This resort is located on an island in the French River – a beautiful spot that I've heard so much about. (All of the other lodges seem to be on the mainland.) You are given a pontoon boat to fish from, which was very accessible and comfortable for my mother-in-law. There's great fishing even from shore, so my son could fish in the morning without me having to wake up.
The fish fry was amazing, as was the live music on a huge patio overlooking the water.
The staff were as friendly and kind as you could hope for. They handle all the meals, and they clean and package your fish for you to take home. Everything is done for you so all you have left is to enjoy.
Big shout out to Griffin the pet pig – he made me smile every day!
We took a guided fishing trip on our first day. It was great value for the money. Our guide showed us spot after spot. I literally did nothing but hold my rod and pull in fish! (He baited hooks, tied hooks, and did ALL the work.)
I cannot imagine a more accomodating staff or a better location. No wonder this lodge gets so many repeat guests.
Thank you for a wonderful long weekend!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Book early!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ed and Sue Crane, Owner at Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge
Responded Oct 28, 2021
Thank you! We have very happy you enjoyed your first visit to a fishing lodge. We look forward to seeing you again. Now that we are closed for the season, Griffin is very much missing all the attention!
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This year marked the 3rd year my brother and I have made the trip up Cranes for 3 days of fishing and relaxation. We were incredibly happy the lodge was able to open and have us amidst all this COVID craziness. Ever since our fist visit Ed and Sue have been nothing but stellar hosts. You couldn’t ask for friendlier and likeable people and staff. The layout of the lodge is perfect with cabins overlooking the beautiful French. Food is cooked with that homegrown feeling and always hits the spot. And of course the fishing is top notch. We were lucky to get a bunch of Walleye this year, along with the amazing bass fishing, and my brother just missing out on a monster musky which ate the Smallmouth he was reeling in.
It’s such an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of life and the Crane’s always make us feel welcome. It is definitely a highlight to my year every year now and I always look forward to coming back.
With no shortage of spots to fish on the river (although we already have our favourites) it will ensure we keep coming back for years to come. I can’t recommend this lodge high enough.
P.S Had the bonus of some spectacular skies at night this year
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ed and Sue Crane, Owner at Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge
Responded Jul 28, 2020
Thank you for your review. It's always a pleasure to welcome you back to our paradise. Cheers...Ed & Sue
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It was our first time fishing in northern ontario and we couldn't have asked for a better introduction! Our package included fishing gear as well as boat, and they gave us a tutorial on how to operate the boat which was important for newbies like us. Meals are all included and are absolutely delicious. We stayed 3 nights and there was a bbq the first night and entertainment another night so there's plenty to do after a day of fishing. It wasn't the best fishing the days we went (you can't control nature), but we still landed a huge 2 feet pike and plenty of bass. I brought my parents and it was a really fun family vacation. Note: fyi there is only wifi in the main lodge and no cell service on the island, however I found it really helped me unplug and relax without being glued to my devices
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â bring plenty of bug spray as mosquitos are numerous up north. Only additional thing I wish I...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We paid a lot of money for a pretty mediocre holiday. I was looking forward to the three 'tantalizing' meals a day. The meals were cheap and chintzy, served up with no imagination at all. Those 'big fluffy pancakes'? Two sad tough pancakes plopped on a plate with 2 tiny cold sausages on the side. One meal I couldn't even eat, a mushy shepherds pie served for some reason with a flat, dry unbuttered biscuit. I wasn't the only one in the dining room who didn't eat dinner that night. There were no fresh vegetables, no fruit. I think it would be better if they didn't tell you what you were about to be served, because the mental picture and the reality were always very different. We all know what a turkey dinner looks like, right? This one came with a few shreds of turkey on some stuffing, a scoop of mashed potatoes, 2 tablespoons of canned peas all connected with a drizzle of gravy. What you noticed first was all the empty space on the plate. There certainly were no memorable desserts. We couldn't go full speed on our pontoon as the water would gush up through the cracks in the floorboards. Finding the boat seats wet one morning I approached the owner who handed me a little black-stained rag before going back to diddling in the boathouse. The cabin was okay, it was clean, although upon arrival I had to kill swarms of winged insects covering the inside of the 2 front windows and the curtains. The tap had to run for about 8-10 minutes to get hot water. The bedroom curtain was one curtain panel stretched onto a rod that would come down every time you tried to open or close it, and the 2 chairs in the sitting room were not comfortable at all. And the deck was in need of some paint. I do give credit to the young people they have working there. They were very friendly, very professional, and they worked very hard. This lodge is in a beautiful location and I think at one time this was a wonderful place. Not anymore.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Take snacks, the meals will leave you wanting.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first visit, and won't be our last. The Lodge staff was fantastic - from the moment we arrived to our last breakfast, the team was helpful, friendly, and clearly focused on creating a great guest experience. Food was fantastic, facilities were comfortable, and the fishing was everything we expected and more. Shore lunches with guides were a highlight for us, as was carving out a day to canoe around the island and fish below the rapids.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family of four (two children - 6 and 11) were looking to do something different this summer. As beginners to fishing we were ready to learn. Sue is a great host and planned an excellent itinerary for us which included a fishing guide for two days. All the staff were super friendly. The cabins were comfortable. We all had a great time fishing, swimming and enjoying the beautiful landscape of the French River. We will definitely return.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ed and Sue Crane, Owner at Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge
Responded Oct 28, 2021
Thank you for your feedback. We are happy you enjoyed your fishing vacation. It is fun to witness families learning to fish together while enjoying their experience. We look forward to a returned visit.
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Fisherman’s retreat, from the food to the fishing everything was excellent. The owners are a great couple Sue’s cooking is amazing! And she is a very friendly and gracious host. Ed, what can I say he’s an all round great guy , he’s full of advice to help you bring in that trophy Muskie or limit out on walleye in no time. I will defiantly be returning this summer to share this experience with my wife this time.
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Date of stay: June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ed and Sue C, Owner at Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge
Responded Jun 29, 2020
Thanks so much for your kind words. We are very glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing you again in August!
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Awesome trip with my 7 yr old. Meals provided were awesome so you could concentrate on relaxing and fishing. Guide services well worth it for the catch/clean/cook shore lunch as well as finding all the good spots. Couldn't have asked for a better trip to bond with my son other than the unseasonably cold weather and rain (which is out of anybody control). But still a trip to remember and repeat.
Highly recommend for families, friends, and corporate events.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My son and I had an absolutely incredible vacation up at Cranes. Susan and her phenomenal staff made sure our vacation was relaxing and fun filled. Food was great, fishing was spectacular!! Devin took us out and made sure we were in the fish, and do yourself a favour and do the shore lunch. Fresh cooked fish and chips. Fantastic experience. Cranes is an amazing place and we will definitely be back!!!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Owners and staff made us feel at home and treated us as family. French river was beautiful. Whole trip was excellent fishing experience. Accommodations were excellent planning on going back next year!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, This is a wonderful spot for a honeymoon. All our guests are accommodated in a private cabin with a beautiful view of the French River.
Please let me know if I can answer anything further.
Sue Crane
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