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March 8, 2023 Bre Guolo0

In a world that is adjusting to the realities that the past few years have brought upon us, we as a community have faced challenges and made realizations. Through uncertainty and isolation, many people have developed a desire for connection and adventure. As the world has reopened, these desires bring forth the perfect opportunity to try new things, visit new places and create memories. Often we think about crossing oceans, flying to tropical places, but the travelling limitations the pandemic created had Canadians exploring their own backyard. While the tropical vacation is tempting, there are a few experiences worth having right here, in the Pacific Northwest.

We often talk about the QCL Experience, something you won’t experience anywhere else. For those who have visited us, it’s a magical feeling when thinking about the memories created while at the Lodge. And while it’s a feeling that can only be experienced firsthand, we have put together a few reasons we believe the QCL Experience to be unmatched.

 

1.  The Legendary Fishing

Along with our remote location in what is known as, the Galapagos of Canada, our fishing grounds are located in the gateway to the Northern Pacific. The Virago Sound shoreline is rugged, with rocky outcrops forming little coves and providing the perfect

place for hungry salmon. The relatively shallow waters and kelp beds offer plenty of baitfish and plankton which continuously draw in salmon on their migration homeward. Offering some of the best salmon fishing in the world, our guests see multiple species and genetics. The fishing opportunities don’t end with salmon, as our guests have the chance to bottom fish for Lingcod or Pacific Halibut, which has been known to grow up to 400lbs.

Do it yourself or opt to fish with a professional guide. QCL offers something for every level of angler. Whether you’re starting your fishing journey or continuing it, join us at QCL to hear your reels scream and the ever continuous “Fish On!”

 

2.  The Beauty of Haida Gwaii

We’re perched on the far western edge of Canada, surrounded by a lush oasis of old growth forests, rich waters and abundant with wildlife. This paradise is Haida Gwaii and we know the beauty of these islands is unparalleled. Eagles soar overhead, diving down to enjoy their catch on the rocky beach. Blacktail deer graze on the lawn at all hours, and swallows fly past you to show off their beauty. Starfish and Dungeness crab are scattered through the water on your walk down to the dock. While out on the

water, coffee in hand, a humpback waves hello. Venture into the mossy forest to breathe in the fresh air or wake up early to soak in a majestic sunrise. The beauty of Haida Gwaii is apparent at anytime of day or night, and never ceases to amaze.

 

3.  Top-of-the-line Equipment and Fleet

We believe in continuous development, learning from our guests and our staff. Over the years, QCL has meticulously chosen the best equipment and boats to ensure our guests have the fishing adventure of their dreams. While keeping safety top of mind, our guests have the opportunity to choose from 6 different style vessels.

Each style of boat comes with different features to meet each guest’s need, including, sheltered cabins, private washrooms, the ability to walk around a center console, etc. Each vessel is diligently maintained and outfitted with the new motors each season. Guests visiting in 2023 will also see the new boats that are joining our fleet this year.

 

4.  MV Driftwood

Serving as the hospitality center on the water, the MV Driftwood is unique to QCL.

The perfect accommodation for adventure seekers and die-hard anglers, and a place all QCL guests can gather for lunch. The Driftwood, or DW, accommodates 12 guests with a crew dedicated to providing attentive, genuine hospitality. Take in the untouched wilderness the coast offers. Catch the sunrise over Cape Edenshaw, or a sunset from the aft deck.

Typically anchored in the quiet waters behind Bird Rock 1 or 2, the wooden vessel is the liveliest place on the water. Offering full lunch service and beverages to all guests –  Take a break, enjoy a drink and swap fishing tales with new friends.

 

5.  Food + Beverage Program

QCL is a place where modern-day travelers can revel in the taste of wilderness perfectly blended with the comfort of attentive hospitality, and this shines true through our F+B program. Our approach is simple, we aim to create unforgettable dishes with the freshest ingredients in the best of settings. Through an emphasis on the local seafood, a nod to a classic steakhouse and an array of dining experiences, there is something for every guest.

Whether you’re interested in a sit down breakfast, or to grab-n-go, we’ve got your morning covered. Grab a Starbucks specialty beverage, pack some snacks for the day and catch the sunrise on your

commute to the fishing grounds. When you return to the dock, grab your favourite cocktail at the Bell Ringer, and celebrate the day with friends.

Finally, finish off your evening with one of our dining experiences – whether it be our BBQ buffet, a la carte service or an exclusive experience, there is something to exceed your expectations. Offering a unique take on remote dining, The Buoy Teppanyaki House or Bell Ringer Seafood Boil dinners will leave you in awe. With chefs selected for their expertise, each meal is prepared for you by the best. Dining experiences that extend beyond the dining room, to the ocean and back.

