, except maybe for one of those fly-in trips that costs three or four times as much.  And I stress maybe.

Ramsey is a hotbed for walleye and northern pike fishing, with walleye in the 2-3 pound range fairly common, and 10-12 pounders not out of the question.  Northern pike are found throughout the lake and average in the 4-7 pound range, with pike upwards of 20 pounds being caught on occasion.

Biscotasi Lake, the location of a trip I took several years ago, offers the same type of fishing as Ramsey.  The only real difference between the two camps is that there are several other camps on Biscotasi Lake.  Ray's Camps is the only one located on Ramsey Lake.

The units themselves, which are located in the main lodge, are equipped with eight bunk beds, hot and cold running water, toilets, showers, gas stove and oven, wood stove for heat and propane powered refrigerator/freezers and lamps.

All cooking and eating utensils are supplied.  The only thing guests have to bring is the necessary clothing and fishing equipment for their stay. 

Ray's Camps offers ample opportunity for the photography enthusiasts with beautiful Canadian sunsets, wildlife and scenery.

Charlie Roth
As featured in Charlie's column - Sports Slants

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