QCL Archives - Page 19 of 25 - Queen Charlotte Lodge

The northwest winds have subsided and have left us with an abundant supply of Chinook. The schools of herring have been moving inshore as well. With this the salmon have showed up in large numbers. Deeper waters have been producing steady 14-25 pounder Chinook action as well as big Coho. The Chinook fishing these past 3 days has been unreal!

With the Northwest winds you will usually have an influx of baitfish and salmon being blown into Cape Edenshaw. Because of this, we decided to go there today. It is always a gamble going to Edenshaw as it’s a little far from our western fishing grounds and If the fishing is not good it is a long run back to our western grounds. This proved to be a successful morning at Edenshaw as several large Chinooks were hooked throughout the fleet.

We were doing laps by “Slab Rock” all morning, waiting for the Tyee bite. We had caught several fish in the high teens but were patiently waiting for the big one. It finally hit and the bite was so big the fish visibly moved the downrigger line as we heard a powerful “thud.” It was on, and we quickly cleared our lines and chased after this beast. After a nice fight that took us offshore we landed a beautiful fish. What a battle! But it yielded a stunning 44 LB Chinook – ALRIGHT! There were a couple other large catches within the area we were fishing as well. What a day!

Tomorrow, I think we’ll be back to Cape Naden where the action has been consistent. We want to fill up the Coho tags and the Coho bite has been consistent there.

It’s great to see the fish showing up in large numbers and I’m looking forward to getting out there tomorrow morning! There is going to be calm waters with plenty of fish being caught by everybody.

Skywalker

The steady northwesterlies that we fished through last week have slackened off nicely and our guests are enjoying the bounty of the full fishing grounds once again! We’ve discovered masses of salmon just slightly offshore from our “normal” fishing haunts along the rocky shoreline. Eager anglers are quick to move out a little further into water depths of 150 to 200 feet. Tons of baitfish are attracting schools of both Chinook and Coho salmon to the grounds between the Mazzaredos and Bird 2.

It’s nice to see the Coho numbers up again after a bit of a slow period; typical catches are in the 8-11 pound class right now with some stunning 12-14 pounders in the mix. While we are getting them in the upper reaches of the water column (where we expect to find them) anglers are also hooking up at depths from 45 – 75 feet! (where we don’t expect them!)

Those “perfect for keeping,” 18-22 pound Chinooks are turning up in numbers as well in the offshore zone. We’re generally getting them down 25-35 feet on anchovies, herring and spoons. They don’t seem to be too fussy! But the BIG fish are still found in the traditional spots around our favourite structure. Cape Naden was the place to be for a number of anglers last week.

Long time QCL fan Tom R and his wife Sydney were fishing the Cape with Roger Baker when Tom hooked up with a big fish. Tom’s version of the story is fantastic to hear but the short story was of a terrific 41 pounder in the boat! Nice fish Tom, well done!

Aaron B boated a beautiful 43 pound Tyee, Axel K lit up the Bell Ringer with a 43 and out on the Driftwood Paul F put a 44 on the scale! The ladies at the lodge were proving a force to be reckoned with as well. Liz M was just beaming after she landed a striking 42 lb Chinook with her husband Phil and guide Isaiah Dahl. Sheila B proudly displayed her chrome-bright 40-pounder alongside her husband Bruce and guide Coady Delesalle. Fantastic catches all around!

Hard to believe it’s already August and the 2016 season is going strong! Cape Naden continues to be a steady producer of Chinook and has shown to hold some Tyees on every trip. Jeanne D, “fishing Grandma,” was absolutely thrilled to be back to QCL with her family but even more thrilled to have released a 34 lb Chinook on the first day. Well done Fishing Grandma! Then on Tuesday she shared the thrill when her daughter-in-law Terry also released a 34 of her own! Kudos to QCL guide Jackson Jane with his awesome C&R skills! On the 99 with Robbie C, Bill M returned the fish of a lifetime to the water after landing an amazing 63 pound Tyee at Cape Naden on Tuesday. That’s an incredible catch Bill! And thanks for sending her back! Congratulations!