 

6.  The Bell Ringer

While our Food + Beverage program is a highlight all to itself, the Bell Ringer is deserves its own spot light. An experience imitated but never replicated. One of the favourite venues across property, the Bell Ringer, is our very own social house.  Before heading out on the water, grab a spiked coffee and share in the anticipation for the day. After returning, head to the Bell Ringer for your cocktail of choice, hot appies and to cheers when the Tyee bell rings. A place for meeting, eating and drinking, the Bell Ringer is the place to be. There is nothing quite like it.

 

7.  First Class Service

We’ve shared with you some of our favourite reasons to visit QCL, premier fishing, remote dining, incredible wildlife, and experiences like no other. However, we need to discuss perhaps the most integral part of your visit to QCL, the team.  From the moment you book, to stepping off the helicopter, before you leave the dock to the time you go to sleep, the QCL crew is there for you.

Time and time again when asked, our guests say the best part of their QCL experience is the service. We know it takes a certain type of person to live remote for our 100 day season, and to do it with a smile is what truly sets our staff apart. It is our passion to curate the first class fishing experience of your dreams, and helping see that through is your servers, chefs, housekeepers, guides, dock hands, fish processors and operations crew. Whatever adventurous luxury means to you, that is our goal.

 

 

Everything we’ve mentioned, and so much more, is a part of the QCL Experience. While no one can truly know the magic of our first-class fishing experience, until they feel it for themselves, we hope these words paint a picture of what is waiting for you at the Lodge.

 


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February 2, 2022 Duane Foerter0

We hope you enjoy the 2022 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.

This special selection of images is set up as monthly calendars for your computer desktop.
They’re easy to download from our QCL Flickr page and we hope you use them them all year long!

It’s easy to download each month from our Flickr page. https://www.flickr.com/photos/qclshooter/albums/72177720296388065
Here’s the link to download February: https://flic.kr/p/2n1tdzm

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January 8, 2020 Duane Foerter0

Happy 2020! While the lodge is buttoned up for a long winter’s nap, we’re busy with plans to make our 30th season the best one ever!  As we look forward to an exciting year ahead, we’re most thankful for the great relationships we have with all members of what we call the QCL family. Sharing time and experiences together up at the Lodge is a privilege that we truly appreciate.

Totem House at QCLThe 2019 season was a very good one at QCL with memorable fishing, wonderful guests, terrific staff and mostly favourable weather. We’re well into the serious preparation phase for the 2020 season and the excitement level around here is definitely ramping up. Judging by the fantastic return bookings and the volume of new guests already committed to visit us this season, we’re going to have a very busy summer!

Members of our sales team are currently attending the annual Safari Club Convention in Dallas; look for Roger, Craig and Kevin at Booth #962.  We’ll be at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup later this month as well as the Portland show in February. At the same time we’ll be in Reno for the big Safari Club International show.  Space for 2020 have sold notably faster than “normal” so if you haven’t reserved your dates for this year you’d best not delay any longer!


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July 15, 2019 Duane Foerter0

WTF - Women that FishWell 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! WTF - Women that Fish

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!

Women that Fish - WTFAfter 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”


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August 6, 2018 Duane Foerter0

Well it’s early August and our new guests arrived in bright sunshine and blue skies this morning, excited and smiling at their good fortune.  With a forecast of light variable winds and favourable tides, they know they could be in for something very special this week.  We’ve recently experienced some ups and downs weather-wise and have certainly seen how it can affect the anglers’success.  Fortunately our track record is pretty solid and it’s very rare to get a “bad”weather day without getting a “good”one in return.

Our two most recent trips are good examples. Last week moderate to strong northwesterlies limited access to some of the fishing grounds over the first couple of days and the catch record confirmed it.  But along came Thursday and everything changed.  We got out early and enjoyed a full day of fantastic fishing, enjoying the whole of the grounds and catching lots of fish.  Everyone picked up some Chinooks and got into some nice Coho offshore.  Most had managed to get one halibut earlier in the week and practically everyone got out to get a second on Thursday.  There was a buzz in the dining room that night with the energy provided by a banner day on the water.

Exciting Chinook action at QCLOvernight the winds swung to southeast and threatened to corner everybody at Edenshaw for the weekend.  Our new guests arrived and headed out, prepared for what Mother Nature was about to serve up.  Friday weather turned out to be pretty moderate and we saw a very respectable catch on the dock that night.  Saturday was definitely the test and the eastern grounds were not rewarding us with many treasures.  Oh, there were fish caught, but there was considerable time between bites.  At dinner we shared a favourable forecast for Sunday and surely everyone went to bed with their fingers crossed!

