womenthatfish Archives - Page 4 of 4

Over the years we’ve welcomed many faces to QCL and while we are grateful for our returning guests, we are also grateful for those that are visiting for the first time. In honour of all of you, we’d like to reintroduce you to who we are and what magic lies behind the QCL Experience.

Tucked among the lush oasis of old growth forests and rich waters is a luxury fishing lodge – QCL, a private haven for our guests to escape and explore for more than 30 years. Welcoming guests since 1991, we have created a place where modern day adventurers can enjoy the northwest wilderness perfectly blended with the comforts of warm, attentive hospitality in understated luxury lodging.

After changing ownership 20+ years ago, QCL has grown with new standards of business operation that started the Lodge on our current path.

First and foremost, we are a fishing lodge that strives to provide our guests with the ultimate first class fishing experience. Designed to take full advantage of the unrivaled fishing opportunities available in Haida Gwaii, our fishing grounds offer vast populations of bait fish for productive fishing anytime throughout our season. Our fishing grounds are among the world’s premier fisheries for salmon and halibut, with other species available.

Our guests range from fishing novices to seasoned veterans, and we offer a full range of services to meet these needs. Our boat fleet is specifically designed for performance and safety, allowing our guests to choose to fish on their own, self-guided, or benefit from the assistance of a professional guide, guided. Our fishing program is designed to offer even more flexibility with variable start times for guests who are eager to hit the water at dawn, or for those who prefer a slower start to their day.

The QCL Experience does not end once our guests return to the dock – with an elevated standard of hospitality across property, our accommodations, dining services and amenities are among the cornerstones of QCL’s luxury.

Upon booking, guests have the choice of accommodation (based on availability); each room and/or venue offering something for everyone. For those looking for the finest in what QCL has to offer, our private houses are the perfect off the water experience, with a private hot tub, chef, and hostess the QCL experience is tailor-made for you. And for those looking for constant adventure, we have limited spots available on our MV Driftwood.

Guests immediately feel at home in the comforts of the stunning Main Lodge, made from lodgepole pine, as it is the centerpiece of QCL. Upon returning from the water, guests find their way to the Lodge to sip a craft cocktail by the crackling fire in the great stone hearth, take in the setting sun views from the hot tub or sauna, or share stories around the harbourside firepit.

Serving as the hub of our Food and Beverage programs, the Dining Room is located on the second floor of the Main Lodge. Guests looking for an espresso and fresh baked pastry, an afternoon bite or 3 course meal and extensive wine selection, this is where you’ll find it. Our menus emphasize the local seafood, nod to a classic steakhouse, and honour the flavours of the West Coast. Alongside the Dining Room, our guests often find themselves recharging in the Angler’s Club Lounge. Located on the first floor of the Main Lodge, this is home to our wine cellar, main bar, and pool table.

For those in search of a lively location to start or end the day, we have the Bell Ringer – a simple concept that is often imitated but never replicated. Located on the dock, this is the spot to grab a coffee before heading out on the water, and sharing stories of the days catch while you wait for it to get weighed.

Not to be confused with the MV Driftwood, our on the water dining experience for all guests. For those looking for break to their fishing day the DW offers a lively lunch location with tales of the morning and views of the rugged landscape.

Over the years, QCL has learned what best inspires the dining experiences that create irreplaceable memories and from this inspiration we have created two quintessential dining experiences – he Bell Ringer, and the Buoy dinner. Available for a fee, they create a semiprivate dining experience that cannot be rivaled in our remote wilderness.

We understand that the definition of adventure and luxury varies from person to person, and we strive to provide each of our guests with a personalized experience. You can anticipate this personalized experience from the moment you book your trip, to arriving at the lodge, whether they are on the water or in the dining room. Among other amenities such as our spa, fitness center, hot tubs and saunas – the staff is truly the hallmark of your trip. The QCL Crew is always present to ensure your visit to QCL is truly an unforgettable memory.

It is worth noting that while we do our best to share the QCL Experience with you here, there is nothing similar to the feeling you get from stepping off the helicopter after a scenic ride across Haida Gwaii.

Thank you for booking your first class fishing experience with us, we cannot wait to welcome you!

