Bogley

chickenlicken · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 310 Location: North Logan

We just returned from a great fishing trip to Queen Charlotte Islands BC Canada. We left Sunday afternoon and flew to Vancouver BC. We stayed right at the airport in the hotel there. At 4 AM we left to board the next flight from Vancouver to Masset. Masset is a small town on Graham Island. It is a very small airport with a couple double-wide trailers for a terminal. We then boarded a 12 passenger helicopter for another 30 minute ride to the doorstep of Queen Victoria Lodge. After a brief orientation meeting, we were headed of on a small aluminum boat with our guide, Dave. The lodge is in Naden Harbor, at the site of an old whaling station. A 30-45 minute boat ride got us out to the fishing grounds. We were fishing by 9:00 am. We caught some nice silver or Coho salmon and some larger Chinook or King salmon. I caught the largest of the trip on Monday, a 40” 31 pound king salmon. We fished until about 4 pm.

The lodge was quite nice with comfortable lounge areas and great food. We stayed in the Charlotte House, a separate cabin with 5-6 rooms. The next day we got on the boat at 6 am and had another good day of fishing for Kings, Cohos, rock fish and small halibut. Tuesday we kept a few fish for the cooler. The biggest being a 38 lb Chinook.

Wednesday we had the most exciting day of fishing. We left the dock in a thick fog and proceeded to the fishing grounds. After an hour or so of no action, we were rewarded with a fairly close sighting of a couple killer whales. Shortly after, I hooked up with a 35+ lb king salmon. I fought this one for 5 minutes or so when a large sea lion grabbed the fish and took off with it. Our guide told us to hold on, then proceeded to drive full throttle at the sea lion when it surfaced with the fish, all the while I was attempting to reel in slack line and keep the line tight. The sea lion dropped the fish twice and we gained line on the fish. The second time we got the fish to the boat with the sea lion in hot pursuit. We had the net in the water and attempted to net the fish when a second sea lion appeared and we lost the fish again. The guide told me to put more pressure on the fish when the 10-12 weight rod broke, sending me head over heels in to the boat. Now with a broken rod, we had little change of landing the fish. The sea lion kept the salmon in its mouth, but we ended up breaking the line and loosing both the sea lion and the fish. I fought the fish and sea lion for about 20 minutes and was exhausted when I finished. The fog cleared for a fantastic day of smooth water and more good fishing.

Thursday was much slower for the big fish. We only landed one 18 lb Chinook, but 10 or so silvers, and filled our limit of 10lb halibut.

Friday was travel day, we just reversed the sequence, and with a slight delay in Vancouver, arrived home by midnight Friday. I ended up with about 60 lbs of salmon and halibut filets. I would do that trip every year for the rest of my life if I could afford it.

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7306 Location: On Your Screen

MAMMA MIA! Tks for the pix. . .looks like a riot. :eek2: :five:

Cirrus2000 · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 1125 Location: Vancouver, BC

Hey, glad you enjoyed your stay close to my neck of the woods! Jeez, I was working every time you flew through Vancouver - probably talked to some of your flights (I work in the control tower at the airport).

Sometimes I wish I were into fishing. Just never gotten into it. I mean, I love eating them...

Anyway, amazing about the sea lion. Nasty buggers - makes for a memorable trip, for sure.

If you do come back this way (oughtta to an annual trip, yup), and are flying through YVR, let me know - have a coffee or other beverage, and come visit the tower.

Glockguy · Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 320

How much?

LOAH · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 517 Location: Oh Remm Yoo Tahh

Those fish are magnum. Nice work.

chickenlicken · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 310 Location: North Logan

Cirrus2000 wrote: Hey, glad you enjoyed your stay close to my neck of the woods! Jeez, I was working every time you flew through Vancouver - probably talked to some of your flights (I work in the control tower at the airport).

Sometimes I wish I were into fishing. Just never gotten into it. I mean, I love eating them...

Anyway, amazing about the sea lion. Nasty buggers - makes for a memorable trip, for sure.

If you do come back this way (oughtta to an annual trip, yup), and are flying through YVR, let me know - have a coffee or other beverage, and come visit the tower.

Thanks for the offer, that would be cool to check out the tower. We had plenty of time waiting at the airport with nothing to do but make fun of the assortment of people cruising the aisles. :roflol:
I'd love to make it an annual trip if I was independantly wealthy. Next time I may have to do a budget trip and do some camping.

Sombeech · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 11709 Location: The Rubbish Bin

you dawgs!

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2463 Location: SLC, UT

Glockguy wrote: How much?

I'd like to find that out as well, who did you book the trip through?

chickenlicken · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 310 Location: North Logan

Alex wrote: Glockguy wrote: How much?

I'd like to find that out as well, who did you book the trip through?

you can check out their website to see the exact rates, but I think it would have cost about 6000-6500 with the flights, guide service, tips etc. It was definately a once in a lifetime trip...unless i hit the lottery. :thumb:

I believe they are booked for the rest of the year and possibly 2008. First class operation, great service and an awesome experience.

http://www.queencharlottelodge.com/