TOBS Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Queen Charlotte Lodge

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

It’s hard to believe we’re already almost halfway through the 2024 season! If you’ve placed a Taste of B-Sea order for Spot Prawns give this recipe a try – Pairs perfectly with a glass of wine and a sun-filled patio!

Materials

500g Spot Prawns
45ml Coconut Flour
x3 Large Eggs
440ml Coconut Flakes, Unsweetened
2g Garlic Powder
2g Smoked Paprika
2g Kosher Salt
1g Black Pepper

Method

Prepare 3 bowels for dredging prawns. One with whisked egg, one with Coconut Flakes, and the last with a mixture of the Coconut flour, Garlic powder, Smoked Paprika, and Salt + Pepper.
Dredge each Prawn in flour, then dip in egg, shake off the extra and finish by pressing in the Coconut Flakes.
Cook with your desire method, until golden brown
1. Air fry for 2-4 minutes
2. Deep fry for 2-4 minutes
3. Oven bake for 4-5 per side in an oven that has been preheated to 200 degrees.
Serve and enjoy!

Don’t worry if you’ve moved through your supply of QCL caught fish already, our Taste of B-Sea program runs year round. The finest quality fish and shellfish, these products are Ocean Wise and come from some of the most sustainable fisheries in the world using the most eco-friendly fishing methods.

To learn more and to place your order, contact us | 1-800-688-8959

A Northwest wind, over several days, always inspires excitement amongst the guide team as it usually indicates good things to come. Although fishing has, at times, been challenging this year, there is always something to look forward to when fishing in Area One. Wildlife spectacles have been fantastic – With numerous humpback and orca whale sightings occurring daily.

On the fishing side, Chinook feeding off shore has been relatively abundant and Coho have shown up in healthy numbers, ranging in size from 3 to 6lbs on average. Most Chinook retained by guests last week were 10-16lbs but there have definitely been some larger fish around – Especially for those willing to spend the time and patience in shore at one of our many legendary points. Encounters with large fish have been reported more frequently within recent days. Bird Rock 2 and the top side have been most notable, producing a few quality fish. When you’re trolling close to the rocks along the shoreline of Graham Island you never know what could happen. You’re one bite away from being famous amongst salmon anglers!

We look forward to seeing you soon, tightlines and let the Tyees go!

QCL Guide, Tristan O’Brian

Tides have been turning on the top side of Haida Gwaii.

With salmon migrating into our fishing grounds, whales and large pods of orcas have been spotted frequently. Life is becoming prevalent below the surface, signaling good things to come! Many boats have found some more sizeable Chinooks inshore with many coming off of quick snap bites. Things seem to be shaping up.

Coho are also starting to move inshore along with the very large tides we’ve been experiencing. Reports of many bites have come off the top portion of the water column in the past week. An example of this would be some boats finding fish along Green Point at the start of a flood tide, 75 ft of water, 37/47 on the riggers.

Whales have been feeding and are now giving off what seems to be a bit of a show at times. With both Humpbacks and Orcas around, you’re in for an incredible wildlife experience.

Bottom fishing at times this past week has been difficult due to the strong and large tides but large Halibut are definitely around.

Keep ’em tight, let ’em fight!

QCL Guide, Ryan Green

For a month now guests have been arriving for the first class fishing adventure of their dreams – The 2024 season is in full swing! If you have joined us at the Lodge before, we can’t wait to see you again, and if it’s your first time, we’re excited to introduce you to the QCL experience!

In anticipation of your trip, our Concierge team will be, or has been, in contact with you to plan the finer details of your stay.

UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES

There will be no shortage of food during your trip, but we do have two optional dining hot spots available for our guests this summer, both available by reservation only. Don’t miss out and be sure to book your spot in advance! For those of you who have joined us before, don’t worry our chef’s have worked hard to reimagine these unique dinners.

{Reimagined!} The Buoy, a Japanese-Inspired Experience | This space is a perfect opportunity for guests looking for a one-of-a-kind special experience. Sit back and enjoy not only amazing eats and first-class service, but amazing forest views. Inspired by Teppanyaki, this semi-private dinner features our chef’s take on the traditional Teppanyaki meal with a West Coast twist.

The Bell Ringer Seafood Boil | Where East and West coast mix, the Bell Ringer Seafood Boil is our popular social dining experience on the dock. Indulge in an abundance of seafood including Lobster Tail and Dungeness Crab accompanied by our Prime Rib Bones and all the fixings. Enjoy dinner with a backdrop of the Lodge and Naden Harbour with a upbeat, lively atmosphere.