“And when we hear the call of the geese in the harbour, we know that it’s time to wrap it up for another season…” That time has come! We sent off our final group of guests yesterday, followed by a large portion of our crew. Wow! Is it ever a different place when they’re not here!

Our 33^rd season at QCL was pretty epic. We were able to welcome back quite a number of guests who’ve missed us over the past 4 years, as well as many newcomers who wanted to know what this place was all about. Our core group of QCL guests, whom we’re very fortunate to see almost every summer, were thrilled with many of the tweaks, both large and small, that we implemented this year.

Certainly, our new Coho Class of boats had to be a highlight for many, combining great functionality and performance with lots of comforts and convenience – for both guided and self-guided anglers. New menu features and hospitality treats balanced out the program when our guests returned to the lodge at the end of the day.

Conversations among the guide team this past week were consistently positive about the fishing. Huge volumes of feeding Chinook and Coho were present through the first half of the summer, and as the number of migratory salmon increased, the Tyee Bell was ringing more frequently every trip. In short, it was busy on the boats! Bottom fishing for halibut, lingcod and rockfish always balances out the fishing experience and provides a tasty variety of filets to enjoy at home.

But we have to say, at the end of every trip, and at the end of every season, what our guests always go out of their way to speak with us about, is essentially the QCL Experience. That’s the very special combination of this amazing place and what people are able to do here, fully enveloped in the enthusiasm of our wonderful staff and the hospitality that they provide. That’s what puts a smile on everyone’s face up here. We’re very thankful for the efforts of each of our team members and the continued support of our awesome guests.

We can’t wait to get back up here again next season and see you all again!

While we are known for our access to some of the most sought-after salmon fishing grounds in the world, what QCL offers doesn’t stop there. Our fishing grounds are also home to rich bottom fish populations, offering our guests a multitude of fishing adventures all within one day.

In order to grasp the appeal to our bottom fishing grounds, you need to first know what makes bottom fishing “good”.

When targeting bottom fish – Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish for example – anglers use topographical charts of the ocean floor to predict where fish are likely to live. These charts illustrate plateaus, troughs, and pinnacles (underwater mountains); which are what we refer to as structures. These structures are prime living locations for a variety of the bottom fish we target at QCL.

Our Fishing Grounds sit on the edge of an underwater shelf. At the edge of the shelf, depths drop rapidly from roughly 350ft to depths that plummet well below 700ft. This creates a concentration of bottom fish that venture onto the shelf for easier access to food sources and in turn, allow us the opportunity to fish these large numbers of fish. Additionally, this shelf allows for plentiful fishing without needing to travel extended distances or out into the open ocean; often the case when searching for good structure. Our grounds offer the ability to catch bottom fish from as close as the shoreline to a few miles offshore. Due to this, we often see Halibut and Lingcod being a bycatch when targeting salmon in shallow waters close to shore.

The structure of our fishing grounds also creates the unique ability to specifically target different bottom fish. For example, Lingcod are often found living amongst large rock formations and pinnacles, but Halibut are known to frequent large sand plateaus where they can easily camouflage themselves. Both locations offer ample opportunity to cross paths with both species but on our grounds, there are areas which support both types of bottom structure which results in precise targeting of each species.

An added benefit of our fishing grounds is that we have seen a steady increase in food sources such as herring and squid. They congregate around the underwater landmarks that Halibut, Lingcod and others are often found. Where there’s food, there’s always something around to eat it!

Behind each angler is a knowledge and passion for the sport they are partaking in, and we hope that with this knowledge your passion is ignited for your upcoming trip to QCL.

This past week, the North shores of Graham Island have been blessed by weather typical of July. With light to moderate winds, and a mix of sun and rain, guests have experienced a true Haida Gwaii summer.

Salmon fishing has been consistent throughout the season, with plenty of Chinook and Coho keeping rods bouncing, and the bell rings most nights! We’ve been happy to celebrate alongside more guests choosing to release these 30+ pound fish, recognizing their beauty and that their importance extends far beyond their meat!

