Fishing Reports Archives - Queen Charlotte Lodge

It is truly amazing how fast 3 months can fly by in Naden Harbour, it feels like just yesterday we were arriving for a week of training.

As we head into the final stretch of the season, big smiles are still to be found all around.

August has recently brought some sunny weather, and fishing has seen a great improvement after the extremely large tides experienced by the supermoon. During these large tides, the bite windows were smaller but anglers still managed to capitalize on opportunities, filling their boxes with both Chinook and Coho.

The majority are staying between Yahtze Bay, Bird 2 and Parker these days. It’s a welcomed change seeing boats find success at the inshore points again. Common depths inshore are between 25 and 45, depending on which spot you are at. Today a lucky angler was able to wrestle a large Chinook salmon at Parker Point and released it after being taped out to 40lbs. We love to see the big ones get to swim away!

Those fishing offshore for Coho, the Pinnacles, at common depths of 55 and 67, are working great. Even down as far as 100 can produce offshore Chinook and Coho. The odd especially big Coho, of 12+ pounds, are showing up and we’ve seen a few 14/15 pounders arrive at the Dock.

It will be sad to wrap up the 2024 season, it’s come and gone so quickly, but it’s been one for the books and even after a decade (plus) I still love every minute of it.

Can’t wait to see you all next year for more fishing first class.

QCL Lead Guide, Ryan Kelly

We’re nearing the tail end of the 2024 fishing season in Area 1. Following a bout of strong Northwest winds, the final weeks have shaped up with calmer seas and a welcome touch of sunshine.

Inshore Chinook fishing has been a bit challenging, but patience and the right timing have occasionally paid off with some impressive catches. Despite the slow pace, this “Hogust” has still yielded some notable fish, including a 45-pounder, a 37-pounder, and a 36-pounder, with a few others inching towards the Tyee range.

On a brighter note, larger Coho in the 10lbs+ range are becoming more common offshore. So, while inshore action might be slow, there are still plenty of opportunities for a memorable fishing experience.

Here’s to making the most of the remainder of the 2024 season. Tight lines and cheers to a fantastic end of summer!

QCL Guide, Sebastien Archambault

Mid-August traditionally provides some of the most “summerlike” weather that we experience here, and this past week was no exception.

Warm sunny days on the water have lots of appeal; guests and staff alike were soaking it up with giddy smiles! The clear, full moon nights haven’t appeared to affect the fishing so much either. Chinook catches have been distributed quite evenly through the day, with some great fish taken from the Pinnacles, Parker Point, Cape Naden and Bird 2.

The small tides were certainly a factor for the anglers who love their bottom fishing, with it being easier to stay on top of your lines. Bottom fishing has been exceptional, many “chicken sized” halibut caught and guides such as Nolan and Jake have been bringing in huge Lingcod hauls. By the end of the trip most guests were pretty relaxed knowing that they had all the fish they needed and were content to just enjoy the gorgeous weather.

The weekend’s forecast looks like a mixed bag, with heavy winds from the Northwest that should bring in some fish. Tides are moderating now with small changes of 7-9 feet. All in all, shaping up for some good late season fishing.

Tight lines!

QCL Guide, Alex Ayling

With only a few weeks left in our 2024 season, fishing has been pretty exciting for the fleet of boats at QCL.

Over the past week we have had a large amount of pink salmon invade the grounds. But not to worry, we have also been seeing a slight increase in numbers of Chinook the past few days, varying in all sizes. A number of Chinook over 30lbs (what is known as a Tyee) have been found tight into shore – Hot spots such as Cape Naden and Parker Pt. seem to have the fishiest activity during a good ebb tide. Herring behind a daisy chain and anchovy behind a green dummy flashed rig have been my go-to’s!

Lots of bait has been pushed in with the flood, condensing at Bird 2 or Naden.

The weather has been awesome, days lately filled with mostly clear, sunny skies. We are in Haida Gwaii after all though, so don’t forget to pack your rain gear! Variable wind speeds coming out of the NW seem to be what we’re going to experience for the next little bit.

Whales are always around, we were pleasantly surprised by a large Grey Whale going from point to point down the west side the other day! Smaller pods of resident Orcas have been seen kicking around the 150ft line off Shag.

Tight Lines!

QCL Guide, Markus Egeland

August has burst onto the scene with a thrilling mix of sizzling weather and spectacular fishing action! The sun has been blazing in clear skies, with temperatures increasing daily. The warm air has been met with some lively Northwestern winds, making the seas a bit choppy, but these winds are beneficial for our fishing grounds. They push bait fish and salmon closer to our inshore points, igniting a salmon fishing frenzy.

As the water temperature rises, it’s not just the salmon that are active; there are semi-frequent encounters with salmon sharks that add an extra thrill to each outing. The Chinook salmon action has been nothing short of electrifying, with fast-paced bursts of bites delivering multiple fish in a short time. The trick is to be patient and stay at your hotspot, as the action comes in intense flurries. So far, the August Chinook are bigger and more abundant, living up to the legendary Hogust reputation. On August 5th, we saw four Tyees weighing 44, 42, 32, and 31 pounds.

