Note: this buck had some battle scars with the seals on the shoulder and a good chunk off the tail

November is around the corner and soon before you know it STEELHEAD SEASON will bestow on us. For many of us who have this addiction, there are serveral options around the Fraser Valley to go to satisfy your addictions, but if you have a really bad case of "greaselining" fever, consider checking yourself into steelhead rehab clinic at Masset House. This year, we are expecting strong runs of eager wild fish coming back into the local rivers. Currently, there are still some spots in Nov but will be gone pretty soon. Febuary will be the next exclusive date available to four or five lucky anglers.

For those who do not know, you can catch us on the reality series "The Lodge" filmed at Queen Charlotte Lodge, premiering on December 4th 2009 at WFN, the World Fishing Network. This is a 13 hr part series showing viewers what goes on behind the scenes at a remote fishing lodge in their daily routines. I am not sure what is filmed and aired, but there will be lots of explaining to do when my wife sees it.

For more information on the show and fishing trips, please give us a call at 1 800 688-8959

Fall is here and you can definately feel it in the air and the weather has been blustery with the occasional downpour. The fall freshet has been the cause of fluctuating water levels in the local rivers and bringing in waves of returning salmon trying to reach their spawning grounds. Fishing for cohos has been spectacular during incoming tides, which pushes them up river, into the froggy pools especially around the Tell area. For the salmon, they are at the end of their lifecycle completing a tireless, long and dangerous journey to and from the Pacific Ocean.

In a months time, we should see the first wave of Oncorhynchus Mykiss or better know as the steelhead , enter into the river systems to spawn. For most of us river fishermen, this is the time to get ready for the ultimate freshwater game fish and head out to the local rivers in search of the hard fighting, long searing run and elusive fish. This year, Masset House is again opening up to anglers who are serious about pursuing these chrome bullets on the local rivers and enjoying all the hospitality and amenities we are famous for. If you are interested in booking the ultimate freshwater fishing trip, please call us at 1 800 688-8959 for more information.

Well that's it for the 2009 season.  Our last group of guests departed on the big S-61 today leaving us crew standing in awe of the beautiful morning light shining here in Naden Harbour.  It's been particularly pleasant weather this season at QCL.  Although we did have a couple of big gales in August we really had very few bad weather days throughout the summer.  Guests departing today enjoyed pretty good fishing too with a new run of Chinooks appearing over the last few days to provide some extra fishing excitement.  While there were a few Tyees taken in the mid 30's the bulk of the catch was made up Cohos averaging 10 pounds and feeder Springs in the 18 - 22 pound class, perfect filets for the dining table.  Comfortable water conditions brought lots of Lingcod & Halibut to the dock as well. 
 

Now a crew of about 30 are spending the next week cleaning & packing everything up, doing the inventories, and getting the lodge ready for the long winter break.  The dock crew will take a couple of additional weeks to de-rig all the boats, winterize the barge floats and reposition everything in protection from the winter southeasterlies.  The Driftwood will depart on Sunday on her southbound journey to winter moorage in the Fraser River. 

Some of us will return to the Richmond office and adapt to a much more rigorous commute than we've had these past 3 1/2 months.  Many others will head out on travel adventures around the globe, making the most of their newfound freedom and friendships.  Some will resume their studies in colleges and universities across the country.  They're a great bunch, our QCL staff, who've helped make this trip of a lifetime a most memorable success for our guests.  We'd like to say thanks to all them and wish them the very best in the year ahead!

As we approach our final trip of the 2009 season we're looking forward to some great weather and fishing.  QCL anglers have found a good mix of Coho and Chinook salmon throughout the grounds, especially in the deeper waters slightly offshore from the traditional hotspots.  Fishing down 75 feet in 180 feet of water has been producing some good Chinook action while the Coho are found in the upper 30 feet of the same waters.  While most of the Chinooks right now are in the low 20's we're still seeing some nice Tyees at the dock.  The big fish of the trip so far hit Gerry Charette's cut plug late in the day Saturday and, after a good hard battle it came to the net and finally weighed in at 46 pounds.  The Humpback whales have been putting on quite a show this weekend, thrilling everyone with some aerial displays and lots of feeding and playing going on.
The weather is forecast to be mainly light variable winds throughout the next week with a decent chance of some sunshine every day.  Tide ranges are bumping up again to about 12 feet as we approach the full moon on Friday. 

