Each season we make a special effort to implement some new ideas and try them out.  These might be as simple as a new license pouch or a different hat.  They might be a little more involved, a different menu or some new electronics in the boats.  Sometimes the results turn out to be less than stellar but more often we get a terrific response from our guests.  Once in a while we hit a home run! And so it is with the Bell Ringer. 

“Back in the day” anglers would reel ‘em up and return to the dock to weigh in their catch and hit the shower before dinner.  But we’ve always felt that a lot of the fun of going fishing with your friends is seeing what they caught and trading stories about the one that got away. The weigh scale has always been a gathering place and a focal point for sharing the experience.   So we built our own little social house around it!  The Bell Ringer is now a highlight of the trip for many of our guests, enjoying the “good time” atmosphere with all of their newfound friends.  Lots of tasty snacks, refreshing beverages, great tunes and a fun, lively crew combine to welcome our guests back to the dock after a great day on the water.  It’s a fitting way to wrap up the fishing day as the Tyee Bell rings for every big fish that hits the dock. 

The bell was certainly ringing this week as Lodge & Driftwood anglers enjoyed very productive fishing conditions.  Light variable winds and intermittent fog added some drama to the fishing experience. But with our new Lowrance GPS units on every boat, no one had a concern about the changing visibility. Fishing action went up and down with the tides; there were some slow periods punctuated by terrific bites at the key fishing points. 

QCL guide Kingsley Bryce set the pace this week with his guests Denis Dion and Gilles Beaumier aboard.  On Monday Denis released a nice 32 pounder while Gilles boated a big beauty that weighed in at 41 lb..  On Tuesday they went back out and landed 37 and 33 pounders.  Donald Dion enjoyed a spectacular day Tuesday with guide Dan Rainville, returning to the dock with a 39 lb. Tyee and a 42 pound halibut!  Spectacular.

This weekend we’re going to see the return of moderate northwesterlies and sunshine.  The strong tides will peak Saturday and they have definitely been a factor.  Stay tuned!