QCL Archives - Page 12 of 25 - Queen Charlotte Lodge

With only a couple days left to go before we open up for the 2019 season, you can imagine that we’re a pretty busy bunch around here! While the lodge staff and the kitchen crew are shining up their programs, it’s the guides that most people want to hear from right about now!

The weather has been stunning this past week and we’ve had boats on the water every day. The guides are treating the staff to some quality fishing time and everybody comes out a winner. Moderate northwesterlies come with all this sunshine so the water has been a little choppy at times. We’ve focused on the western grounds from Cape Naden to Klashwun Point, working the inshore tacks around the rocks as well as the offshore zone…doing the Haida Drift between the two points.

Most boats are getting into a few Chinooks; feisty feeders in the mid-teens are making up the bulk of the catch. We’ve seen a few in the twenties but haven’t found a Tyee yet! It’s only a matter of time! Anchovies and spoons are producing but so are the guys running herring. There was a 21 and a 25 on the dock last night so we’re finding the usual mix for this early in the season. It’s worth noting that we have not fished any prime time, no morning or evening fishing, and only for 4-hour blocks of time in mid-day. So the guides are keen to get started fishing full-time this weekend and really see what’s out there!

Tides will be moderate this weekend with swings of about 12 feet on the morning floods. These westerlies will give way to just a few hours of southerly weather on Friday (showers and very light wind) before returning to moderate west for Saturday and fading out to light variable on Sunday. Temperatures will be cool, just 12-14 degrees. Perfect fishing weather!

Approximately 20 years ago our managing partner of Queen Charlotte Lodge, Mr. Paul Clough, fulfilled his dream of owning a fishing resort. QCL was not just another investment, but something he had dreamed of having since 1992 when his float plane flew above QCL with his buddy Dave Bossons.

A year after the purchase of QCL in 2000, an unexpected opportunity came about for his eldest son Rob to get involved with the lodge. Rob took on the initial role of commission sales and part time guide, which is quite different than his Senior Vice President role of today. Sharing Paul’s passion for fishing and the lodge business, it didn’t take long for Rob to gain a loyal following among guests and crew.

Those who work with Paul know it is customary for him to keep a little book of notes. One midsummer day in 2017 Rob was enjoying a rare opportunity to fish with his father on the FishFinder, trolling offshore for Chinook salmon. As is his custom, Paul liked to fish and, at the same time, review some of the items on his list. During their conversation Paul went silent for a moment, closed his notepad and put it in his pocket. He tightened the drag on the reel that was set up in front of him, and then turned to Rob and asked, “Is this your dream son? Is working at QCL what you want to do?” “I know you love fishing, but QCL is my dream, what’s yours?”

Initially shocked by the question, Rob’s reply was as usual, honest and maybe a bit blunt. “Although I am super happy and still excited to be at QCL, my dream is to own my own fishing lodge. Something in the freshwater side of fishing. Fishing for Steelhead and Salmon either on the fly or with light tackle.”

For those who don’t know Paul, he usually knows the answer before asking the question! This time was no different. Paul responded, “Son, I know you’ve been wanting something of your own and I’m glad you’ve finally told me. I have an idea, why don’t we spend the next years trying to find something that fits for you and your family?”

That brings us to today and the fulfillment of another Clough fishing dream! Rob has just completed on a deal that will have him take over as owner of Nicholas Dean Outdoors, a guiding company offering world class guided fishing adventures for steelhead and salmon on the Skeena River and its tributaries near Terrace, BC.

Please have a look at the website www.nicholasdean.com and if you have any questions please send Rob and email at rclough@queencharlottelodge.com. You may ask “Why does Rob still have a QCL email address?” Simple, he will always be part of the QCL family and will still be involved with QCL and Paul on a consulting basis… 19 seasons of information doesn’t just transfer overnight!

Congratulations Rob, we will miss seeing you every day at the resort. But knowing you will drop by from time to time and that you’re just a call or email away is comforting. All the best to you with Nicholas Dean Outdoors!

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, made his much anticipated 2019 Fisheries Plan public on April 16.