Among a number of flashy Tyees caught last week were a pair of 37’s that were released as well – by Claude B and Chris L – Well done guys! We’re seeing greater numbers of Chinooks overall these days and the average size has bumped up measurably too. Several of those 40-plus beauties came to the boat last week with a number of them carefully turned back.

On his first visit to QCL, 14-year-old Carson B tangled with a huge Chinook that gave him quite a tussle but he played it perfectly and his guide Ryan Winger was able to release it easily after taping it out to 48 pounds! What a start to your salmon fishing habit Carson! Great job!

Although we’ve had moderate northwesterly winds for over a week now, many guests have been able to go out and haul up some great halibut catches. Last weekend Rob C released a huge, human-sized halibut that taped out to 210 lbs with the assistance of veteran QCL guide Oliver Massey. His arms may still be tired from that one! Myles and Reid F have been coming up to QCL before they could even walk but they teamed up to land their largest halibut last week, a chunky 101 pounder! Well done boys! Dad’s proud! Casey P released a 146 pounder, Alan D a 121, John F a 101 and Mike S turned back a 148-pound giant! It’s sure exciting to see a huge halibut beside the boat but it’s even better if you’ve got a nice keeper in the box! Fortunately there seems to be no shortage of nice chickens & turkeys in the 15 to 50 pound class! Quite a few of the guides have been exploring new bottom fishing spots this season and it looks like it’s paying off!

Late July, early August… favourite dates for many QCL anglers and they’ve been finding some stunning fish this week! Moderate northwesterly winds bring blue skies and warmer temps and tend to drive the bait into the sheltered waters of Virago Sound. And that’s where we are, ready for the salmon that follow the huge masses of needlefish and herring that fatten them up through the home stretch!

Chinook action has been best along the classic fishing points, with anglers trolling anchovy and herring baits down 35 – 45 feet to find them. Cape Naden is a steady producer with Klashwun Point, Bird 2 and Parker Point doing just as well on most days. Linda S was thrilled to return a fish of a lifetime to the water this week after landing a stunning Tyee that taped out to 44 pounds. Guide Kingsley Brice carefully revived the big beauty off Klashwun Pt. and away she went! Fantastic work Linda!

Terry H shared this experience with a 40-pounder on Monday when his guide Coady Delesalle sent back a big Chinook for him. The Tyee bell has been ringing loud on many nights with some stellar catches coming back to the scale. Ralph S weighed in a 50 lb. Chinook on Tuesday while Jamie R was unable to revive his huge chrome Tyee that came in at 52 lb.. Greg E was more successful releasing a 44 pounder at Klashwun Pt. with his guide Jordan Grames on Wednesday.

Fishing without a guide this week, Kent H and his bud John W hooked up a monster Chinook in the busy water between Shag Rock and Klashwun. After a 25-minute battle John scooped the massive salmon. They quickly measured and released a contender for big fish of the season, a heavy shouldered Tyee that scored 64 pounds! And what a beautiful fish it was! Fantastic work guys! Finishing the trip with another awesome release was Daryle A who connected with a bruiser off Bird Rock on Thursday, his guide Brett Clarke taping the trophy fish out to 52 pounds before releasing it into glassy calm water, all captured in 4K video! Beautiful work gentlemen! Congratulations!

Tomorrow… the halibut report!

I’d like to welcome all QCL family, and fellow anglers to another addition of the Guide’s report.

Today was a spectacular day to be fishing in Haida Gwaii, better known on the west coast as the “Mecca” of salmon fishing. With a fresh push of fish entering the grounds, we knew we were in for a treat today!