At 6:00 am, dawn broke with a patchy blue sky and just a light breeze.  It was a quick breakfast for sure and everybody was on their way.  Once again, easy access to any of your favourite spots feels fantastic and every guide had a plan.  Tides were moderate but still a factor to plan around, whether fishing for salmon inshore or bottom fishing on the outside.  Over the course of the day the Fishmaster reported decent catches going on practically everywhere; not much chatter on the radio, everybody was busy!

The beautiful sunny weather and great fishing saw most anglers lingering on the water right until the 8:00 pm call. Meanwhile, back at the Bell Ringer, the totes were lined up out the door.  The atmosphere down there was electric with cheers, jeers and high-fives going off all the time.  We didn’t weigh any monsters last night but the bell was ringing pretty steadily for some 30-something Chinooks, teen-sized Coho and a few halibut just too big to bring home!  The last fish hit the scale at 10:34 pm and the dining room was busy well after that!

In most of our daily lives we’ve created a  world with few limitations; we can get pretty much anything we want when we want it.  Part of the appeal of the fishing adventure is that lack of control.  Just being out in a wild place and experiencing everything it has to offer –“good”and “bad”- is a huge attraction for many of us.  And here at the Lodge, we’re privileged to watch that story unfold day after day!


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May 17, 2018 Duane Foerter0
A few decades ago, it was all about catching a big fish. Most visitors to remote fishing resorts and lodges were only hooked on fishing; accommodations and amenities were barely a thought. Nowadays people come for the experience. In fact, some guests don’t even care if they catch a fish. Being there, immersing yourself in nature is reward enough.

Some resorts have no trouble baiting travelers angling for luxury. After you’ve been out on the briny blue, celebrating over cocktails with your new fishing chums, immerse yourself in a hot tub, tuck into chef-prepared superb cuisine with fine wines and then drift off under plump duvets and sheets made of the finest Egyptian cotton next to your private bathroom. Several fishing lodges are land-based, where you can stroll pristine sandy beaches, hike through old growth forest. Or spend the afternoon watching wildlife—whale sightings are the norm.

However, there’s nothing like the thrill of reeling in a big fish. For beginning anglers, a good day’s fishing can be a crapshoot, but not in the waters surrounding these resorts. The rugged shoreline of the Central Coast, the west coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii provide ideal habitat for vast shoals of baitfish. There are countless nooks and crannies for salmon, as well as gravel banks and pinnacles for halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. Snagging a salmon is more the rule than the exception – the resort guides know exactly where ocean fish are biting.

There are fishing lodges and resorts throughout B.C. that can provide all-inclusive packages– including accommodation, meals, fishing gear and service– to meet most budgets. Here are a few of B.C.’s finest…

Queen Charlotte Lodge, Haida Gwaii

This remote part of the world is a welcome escape from daily life, and Queen Charlotte Lodge (QCL), on the northern shores of Haida Gwaii in Naden Harbour, offers a unique mix of adventure and comfort, friendship and fun.

Once the site of an old whaling station, QCL sits on 20 acres, surrounded by old-growth forest and beachfront. It offers five different kinds of accommodation, from the main lodge with 24 rooms to private chalets with private chefs. While nowhere can guarantee that you’ll catch a fish, QCL guarantees you’ll never be hungry, and you’re spoilt for choice.

For instance, the main dining room offers three appetizers, six entrees and three desserts, with a big barbecue buffet the night you arrive. Variety kicks in at other venues:  Chef at the Buoy Teppanyaki House will prepare surf ‘n’ turf at your table, or maybe you prefer to hang out at the Bell Ringer and pick a lobster from the live tank after enjoying just-prepared salmon and albacore tuna sushi (all Ocean Wise) at the Kingfisher lounge…

A typical day:

4.30 a.m. Full-on breakfast in the main lodge or if you need to be on the water before dawn, cappuccino and breakfast sandwich to go at the dock.
6 a.m.: Catch 20lb chinook salmon
9 a.m.: Stop by the Driftwood (anchored on the fishing grounds) for a bathroom break, coffee and muffin.
11 a.m. -2 p.m.: BBQ lunch on the Driftwood, including salad bar, chowder and chili.
5 p.m.: Cocktails (go for the Twin Creek Smash) and pub snacks at the Bell Ringer, a social house with a weigh scale and excellent bartender. Here is where you tell stories and trade lies and your catch is weighed. Party central.
7 p.m.: Main lodge for dinner: Ponzu-cured Albacore or BC spot prawns followed by herb-crusted halibut and an extensive wine list.
9 p.m.:  Kingfisher Lounge downstairs with port and cheese or Irish Coffee around the fireplace.
Charters depart Fridays and Mondays from Vancouver to Masset for three- or four-night stays from June through August.  All-inclusive fly-in fishing packages start at $4,895.