Anglers have been finding Chinook on both tides, with the ebb tide producing at Cape Naden, Bird Rock 2, and Klashwun Point, and the flood producing at Bird Rock 1, Parker Point, Yahtz Bay, and the top side. Coho have been picked off all along our inshore waters, no need to leave the Chinook grounds to find them this year! While Chinook limits have remained at 1 per day and 2 possession, anglers have found themselves with some extra time to put towards bottom fishing. Plenty of “turkey” size halibut, those in the 90-126cm mark, have been caught by those willing to thump the sand and weed through the chickens. And for those brave enough to work the tricky reef structure, some sizeable rockfish and lingcod have been caught on flat water days. With some small tides this week, and mostly light wind in the forecast, it should be a fun and productive!

Tight lines!

Lead Guide, Liam Longacre

“Fish on!”

A common phrase in the QCL anglers’ vocabulary, defining the past trip here at QCL.

It’s halfway through the season and we’re seeing consistent action on the water. There has been plenty of opportunity to land Chinook, the majority ranging in size from 9-16 pounds. Complementing the fishing, we’ve seen tons of wildlife on the grounds. Nothing beats watching a whale show in-between bites!

Recently, our days have started with a windy ride through Virago Sound and these higher winds pushed plenty of bait in! A familiar tack amongst the guides is to cruise our way up to Klashwun Point, and do the “Haida Drift”, working points down to the Mazerrado Islands.

Starting our day with a trip up to a favourite of mine, Parker Point, we were met by a few other boats aiming for a release worthy fish like us. We began on the top side of Parker, worked our way on the inside tack, in about 50 feet of water, with lines set to 27 & 37 ft. Immediately we received a hit on the anchovy. This seemed to be a multi species tool, landing plenty of Coho, Chinook and the odd Chum or Pink. We later set off from Parker to the shores of “B1”, where there was consistent action with Chinooks (10-15 pounds). Within a short 5 hours on the water, we found ourselves limited out for salmon, occasionally even trolling up the odd Halibut within Cape Naden. With large unpredictable tides, bottom fishing and finding bait can be difficult in the beginning but is manageable as you stick it out.

Just as quickly as the day started, the bite slowed signally the time to head back to the Bell Ringer to swap stories with a cocktail in hand. Another good day of fishing in the Gwaii, with plenty more to come.

Guide, Wyatt Fulthorpe

QCL Moments is our new slideshow series featuring the many memorable experiences that QCL guests enjoy every summer. It could be fishing, dining, wildlife or wild life! It’s all about the QCL Experience – every day is a new day at the Lodge! You never know what’s going to come your way.

Well it was WTF (Women that Fish) Derby weekend here at QCL, with 13 ladies from various locations across North America. The conditions have been excellent with calm seas and fairly clear skies. This has made for a very amusing couple of days on the water, with some decent fish being caught and lots of laughs!

Today we decided to spend the morning grinding it out at Cape Naden in hopes of hooking a derby winner. After a slow start we managed to put three teen-sized Chinook in the box before lunch. We also had the privilege of watching an amazing show put on by a Humpback whale that was feeding out on the horizon. All in all in it was a great morning on the water!

After lunch we decided to grab a couple halibut and then finished the day back at Naden, where we managed a nice 20lber that put up a very acrobatic fight! With another beauty day in the forecast to finish off the WTF Derby, I am looking forward to spending another day searching for the big one that the ladies have been referring to as “Walter”.

Tights lines from Naden Harbour!

“Jacko”

Newer Posts

Reintroducing the QCL Experience

Thank You for an Adventure-Filled 2023 Season!

We can’t wait to get back up here again next season and see you all again!

The Fishing Grounds | Bottom Fishing

In order to grasp the appeal to our bottom fishing grounds, you need to first know what makes bottom fishing “good”.

Kingfisher Report | July 18, 2023

Kingfisher Report | July 14, 2023

“Fish on!”

Welcome to QCL Moments

It’s a Guide’s Life – July 13th

QCL Signatures Series | Tom Yum Baked Lingcod

QCL Signatures Series | Seared Scallops with Romesco

Thank You | QCL Crew

A Wrap on 2024

Kingfisher Report | August 31, 2024