Raised on a ranch south of Buffalo, Mike became passionate about agriculture and the outdoors at an early age. He worked in many facets of the operation, including farming and irrigation, commercial hay production, and cattle raising. Today, he enjoys sharing his heritage with his family. Mike graduated from Texas Tech University in 1994. Soon after graduation, the call of the Rocky Mountains brought Mike back to Wyoming as an agriculture instructor in Meeteetse, Wyoming. His entrepreneurial nature soon led Mike to own and run a commercial weed spraying and range management business. Returning to Buffalo in 1999, he bought a Farm Bureau Financial Services office. After a successful ten years in the insurance business, Mike’s love of the land caused him to turn his attention to the ranch brokerage business. It was a natural fit for Mike, and he quickly established himself as one of the top ranch brokers in Wyoming.
Click HERE to read a story about Mike and one of many successful buyer and seller transitions.
Located in the heart of the Whitefish Bay, on the east side of Lake of the Woods, this offering is a luxurious private island retreat consisting of 2.74 deeded acres with 1,245± feet of shoreline on a peninsula with east, south and west exposure. The luxurious improvements include three full separate living quarters which are all built to modern building standards as well as numerous other structures including a boathouse, boat port and four other outbuildings. This alluring island getaway is contiguous with approximately 88 acres of protective Crown land on the north side of the island with a private secluded inter-island bay to the south which is fully protected by another Crown island. Lake of the Woods is said to be the best fishery there is for walleye and northern pike. The island is up to full electrical standards with underwater cable brought from the mainland power to the island and a backup 35KW auto-start propane powered generator that will run the entire island in case of a power outage. Fully landscaped with trees and plantings, wooden boardwalk from the main cabin to the guest cabin, gentle slopes from the lake to the cabins, and extensive walking paths around the island make this property a peaceful retreat and once in a lifetime lake island living opportunity.
This island property is located in the heart of Whitefish Bay, only a 10-minute boat ride from the township of Sioux Narrows in the Canadian Province of Ontario. The Whitefish Bay area is a large bay on the eastern shore of Lake Superior between Michigan and Ontario. On the Ontario side, the bay is bordered by the more rugged, largely wilderness area known as the Canadian Shield. This is a large area of exposed igneous rock formations, pine and hardwood forest and miles of shoreline.
It is located on the eastern shores of Lake of the Woods along Highway 71. This luxurious island retreat includes three modern living quarters as well as various other outbuildings. There are 2.74 acres of deeded property with 1,245± feet of shoreline on a peninsula that offers private seclusion with an inter-island bay to the south which is fully protected by another Crown island.
Ideally situated amid thousands of islands, Whitefish Bay island is only a 10-minute boat ride from Sioux Narrows on the east side of Lake of the Woods in the Canadian province of Ontario along Ontario Highway 71. Whitefish Bay is a large bay on the eastern end of the southern shore of Lake Superior. It is bordered by the rugged wilderness of Ontario. Sioux Narrows, the nearest township, is a small resort community where about 300-400 residents reside year-round and over double that during tourist season in the summer. Tourism is the primary industry. A new and improved airport landing strip is located in Nestor Falls and is operated under the authority of the township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls.
Distance from Sioux Narrows to Nestor Falls is 31 miles.
Located in the heart of Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows and the Whitefish Bay area is a resort community, with many resorts, campgrounds, houseboat operators and hotels in and around the area. The area is a premier fishing destination with over 70,000 fishable lakes that offer the most diverse fishing in Canada. The Lake of the Woods area is also a prime hunting destination, offering hunters great opportunities for big and small game hunting as well as waterfowl hunting. The region is well known for its hiking trails, provincial parks, kayaking, boating, water skiing on inland lakes and pristine beaches in the summer and with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling in the winter, it never leaves one with a lack of adventure. The area is steeped in history, with the lake being a vital piece of Canada’s past in regard to transportation and livelihood; as did the gold mines, fisheries and woodlands which afforded the locals with the necessities of life. The township strives to be a hub for tourism, cultural development and a community source for artisans, crafters, musicians, and artists.
The Lake of the Woods/Sioux Narrows weather is generally cold and temperate. The average temperature in Sioux Narrows is 36.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 degrees Celsius) with the temperatures highest on average in July, around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), and the average low in the winter months reaching below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17.6 degrees Celsius.). Sioux Narrows has a significant amount of rainfall during the year, with over 25 inches of precipitation falling annually. The wettest month is generally in June with an average of 3.8 inches of rainfall, and the least amount of rainfall occurs in February when less than an inch is the average precipitation.
A laid back, peaceful and quiet way of life, away from the hustle and bustle of heavily populated areas make this property a very appealing and unique opportunity.
The Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area is steeped in historical significance. In the mid-18th century an Ojibwa-Cree alliance is said to have defeated an invading party of Sioux at a narrows on the lake, thus where the name of the township “Sioux Narrows” originated. The Sioux Narrows Bridge is a historic structure on Highway 71 which was constructed in 2007 and overlooks the site of the battle. In the early days the lake was vital to the early settlers as it provided a means of transportation and livelihood. Area gold mines, fisheries and woodlands also contributed to the financial well-being of the people. For decades, logging fueled the economy of this area as horse carts loaded with timber made their way to sawmills and paper mills affording the locals with the necessities of life.
Whitefish Bay Island boasts modern and state of the art improvements that have been well maintained by full-time caretakers. All improvements were finished with impeccable care and craftsmanship between 2006 and 2011.
The Big Bear House is a ~3,384 sq. ft. vacation home with two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, large open kitchen/dining/living room, office and a beautiful sunroom that stretches the full length of the building’s southern water exposure. Complete with all modern amenities including propane fired forced air furnace and air conditioner systems.
The Little Bear House is a ~1,880 sq. ft. guest cabin with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open kitchen/dining/living room and large sunroom, all next to its own secluded beach area and separate private dock area. Complete with all modern amenities including propane fired forced air furnace and air conditioner systems.
The Baby Bear Cabin is a ~896 sq.ft. separate entry duplex style sleeping cabin for multiple guests, each cabin has one bedroom, a full bathroom and shared laundry room.
The Enclosed Boathouse is ~40x54 ft. with three-stalls and power closing doors. It also includes an attached ~38x40 ft. covered boat port. Everything is on drilled pipe foundations.
The Bay Boat Port is a ~54x54 ft. covered boat port ~30 ft. wide boat slip fully surrounded with a covered walking dock area and an entry from the secluded protected bay with two water entries and calm water docking.
Four other outbuildings include: fully enclosed art studio building, screened fish cleaning building, fully enclosed generator shed and a large outdoor covered cookhouse with fire pit and propane cooker and seating area.
All cabins have cedar shake siding, asphalt shingle roofs and dual pane windows. All cabins have
power shutters. All cabins and outbuildings were built between 2006 and 2011.
Description of the services: There is underwater electrical service from the mainland. There is a backup propane powered generator. The main cabin and the guest cabin have forced air propane furnaces as well as wood burning fireplaces. Water is from the lake via submersible pump and is triple filtered and UV-light filtered. There is a certified septic system.
Lake of the Woods is a lake that occupies parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S state of Minnesota. It is one of the world’s largest inland freshwater lakes with over 14,000 islands and ~65,000 miles of shoreline. Lake of the Woods is fed by the Rainy River, Shoal Lake, Kakagi Lake and other smaller rivers. The lake drains into the Winnipeg River and then into Lake Winnipeg. Ultimately, its outflow goes north through the Nelson River to Hudson Bay. Whitefish Bay is a large bay on the eastern end of the southern shore of Lake Superior between Michigan and Ontario; its water is deep and clear and ideal for fishing.
With over 70,000 lakes, this region is a premier fishing destination, with the most diverse fishing in Canada. The Lake of the Woods has always been a renowned fishing lake, boasting walleye, northern pike, and lake trout along with smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, black crappie, pike, perch, brook trout, sauger, crappie and whitefish.
Whitefish Bay Island and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls townships offer exceptional small and large game hunting, with moose, deer, bear and timberland wolves being prevalent in the area as well as a nice population of grouse. Waterfowl hunting opportunities are also numerous with the area boasting mallards, bluebills, teals and several other species of ducks and Canadian geese that migrate through the region.
Alongside the fishing and hunting opportunities that this island property offers, various other recreational activities abound. Whether it be canoeing or kayaking the various lakes and rivers systems of the Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area, or enjoying other water activities such as boating, water skiing, swimming or just relaxing on the area’s many beaches. The township also has numerous hiking trails. There are a number of activities during the winter months as well; whether you are interested in ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
Mike's ranching background, thoughtfulness and attention to detail all made for a smooth and successful closing.
Working with Mike Fraley to sell our family ranch was truly a pleasure throughout the process. He handled everything with skill and integrity, from family emotions and interfacing with ranch hands, to managing showings without interfering with ranching operations and expertly handling all the...
Las Loras Ranch is a 4,805± acre Costa Rican farm and cattle ranch blending croplands, jungle, and rivers. With a custom home, guest house, and infrastructure, it offers agricultural, conservation, and development potential.
Beautiful 3,600± SF home on 275± acres strategically located adjacent to the Babine Wilderness and the steelhead rich Bulkley River near Smithers. Co-listed with Charlie McClary at Re/Max Bulkley Valley.