TWIN CREEK SPA + FITNESS CENTRE

Did you know that fishing can be relaxing to the mind and soul, but taxing on the body? Treat yourself, or your guest, to a relaxing treatment at our Twin Creek Spa; the perfect way to complete your fishing and adventure package!

Twin Creek Spa has limited availability each day and books quickly. We strongly urge that you book an appointment prior to your arrival. You can do so online at QCL Twin Creek Spa.

Should a visit to our Fitness Centre for a quick workout or our hot tub and sauna be top of mind – don’t forget your running shoes and swimsuit to take advantage of these amazing amenities.

PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

Whether you are visiting with family, friends or treating employees or clients to a fishing adventure, there are many opportunities offered to go above and beyond for them. From meeting spaces, private dinners and events, fishing derbies, celebrations, to custom apparel, our hospitality team looks forward to adding these details into your stay.

Don’t hesitate to contact us today to review your trip and any special requests that you might have.

Summer is almost upon us, and with summer comes first class fishing trips and fish you can turn into delicacies. The warm weather of the summer calls for our chef’s salmon burgers, to be enjoyed on the patio with friends. Don’t forget to tell them how you brought this one into the boat, among your other fishing tales!

Materials

650g of skinless salmon *This is a great way to use salmon scraps
2 shallots, finely diced
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1 egg
50g Breadcrumbs
10g Pickles, chopped
15g Capers, chopped
2g Fresh Dill, chopped
5ml Worcestershire sauce
5ml Tabasco sauce
S+P to taste

Method

Place salmon in a food processor or chop by hand. Pieces should be small, but not fine as you want to have chunks.
Mix chopped salmon and all other ingredients together in large bowl.
Scoop small spoonful of mixture in small pan with a few drops of oil and cook to taste, adjust seasoning and taste again
Form salmon patties on small squares of parchment paper to ease transfer to cooking pan
Heat large pan with natural oil of choice, sear both sides, and cook salmon patties until desired doneness.
Serve on warmed bun with topping and sides of choice.
Enjoy!

To learn more and to place your order, contact us | 1-800-688-8959

Fishing is not the only wonderful part of your QCL Experience.

While it’s often what brings us all together, QCL has developed into a first-class experience that extends beyond the rods. Much of your time on the water is looking along the coastline, taking in the marine ecosystem and wildlife that seemingly puts on a daily show for us.

Our waters are frequented by majestic marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, humpbacks, orcas and from time to time porpoises. While most hangout around the rugged coastline to sunbathe or hide from predators, you’ll often encounter them swimming alongside your boat.

And the wonders don’t stop there! Low tide reveals starfish, sea urchins and more. The dark rugged rocks teem with vibrant colours.

Seals

Harbor seals are the most abundant marine mammal that can be found in our waters. They spend their days hunting for fish and sleeping on the rocks throughout our fishing grounds. They are one of the smaller species of seals, weighing in at a maximum of 300 pounds. These seals are very common around the docks at our lodge, typically you can find 6-10 of them bobbing around the waters of our dock. During the summer months they give birth to their young, which can be seen swimming around our docks with their mothers. If you ever see the harbor seals at our lodge all tucked into shore; that is a good sign that there may be Orcas around as they are a favorite prey species for transient Orcas

Sea Lions

Steller sea lions spend their summers on the north end of Haida Gwaii where they congregate in large groups for the breeding season as well as feeding on the large populations of salmon and bait fish. You can either find them patrolling the waters of our fishing grounds in search of bait or sunbathing on the costal rocks. Stellar sea Lions are the largest species of seal in our North Pacific waters and the 4^th largest species in the world with the males reaching up to 11 feet and 2,500 pounds.

Humpbacks

Humpback whales migrate north in the summers to feed in our cool productive waters after they spend their winters raising their young in the warmer southern waters. These whales can reach up to 60 feet and 36.3 metric tons. You can typically find them on the grounds searching for large schools of bait fish. They will often slap their tails, fins or fully breach out of the water as a way to communicate with other whales or as a dominance display towards rival whales. They are quite common on our grounds and it is important that we respect their space and insure that we shut our motors off when the whales are passing by to insure their safety and ours.

Orcas

Orcas can also be found hunting in our fishing grounds throughout the summers. These whales are actually the largest species of dolphin in the world measuring up to 27 feet and weigh up to 13,000 pounds. There are two ecotypes of orcas that we encounter on our fishing grounds, Transient and Resident Orcas. Resident Orcas specialize in hunting fish such as salmon and have been known to try and steal fish from anglers. These Orcas have a smaller home range and won’t venture far out of those ranges to hunt. Transient Orcas do not stay in a home range and will instead travel throughout the waters reaching from Alaska to the Oregon Coast. These whales specialize in hunting marine mammals such as seal, sea lions and even whale calves.