My guest was just shy of a Tyee last year, so I promised I’d make it up to him this season. It seemed after the initial push of the afternoon flood tide, Bird Rock 2 came to life with action. And after a few strips of line and some patience, we were onto one! The big Chinook took a piece of herring at 6 pulls off the point, pretty textbook stuff for B2. The fight was heavy and lethargic, with the fish making multiple deep runs for the kelp. Fortunately, we were able to cut him off with the Grady every time. About 25 minutes into the fight we found ourselves in the west bay of B2, with a hungry sea lion in hot pursuit of our fish. Thankfully we were able to scoop him up before the rock dog was able to do any real damage. When we motored offshore in an attempt to release the fish, we realized he had swallowed the hooks. Looks like he was coming back to the Bell Ringer with us after all! This one turned out to be a 34-pounder, a great way to finish the day and an unforgettable trip at QCL.

Until next time, tight lines!

Ryan “Horseshoe” Winger

As we roll through the final days of July we’re seeing some big fish popping up in all the usual places. Bird 2, Klashwun Point and Parker Point have turned out some stunning catches this week. Doug R started off the trip on Friday with a nice 39-pounder while fishing with veteran guide Ran Rainville. Augustin D had quite a battle with a 51 pounder up at Klashwun Point but got it to the boat with some expert boat handling by guide Brian Bowles. And Kendall and Hans had a fantastic first day with the ultimate double – a 34 lb. Tyee and a 62 lb. halibut – while fishing with their guide Ryan Kelly!

Guests who choose to stay on the Driftwood may not have all the amenities of the Twin Creeks Spa and the Bell Ringer and Luke’s Limousine service, but they happily trade all that for something pretty special. They get the whole fishing grounds to themselves after all the lodge boats have left the water. There’s something magical about sitting in the glassy calm behind Bird 2; the eagles are harassing the gulls, bears often come down to the beach and the humpbacks love to cruise right alongside the ship, scooping up needlefish along the way. But fishing the point and that tack along the wall inside B2 is some of the most productive water on the coast! DW guests Brent S and Matt M confirmed that once again as they enjoyed a little after dinner fishing derby on Saturday night. Matt hooked up with a big beauty sometime after 9:00 and played it to the boat with Driftwood guests viewing from the deck. Brent got the whole thing on video and then assisted with the netting, measurement and the release. The stunning Tyee Chinook scored out to 57.4 and swam away strongly after some revival time from Matt. Beautiful job guys! Congratulations Matt and welcome to the 50 Pounder Club!

Today’s forecast of mild southerly winds held true, and with southerly winds, rain is usually expected in Dixon Entrance. Today was no different. For some guests and guides who left the dock early in the AM, a morning bite at a couple of our fishing points proved to be worthy of the early wake up. But, as has proven to be the case over the past couple of days, once this morning bite is over most of the Chinook action has been in deeper water as the day carries on. Unconventional methods, as compared to the in-close, shallow depth, and “hugging the kelp” method, seem to be more productive as the day carries on. Running your gear deeper down in deeper water can prove successful.

Coho action is still mostly an offshore affair. Working the 200-plus foot line with the riggers down 20 to 50 feet can lead to double or triple headers once a school of these silver acrobats are found. The key is to keep covering water, following tide lines and looking for feeding birds. Double back or drive the boat in large circles until the bite ends…after that, follow the tide line for another chance at silver.

Sunday’s forecast is for more light southerly winds. Guests and guides will be anticipating the final day of the trip. Hopefully it will be a day filled with plenty of fish and lots of action…new friends…memories to last a lifetime and a chance hog hiding in the kelp. See you out on the water!

’till next time…

Keep your tip up…line tight…and hang on for the ride!

Jeff “Smurf”

Southerly winds have given QCL guests some glassy calm seas to enjoy this week and they’ve certainly taken advantage of them! Having lodge boats scattered all over the fishing grounds confirms every time that there are just so many great options out there for the adventurous angler! The guides have identified numerous favourite spots in the offshore zone where they’re finding excellent opportunities for halibut, lingcod and yelloweyes. Improved sounder technology has helped us “see” structure down 200+ feet that we never knew was there! Now that we’re releasing all those big breeding halibut over 70 pounds we’re catching more of the prime 25 to 45 pounders that are so perfect for the freezer. It’s especially good when they go home in beautifully vac-packed 1 lb. chunks from our licensed fish processing facility! Our guests enjoy quality packed fish all year long.

