Welcome to Matthews Little Portage Camp Web Site. My name is Johnny Matthews; owner and operator of this camp that my Mom and Dad started in 1936 with one log cabin.

Now there are nine (9) cottages on five (5) acres of land, all having slight to modest elevation excess to the  lake shore frontage and docking areas.

Geographically, we are just a little South of Lake Nippissing as the crow flies, on Lake Me-Me-Sagamesing,(translated from Ojibwa it means Lake of Many Bays) which is 13km north of the small village of Loring on a well maintained gravel road.

The cottages are of an older vintage but are all well maintained. They are not fancy, but are kept neat and clean and are adequately equipped for light housekeeping. We do not supply bed sheets or personal towels, but we do supply pillows and blankets for each bed.New mattresses have all just recently been installed.

The campground is fairly level and well kept which is conducive to any outdoor games you might want to play. Bauchi ball seems to be popular as is lawn darts. We’ have even had some good games of “lawn golf” in the past…(with plastic golf balls, of course!) The whole 5 acres is yours to enjoy recreation-ally.

Pets are more then welcome if they are well behaved and/or not of the (constant) barking type. I would suggest that if you can't keep your pets off the beds and couch that you bring your own cover blankets. The shedding hair gives our cleaning crew a very hard time. It goes without saying…you are responsible for scat removal from your own pets.

There is easy access to boat launches and docking facilities on the camp property.

Our camp beach may not be large, but big enough to enjoy a refreshing swim, build a sandcastle, and soak up the sun or any other beach activities you might enjoy. The natural sand goes as far as your feet can take you into the water.

The camp being on a 5-acre narrows called an isthmus (like Panama) has water on both sides. This allows plenty of room for safe water skiing and any other water sports.

The fishing on this lake is considered average for this area, although we do enjoy a little above average pickerel fishing in the spring. I started the first pickerel hatchery for this lake in 1982 and since then, the hatchery has introduced one million pickerel fry into the lake each spring. Come July and August the bass fishing is out mainstay. There are lake trout in the lake naturally, but it takes a “lake trout” fisherperson to catch them. You will have good days and you will have bad days of fishing, but I am told “Even a bad day of fishing is better than any day at the office or at work!”

Upon your arrival I will show you on a map where the “probable” good fishing spots are located. It may take you a little time to learn the lake and the spots I will show you, not to mention the good fishing spots you find for yourself that I don’t know about even though I have been here for 66yrs.

As I mentioned earlier, the fishing is of average success for the area and my existing clientele has always had a good attitude about this subject. That is to take in the peace, relaxation and pure enjoyment of the fishing experience…and to catch a fish is purely a bonus…I must add what is very difficult, yet due to past disappointments, I believe it to be very necessary to say as well. And that is, if you are coming to the camp with the “sole intention” of catching “loads” of fish, this is “probably NOT” the camp to book your fishing trip with.

So, with that said…My job here at the camp, besides cutting the grass and taking out the trash, is to make your vacation as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Throughout the years, when my parents operated the camp; “A satisfied customer” was always their motto, as is mine. I guess that is why we have clientele returning to our camp year after year. Some are even second and third generation from our original clientele. The camp is a one-man operation with lots of help from my four sons and 8 grandchildren when I need it. If you need anything, it’s me that gets it. If something goes wrong or has broken, it’s my job to correct it or fix it. Some people (in jest) have even blamed me for bad weather (which I would fix if I had the power). As my power over the weather is non-existent, so be it with the fishing as well. Even though, I can’t change the weather, nor can I make the fish bite I’m quite certain I can handle the rest.

I must note that my granddaughter (Leneath) and long time friends & customers (Jamie & Lisa Alton) have put this website into action. This is a whole new experience for me, as we have never advertised our camp in the past. I am looking forward to meeting some new acquaintances and clientele. Should you have more inquiries about Matthews Little Portage Camp, the best way to do so is to phone me (Johnny) in the evenings, since I am usually outside all day.  Also feel free to contact me through this website.  It would be a pleasure to talk to you and to have you stay at the camp.

Your Future Host Johnny