Starfish

Starfish used to be extremely common along all the shores of Haida Gwaii. Unfortunately, in recent years a disease called Sea Star Wasting disease has decimated the population starting in the early 2010’s. However, in the last couple of years we have seen the population slowly bounce back. This change has been most noticeable for us along the piers of our docks. In the last two years at low tide we have started to see the population of Ochre Sea Stars bounce back as more and more of them populate our docks. These creatures are extremely resilient and are even able to completely regrow limbs once they have been ripped off by predators. The Ochre Sea Star is the most common species of starfish that you will find in our waters and typically feed on snails, barnacles and muscles.

So the next time you’re on the water, take a moment to take in the beauty of your surroundings, before the reel screams and your next fish is on!

Welcome back folks to another Kingfisher Report!

The season is flying along, already a handful of days into June.

This past weekend was windy with a series of Southeast fronts moving across the sound and fishing grounds. But anglers, Lodge wide, toughed it out and put some serious numbers up on the boards.

Solid Chinook numbers continue to hit the dock, in the 10–15-pound range, with the odd bigger one in the mix. Guests are ending their fishing days stoked and ready for what the tomorrow has in store. Cape Edenshaw, the Finger Dipper, and Green Point have all been protected points out of the weather and continue to hold fish. Bottom fishing out at the Pinnacles and the Peanut continue to be on point, with big hali and ling hitting the dock and rewarding anglers the chance to ring the Tyee bell!

As conditions persist into this week, our guests are demonstrating great determination.

We look forward to seeing you all here this 2024 season. Tight lines!

Lead Guide, Jake Hillier

After welcoming staff mid-May to get things ready for our first round of guests, we finally made it! We’ve been saying it for months now, and though we’re only one week into the 34^th season here at QCL, it truly is turning out to be the best season yet.

The Lodge has been filled with energy and already many exciting moments that won’t soon be forgotten. From the Northern Lights putting on a splendid show for the crew during “rig up”, to the Orcas visiting the dock on the first trip, the magic of the QCL Experience is in full force.

In typical Haida Gwaii fashion, the weather has provided a full range of conditions. The sun has shined, the rain has hit and when we’re sick of the grey, the sun does its thing and a rainbow appears just beyond the dock.

We have been fortunate to see favorable fishing conditions. Chinook fishing has been productive, with the majority of our guests experiencing multiple opportunities at some fresh and strong fish. The average size of Chinooks have ranged from 10 to 15lbs but we have seen some lucky anglers catching in the high 20s! Our biggest Chinooks of the season, so far, came a couple days apart from one another, both weighing in at 36lbs. Lastly, our bottom fishing has been productive with halibut and lingcod ranging from all sizes – Most notable being a 260lbs halibut and 47lbs lingcod. We are loving the exciting early fishery and look forward to seeing more as the season continues.

But fishing is not the only thing that makes your QCL Experience, all that it is. Each of our venues have come to life with guests enjoying the delicacies that our incredible team of chef’s create daily. The team in the Bell Ringer had a blast welcoming each guest as they return to the dock with stories of their day, kelp bongs have been flowing and the echo of the Tyee bell ringing has been almost daily. The Angler’s Club Lounge remains a favourite meeting place for most to grab a cocktail and warm up next to the crackling fireplace. The hot tub and sauna have also seen their fair share of use with even some brave souls taking cold plunges in Naden Harbour.

It’s hard to believe we’re only one week in. We cannot wait for you to arrive and experience this place we call home each summer. Here’s to many more incredible moments to come!

Things are in full swing up here in Naden Harbour!

As is typical for May, we’ve had a mixed bag of weather; sunshine, overcast and torrential downpour, sometime all within the same hour. Winds have been fairly tame out of the south east this past week, and look to be getting stronger for the upcoming week.

Guests arrived last Friday, and Chinooks, mostly in the 8-15 pound range. Anglers have been enjoying success at Cape Naden, Cape Edenshaw, Bird Rock 2 and Yatze Bay, however the timing of the action has been hard to predict, so picking a spot and sticking it out has been the key to getting into fish. Both herring and anchovies have been producing fish, as well as smaller spoons and Kingcandy lures, at depths of 25 to 55 feet.

The pinnacles have been the favourite spot for anglers targeting “chicken” halibut, but some guests have been having success by fishing their regular salmon spots a little deeper, and getting their halibut “on the troll”. The weekend trip did see two Tyees on the board, one at 36.4lbs, so there’s always the chance of a big Chinook salmon out there! Tuesday we saw our first Pink salmon of the season, which means the Coho should be showing up soon!

Lead Guide, Liam Longacre