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Jane MundyJANE MUNDY

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March 28, 2013 Duane Foerter0

Our 2013 season is almost full!

If you haven’t done it yet, now is definitely the time to plan that fishing trip you’ve been talking about! We’ve been booking up dates for 2013 since last summer and we’re pleased to say that it’s looking like a very busy season is ahead. Be sure to call soon to ensure that you don’t miss out! To make it easy here’s the 2013 Trip Calendar!

New for 2013 – GPS Chartplotter

In our constant effort to improve our fishing program we’re adding some great new technology to every boat in the fleet this summer. The Lowrance Elite 5 Combination Fishfinder Chartplotter is an easy-to-use tool that will assist QCL anglers in many ways. It features a built-in chart of our fishing area showing in detail all of the points and bays you’re looking for. The built-in GPS is a valuable navigation tool, especially when we’ve programmed in all of the key routes, waypoints and fishing hotspots throughout the fishing grounds! It’s wide coverage sonar capability shows more bait and fish, yet will still be accurate enough to show true depth, as well as bottom structure and fish holding near or on the bottom.Chartplotter

Longjaw’s Lesson – “Fishing with a Dummy”

QCL Dock Manager and Head Guide Ryan “LongJaw” Ashton heads our team of fishing pros and is always happy to share some great fishing advice!

No – we’re not talking about fishing with the buddy who left the drink cooler on the dock, forgot his license in his room, and knocked your fish off with the net! We’re talking about Dummy Flashers – hooking up a flasher to your downrigger cannonball, instead of running it on your main fishing line.  This setup allows all of the benefits of a flasher without the drag in the water which takes away much of the play of a fish.

When trolling with downriggers, flashers are used to attract salmon from greater distances where he is more likely to find your bait.  A rotating flasher gives off a flash of reflecting sunlight, and produces a vibration that is picked up by a salmon’s lateral line.  This flash and “sound” mimics the actions of a feeding salmon, and brings nearby fish closer to investigate.

If flashers have a downside, it is that they produce drag in the water against a fighting fish, often giving an undesirable feeling on the rod.  I even wondered if the fish can use this as leverage to pull a hook out of their mouth! This is where the dummy flasher setup really shines!  Connecting the flasher directly to the cannonball completely eliminates the drag when playing the fish.  All you have between the rod tip and the fish is a swivel and a hook – nothing to slow him down or impede the action.  It is amazing to feel every headshake!   Another advantage is you will not lose your flasher if a fish breaks off – it always remains attached to the cannonball.

Our custom downrigger setups at QCL are ready to fish with this technique.  Using the flashers and special lines included in your tacklebox, simply connect one end of the dummy flasher line to the narrow end of the flasher, and the other end to the eyelet of the cannonball.  Then carefully lower the ball and flasher into the water.  Let your bait out around 8 – 10 feet behind the boat, and connect the fishing line into the release clip.  The clip is already set at the proper distance above the ball to prevent tangles, but it is important to lower the entire rig at a controlled speed to avoid problems – don’t let it free fall!

I am completely convinced that flashers are effective at bringing fish in towards your gear – I can recall numerous occasions when salmon chased my flasher right up to the surface as the downrigger ball was retrieved.  I was able to drop my lure into the water in front of the fish, and watch them hit right before my eyes – what a rush!

If you want to give this flasher setup a try, just ask us our dock crew for more information.  We’ll get you geared up properly, and know you’ll love fishing with a dummy!

Look for our banner in downtown Calgary!

The response to our direct flights from Calgary in June has been very positive. Alberta anglers like having the ability to leave Calgary after breakfast and be hooked up with a Tyee at Bird 2 before lunch! We are getting a lot of enquiries from our Alberta guests who would like to fly direct to Masset from Calgary. We are always trying to improve our program and we have come up with a great solution. For this summer consider a couple of dates: June 7 – 10 and June 10 – 14. We can provide direct service between Calgary and Masset with our chartered 737 on these 2 trips. The response has already been so great we may need to look for additional dates. Be sure to give us a call to find out more and reserve your seats!

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Do you use tripadvisor.com in your travel planning?

We’re finding more and more of our guests use online services like tripadvisor.com when planning their travels. If you’ve ever used it in your own research you know that it can be a valuable resource in considering places to stay and things to do. QCL has a listing on their site and if you’re so inclined, please take a moment and share your thoughts! We’d appreciate it! To visit our page on Trip Advisor click here.