The weekend trip started off with a bang on Friday with 3 nice heavy Tyees coming to the dock on the first night. Although Chinook fishing has been challenging lately, the rewards are definitely there. Longtime Driftwood angler Stan Saibil boated a beautiful 35 pounder while Jonathan Wyman arrived with a nice 38.  And Odd Edstrand landed a deep-sided Tyee weighing in at 39 pounds to claim top honours so far!  While fishing with QCL guide Kevin Clough, Conrad Huber chose to release a good fish today at Green Point, which taped out to 32 pounds. A new run of Chinooks are showing up these days and many of them are being taken on cut plugs fished fairly deep, 45-55 feet in 90 feet of water. Coho are spread out and are being picked up all over the grounds. Watching for bird action and bait balls is giving anglers their best chance at excellent Coho action, especially in the offshore waters traditionally used for Halibut fishing.  Out on the Halibut grounds, guide Jeff Smirfitt hauled a 93 lb. "barn door" into the boat for guest Emile Sabol Jr..  The weather forecast for the upcoming week is calling for southeasterlies and grey skies so we'll be checking out the action at Cape Edenshaw for sure! The tides are moderating now and swings will range from 4 to 9 feet by mid week.

Comfortably flat water conditions are making the whole fishing grounds available to lodge anglers these days and they're taking advantage of it.  Halibut are readily being picked up in waters 150 - 180 feet deep with Coho hitting herring and anchovies at all depths.  Sizes are ranging all over the map but most Coho caught are still 9-10 pounds spiced up with a few 12-15 pounders.  The current southwesterly wind conditions are giving us lots of glassy water so the bucktail anglers are in heaven with solid exciting topwater action.  Chinook salmon are still lurking around the help beds off the traditional points.  Bird Rock 1 and Parker Point are the most consistent producers this weekend with several nice Springs coming out of these two spots.  The newest member of the QCL 50 Pounder Club is Ryan Wenzinger who, fishing with his Dad Mike, boated a perfect 50 pound specimen at Bird 1 this morning.  Congratulations Ryan & Mike - that's a gorgeous fish!
Looking ahead to the coming week we're expecting the southwesterlies to continue thru Monday followed by a swing to moderate northwesterlies by Tuesday afternoon. Those northwesterlies generally come with clear skies and warmer temperatures so the staff will be very happy to soak it up.  A new moon on Thursday means big tide changes (to 16 feet) again this week so those slack periods will be shorter and more critical for fishing success!

QCL fishing has been steady this week with lots of great Coho action throughout the grounds and enough really big Chinooks around to keep everyone well inspired.  Coho have been especially active around the morning high tide and now are being picked up out in the deeper waters traditionally reserved for the Halibut fishing.  Beautiful silver bullets to 15 pounds are being taken regularly at 20 pulls while bottom fishing in addition to the normal trolling results.  Lots of nice Halibut are around as well at depths around 150 - 180 feet.  Chinook fishing continues to test the metal of most lodge anglers; there are a good number of big beautiful Tyees being caught but we have had to work for them.  Chris Curley started the week off with a bang, boating a nice 42 pounder at Parker Pt. while Lynn Bigelow bagged a 39.  Jordan Rice's Dad Bob netted a bright silver 40 pounder for him and today he returned the favour, helping Bob to bring a stunning 42 pounder into the boat.  QCL guide Kevin Clough boated a nice 42 pound Tyee as well for angler John Pfahl Wednesday, which John opted to release.  Congratulations John and thanks for letting that big one go! John will receive his own custom copy of our new QCL book, Thrill of the Catch as a special keepsake.  On the Halibut front, Totem House guest Peter Nicholson earned a well-deserved rest after reeling in a massive 121 pounder while fishing with guide Terry Laboucane, adding his name to the QCL 100 Pounder Club trophy.  That's quite a fish guys - well done!
The weekend weather looks like mainly cloudy skies with moderate southwesterlies rolling in.  No mention of precipitation though so it should be great out on the grounds with mostly flat seas and moderate tide swings.