Coho salmon are beginning to inch closer to shore, allowing you to stay inshore for those exhilarating Chinook snap bites while filling your fish box. Offshore, the Coho are still plentiful and eager, making for fantastic fishing adventures.

Halibut fishing continues to impress, with a steady stream of nice-sized chickens, some hefty overs, and even over-overs making an appearance.

Now is the perfect time to experience fishing first class at QCL.

We can’t wait to see you on the water, tight lines!

QCL Guide, Hunter Hieta

Chinook salmon continue to be elusive but are growing larger each week. Recent updates to the regulations now allow for two Chinook per day and a total of four. Our last trip yielded several impressive Tyees, including a notable 39-pounder that was successfully released at Green Point.

For those heading offshore, Coho salmon are available and active. Fishing in deeper waters with inline flashers has been the go to this season for many anglers.

The halibut fishing has been exceptional lately. Last trip, we had numerous large halibut, including a massive 260-pounder. It’s been a fantastic time for halibut enthusiasts!

Weather this past week featured calm waters and numerous whale sightings, creating a picturesque fishing environment. However, we are prepared for a change as this week is expected to bring strong Northwest winds, which hopefully push more bait and fish into our grounds!

Tight lines, we’ll see you on the water!

QCL Guide, Alex Walker

As Hogust looks on the horizon, we find the frequency of Chinook salmon on the slow side, though over the last few days, several of the biggest fish this year, the biggest fish in the last four years have been caught.

The tides are beginning to return to normal after a recent full moon. This has allowed anglers to target bottom fish much easier as it’s best with lower tides

Coho are quick and easy to find offshore over the pinnacles, along with Pink salmon, the occasional Chum salmon, and some elusive Sockeye salmon. Interestingly, several large Halibut have been caught recently in Hannah Bay and around Cape Naden. Additionally, several boats have had the thrill of fighting an unusually high density of salmon sharks on the grounds as even they are striking herring and fighting fishermen for as long as 2.5 hours! The coming forecast is predicting some softer winds coming from all different directions with the calmest days being Monday and Thursday.

Good luck to all incoming guests. Choose your spot and throw a couple of herring or anchovies down at your favorite point and pick up some extra-large Chinook salmon!

QCL Guide, Eric Roundhill

We’re charging past the midpoint of the 2024 fishing season, and this past week has been a blast for the entire fleet.

The weather has been our ally, with steady conditions making it a breeze to navigate the kelp beds. Yet, the search for those elusive Chinooks has been a bit more challenging than expected, keeping everyone on their toes.

Offshore, the Coho fishing remains electric! Fast trolling and shallow depths mean Cohos are striking with intensity, making each catch a thrill.

The large tides and swift currents have made timing crucial for bottom fishing. But, as always, the bottom fish are there, waiting to make your day. And if you hit a slow spell, don’t lose hope—one big Chinook could turn it all around. Stick with it, roll some herring, and you might just land the fish of a lifetime.

Tight lines!

QCL Guide, Sebastien Archambault

Midway through the season, and there’s lots of fun to be had just outside of Naden Harbour!

Cohos are plentiful at the Pinnacles, eating hoochies 30-50 feet deep. The Halibut fishing has been fantastic, with plenty of “overs” being released. Lingcod fishing has seen the effects of many anglers harvesting trip in and trip out, but this trip alone saw 14 pin-worthy fish, largest coming in at 38lbs. Chinook fishing has been slow, but for those willing to put in the time, some anglers have been rewarded with fish in the Tyee class. The big story yesterday was a 58lbs Chinook caught at B2 after an hour long fight.

The wind has laid right down for us this past week, and should continue for this next trip. The sun has been come and go, along with some rain and fog but that doesn’t bother us. So long as the wind keeps down, we’ve got a shot at a huge Chinook salmon!

Lead Guide, Liam Longacre

The past few days we have seen light winds and the weather is supposed to remain consistent well into the week. Beautiful sunny skies, mixed with some rain are forecasted – After all, it is Haida Gwaii.

Coho numbers are up offshore and tend to be hitting up higher (37, 51) with a small spoon being most productive. Larger Chinooks have been found inshore all across the grounds, as well as many medium 10-15ib Chinooks being caught offshore deeper than the Cohos.

We were also very lucky to see the two largest Chinook salmon of the season, so far, weighing in at 39 and 41lbs. Seeing salmon like this brings an excitement to the Bell Ringer like no other fish. These two Tyees were found inshore using anchovies! It’s not always the herring bringing home the hogs.

Overall, the fishing seems to have picked up across the grounds and if you put in your time you might leave with a great story and the fish off a lifetime!

Safe travels and tight lines, looking forward to seeing you up here!

QCL Guide, Cor Van Stolk

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