But it’s mighty exciting when you drop your jig down 220 feet and quickly hook up to a fish the size of a door! That happened to Alan J and Edison K while fishing yesterday with veteran guide Jackson Jane. Sharing turns on the rod through a 45-minute battle they finally got “eyes-on-the-prize” when a massive halibut came alongside the boat. With some effort they were able to tape the huge female out to 192 cm for an estimated weight of 230 pounds! That’s more than 6-feet long! And the beauty of it is that they swim away with such vigour! Most of them make sure you get a good soaking in the process! Well done lads! (Stay tuned for pics!)

Chinook salmon fishing has turned up the volume nicely this week with some very impressive catches recorded at the Bell Ringer. We’ve added 3 new members to the QCL 50-Pounder Club in the past 3 days! After first-timer Danny B started his QCL experience with a a 50-pound beauty on Monday, long-time QCL angler Ted W landed a 51 on Wednesday morning. Ted likes to release his big fish but unfortunately this one had damaged the gills and guide Jordan Grames had to keep it on board. What a gorgeous salmon guys! Congratulations Ted!

And on Wednesday evening Gabrielle K had better luck with her release of another beautiful Tyee that taped out to just over 50 pounds, watching it swim away with nice strong strokes of its big spotted tail! Awesome!

There was a large number of QCL guests and guides gearing up for an early 5:30 departure this morning, leaving Naden Harbour and heading out into the damp fog of Virago Sound. Except for a light residual NW swell from yesterday, the fishing grounds were fairly flat which made for a nice change of pace from the previous four days of strong northwest winds.

The early morning tide change brought on a Chinook snap bite on most of our major fishing points. With larger tides it’s these snap bites most QCL guests are relying on to fill their Chinook quota. Patience, skill and luck all play a factor but with the right combination a few of these black mouthed salmon can be had at each tide. Coho salmon have moved offshore into the deeper water, following large schools of needle fish. If one is willing to search out different depths in 200 plus feet of water…you might be rewarded with a nice supply of Coho chrome in the 7 to 12 lb. range.

Some interesting news to hit the QCL VHF radio waves over the past few days is that DFO is searching for a humpback whale which has a fishing net and a buoy attached to it and it may be located in our waters. Out on the halibut grounds today while we were looking for a couple of chickens, we saw a DFO zodiac tracking a humpback whale. I wondered if this was the whale in danger but the boat eventually left and the humpback breached right close to ”One-Fourteen.” Definitely no fishing net on this one and what a show!

The flat waters made for comfortable bottom fishing and most QCL guests were able to get one of their two Halibut for the trip. With light winds forecast for the rest of the trip, guests and guides should be able to fish close to the kelp and rock structure in search of that Chinook of a lifetime or a screaming smiley!

Till next time… Keep your tip up, line tight, and hang in for the ride!

Jeff ‘Smurf’

Having a case of the Monday blues? Not here in Haida Gwaii – what a fishy week it has been so far! With the heavy weekend winds settling down to 5-10 mph, QCL guests and guides started the week out right – with lots of sun, loaded fish boxes, and big smiles to match!

With the mid-season approaching, QCL staff are definitely in the rhythm of the game – getting to enjoy some sunny weather and staff fishing charters is putting everyone in great moods!

Coho are still running rampant through the fishing grounds, with some beautiful 10-12 lbers coming through to the scale. It’s easy fishing if you’re looking to limit out on these Silvers!

While 15-20 lb feeder-sized Chinook are also consistent throughout the grounds, the real action this week began on Monday with four Tyees caught by our QCL guests!

We don’t mean to brag (well, just a little), but the following anglers were nothing but winners at the weigh scale! Guest Jim T. was lucky enough to land a beautiful 37 lb Chinook – Adam D. caught and released a 45 pounder – Guest Danny B. landed a stunning 50 pounder (on a Tiger Prawn spoon!) with his guide Kyle Hedican – and last but certainly not least – Santiago C. scooped up a nice 41 lb Chinook to take home! Congratulations and well-done to these fishermen!