The doors close and a loud roar comes from the engine. The rotor above starts to spin. This is it, just a 10-minute ride and I am finally there. As we take off, the excitement starts to build. I had never been in a helicopter before now.

Ripping through the sky over an untouched part of the earth, and suddenly a large red roof is visible in the distance. With a friendly wave from all the staff and a firm handshake from the owners upon landing, I made it to QCL.

Down at the Dock, I was introduced to my guide and after a quick brunch, we were off.  Just a short ride to the fishing grounds, our lines were in the water. We were sitting there chatting when, out of the corner of my eye, a rod starts to move. I jumped up and pulled the rod out of the holder.

The world around me seemed to fade away as if myself and the salmon were the only ones around for miles. It runs, then I reel. It comes close to the boat, then runs again. Playing my first Chinook was a thrill and just like the fish on my line, I was hooked.

In between bites, you really start to notice the beauty of Haida Gwaii and all the wildlife that lives here. What sounded like a tire deflating really fast, came from behind us. A pod of Humpbacks had come to say hello.

Back at the Lodge, the attention to detail is very apparent. After a long day of working hard on the water, we were greeted with a smile and a hot towel. And at the Bell Ringer, where the Dock turns into a lively bar, weighed our catch while snacking on Apres Peche and cocktail.

DING! DING! DING! The bell began to ring. Someone caught a Tyee! Celebration erupted and the atmosphere couldn’t get any better.

Dinner was truly a fine dining experience. The food, the service, the ambiance was above and beyond. When at QCL, you can rest assured, you will not go hungry.

To say the Lodge exceeded expectations would be an understatement. For such a large operation it still is and feels like a family-run business. All staff worked together to give us the best trip possible. And let’s not forget all the fish coming home to share with friends and family.

The rotor is spinning again. 4 days just flew by and I can’t wait to come back. They say the QCL Experience is like nothing else, and I can attest to that after only my first visit.