You may see headlines in the media that say that fishing in British Columbia is shut down. To set the record straight, that is not true. The fact of the matter is that our Department of Fisheries and Oceans is very concerned about the low return levels of Chinooks to the Fraser River. Conservation measures are being taken to protect Fraser River Chinooks. These measures include non-retention of Chinooks in certain southern areas of the province.

The fisheries on the north coast and in Haida Gwaii, adjacent to QCL, are not part of the area considered for these restrictions. We will start the season with normal salmon limits for Chinook – 2 Chinooks per day and 4 in possession. Total salmon limits will also be unaffected with 4 salmon permitted per day and 8 salmon in possession. We will also have no Commercial Fishery in our area. That is fantastic news.

Regarding non-salmon species, there are slight changes in the halibut regulations this season, which we think most anglers will see as positive. This season anglers will have a choice:

Halibut possession limit is either of:

—- one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 126 cm in length (head-on), OR

—- two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (head-on)

—- The daily limit for halibut is one (1).

Limits for Lingcod and Rockfish remain unchanged from 2018.

There’s lots going on as we’re just 77 days out from opening day! Here’s the link to see our March e-news:

We hope you enjoy the 2019 edition of the QCL Desktop Calendar.

It’s sized at 2560 px by 1440 px so it’ll look stunning on your computer desktop or on your HDTV.

It’s easy to download each month from our Flickr page.

Here’s the link: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8Gg858

The MV Driftwood has been in drydock the past week for her quadrennial inspection. It’s always interesting to see what’s going on below the waterline! We’re happy to report she looks mighty fine and will be ready to sail north to Haida Gwaii in May!

QCL is lookin’ sharp at the winter sportsmen’s shows this year with awesome new displays! Be sure to come see us at SCI Reno, SCI Dallas and the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup.

Safari Club International – Reno, NV

Reno Sparks Convention Center

January 9-12 (Wed thru Sat)

QCL has Booth # 773

https://www.showsci.org/

Dallas Safari Club Convention – Dallas TX

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

January 17-20 (Thur thru Sun)

QCL has Booth # 951

https://www.biggame.org/convention/

Washington Sportsmen’s Show – Puyallup, WA

Washington State Fair Events Center

January 23-27 (Wed thru Sun)

QCL has Booth # 621-622

https://www.thesportshows.com/shows/washington/show-information/

Here’s a little taste of the QCL Experience – Have a look and you’ll see there’s so much to explore!

Thanksgiving Weekend is coming!
Enjoy some of that delicious white fish you caught this summer! Lingcod and halibut provide some of the tastiest seafood you can find anywhere and we are always catching them up at QCL. They’re so versatile and can be prepared a hundred different ways. While you maybe planning for a turkey dinner this weekend, we recommend white fish for lunch! Here’s a nice light recipe – perfect for a family gathering. ( from our latest cookbook, A Taste Of QCL Vol2 )

Well here it is, September already, and once again we’re making the annual fall migration south to “the real world.” Gone are those beautifully casual 5-minute commutes down the beach to the lodge or to the dock. (You don’t want to hear what the alternative is like!) The early morning light is now delayed past 7:00 and it’s coming later and later every day. (Fun fact: In June we enjoy 17 hours of daylight… in December it’ll be just over 7 hours!)

The 2018 season will be noted for exceptional Coho fishing (offshore), a windy July, smaller Chinooks, Steak & Lobster in the Bell Ringer, friendly medical doctors onsite 24/7, more GPS hotspots on the map, quick & easy halibut, fresh sushi on the deck and a 4th beautiful big red boat on the water! QCL guests returned home with more varieties of fish in their boxes and many of them opted to add some tasty BC specialties like smoked sablefish and spot prawns. It seems we saw fewer whales overall this summer and the same 5 sea lions were roaming around the grounds much of the time.

The staff this summer was outstanding. We had the benefit of several leaders returning in key positions to maintain consistency in training and operations. And it’s always exciting to watch the stars emerge from the ranks of new staff as the season gets rolling. Some of the most memorable moments come when we welcome the return of a guest who was here 10 or 20 years ago. Their impressions of the “new QCL” are pretty wonderful and their recollections of “how it was” are heartwarming. While we’ve made a lot of changes to the program and marked improvements to the facility, we’ve tried very hard to maintain the quality and the style of service that we built our reputation on. That will always be priority #1.