Fly Fishing Vancouver Island

When you join us for your British Columbia fishing trip, you will experience a unique combination of B.C.'s finest steelhead fishing, salmon fishing, trout fishing, and halibut fishing. Enjoy superb fly-fishing, spinning, and/or our legendary saltwater salmon and bottomfish angling. Experience stunning wilderness scenery, abundant wildlife, and warm hospitality.

Fly Fishing A visiting fishing writer, describing one of our smaller streams wrote: .....I nearly gasped! There before me was the most picturesque pool one could ever imagine...This spot will be recorded in my memory banks as the single most beautiful pool I have ever had the pleasure to fish.

Our fly-fishing spots are located from a 20-50 minute boat ride from the lodge. Some of these spots require short to moderate hikes, so guests should have the appropriate physical mobility necessary to reach these locations.

Variety Our 100% catch and release streams, lakes, and rivers are, indeed, some of the most beautiful, productive, and unpressured waters you�ve never heard of. Our truck can take you to some fine lakes and streams on nearby Gilford Island. Fish small streams or bigger water, dry flies, or wet. Depending on the time of year, you�ll find yourself hooking summer or winter run steelhead, cutthroat trout, dolly varden char, a few rainbow trout, and chinook, silver, and pink salmon.

Experience Levels We have water and fishing opportunities to satisfy every skill level. Experienced anglers will appreciate the variety and challenges of the different streams and waters that we fish.

We are very pleased to provide fly tying and casting instruction to first-timers or beginning anglers. We�ve taught many a guest who had never touched a fly rod before. We�ll teach casting basics and have you (if you wish) tie a fly or two. Then we�ll go out on the water. More often than not, you�ll land your first fly-caught fish.

Small Streams Our guides will take you into lovely small streams where the sighting of another angler would be an extraordinary event. Tying into a leaping, twisting, running steelhead or silver salmon in a stream that you might be able to cross in two jumps is quite an angling thrill. Want a real challenge? Bring your 10 weight gear, fast sink tip line, a strong arm, and hook a 20-60 pound chinook salmon in a stream on a stripped fly. Landing that fish, however, is quite another matter.

Wakeman River If larger water is on your menu, you�ll want to take our full-day Wakeman River float trip. Designated as Classified Waters by the B.C. government, we are one of only two lodges authorized to fish the spectacularly beautiful and legendary Wakeman. Again, rarely will you see other anglers. Clear in the spring and turning to a striking jade green color in the mid and late summer, the Wakeman has very often been noted as the highlight of our guests� trip.

Your Wakeman day starts off with a 50 minute boat ride up lovely Kingcome Inlet. Then, a short truck ride up the river to your put-in spot. Starting off in a small tributary, you and your guide will raft and fish your way down the river through innumerable pools and runs. After hooking your fill of steelhead, salmon, trout, or dollies, (depending on the season) you�ll come back to the lodge for another great dinner.

Fly-In Fishing Should you want even more variety and excitement, with advance notice, floatplane and/or helicopter charters can be arranged (extra charges apply) that will take you right from the lodge to fish nearby pristine and rarely fished lakes and streams.

Fly Fishing Vancouver Island - Northeast Coast Of Vancouver Island
April This is the time for winter run steelhead, cutthroat, dollies, and the occasional rainbow trout. The gorgeous Wakeman River and our small streams offer some great fly-fishing for all these fish. Bring your 5 weight and 8 weight, some medium-fast sink tip line, and you�re in for some great fun. There is also plenty of great fishing for all these species for those fishing conventional (spin or casting) gear.

May Winter run steelhead and trout fishing continue throughout the month. The steelhead fishing does begin to taper off after the middle of the month. Trout fishing continues. We begin to be able to fish for sea-run cutthroats in the estuaries.

June Early June ings the end of the winter run steelhead fishing. However, if you�d like to prolong this season, take advantage of our optional fly-out fishing (helicopter or fixed wing) and chase those fish way back up the rivers! Trout fishing remains excellent in the lakes, rivers/streams, and estuaries. Mid-month ushers in the beginning of a modest and relatively short summer-run steelhead fishery. As with all of our freshwater locations, both fly and conventional fishing techniques are effective.

July Summer-run steelhead last until mid month. Again, our guests can extend this fishery later in the month with an optional fly-out trip. The cutthroats are growing fatter and feistier! In mid-July, the chinook salmon begin to enter the Wakeman River and its tributaries. Want a unique fly- fishing experience?? Bring your 10 weight, fast sink tip line, a strong arm, and hook 20-60 lb.+ chinook salmon on your stripped fly. Coho (silver) salmon also begin making their first appearances in the freshwater. Again, all of these fish can also be hooked on spinning or casting gear.

August Coho (silver) salmon are now in almost every river and stream that we fish. They�re big, chrome-ight, and very energetic. Your 8 weight fly rod, fast sinking line and weighted flies should be adequate for most of these fish. Resident and sea-run cutthroat trout fishing, as well as coho angling, is always a lot of fun on both fly gear and spinning gear.

September This is prime time for coho fishing on the fly. In the Wakeman River you�ll catch fish until your arms can�t take it any more on both fly and spinning gear. This is also a great time to try some saltwater fly-fishing for these leaping, twisting beauties. Estuary fly or spin fishing for sea-runs continues, and now they�re big and hungry.

October There will still be some coho and trout in the rivers and streams well into the middle of the month. Since the Bennetts are year-round residents, the lodge remains available to accommodate guests year-round. This is a great, private getaway for that special occasion or nature-watching trip.

The Lodge As you first land at the generous dock and walk into the lodge, you�ll be greeted by the lodge�s lovely scent of cedar. Lunch will be on the table shortly. At the end of your day of fishing, you�ll come home to a genuine B.C. floathouse, and to the relaxed and personal atmosphere that defines the Lodge. The fireplace will warm, a glass of your favorite beverage will relax you, and our fine and sumptuous food will satisfy. You�ll drift off to sleep hearing the sound of water lapping outside your window---quietly aware that tomorrow will ing new angling delights.

Using red and yellow cedar from the nearby forests, local craftsmen milled the lumber on site and worked together to build the Lodge. The lodge is cozily heated by a woodstove and has a generator to provide electricity (we turn it off for sleeping). Each private room has two beds and its own shower-equipped bathroom. There is also a kitchen, dining area, and a modest living room, all with spectacular views. We have an eclectic collection of CD�s, and an upright piano for those who like music during their time at the lodge. You�re also welcome to ing your own music (CD or cassette tapes) to set the mood of your trip. Finally, the lodge is wheelchair accessible.

Food & Drink We believe that providing ample, high quality, and delicious food adds to the overall pleasure of your visit. Meals are served and cooked family-style. Our cooks will delight you with both the quality and quantity of food. Of course, we have famous British Columbia seafood delicacies: fresh crab, prawns, salmon and halibut. Dependable refrigeration and good access to fresh produce ensure both variety and quality of meat and produce. So, you may find homemade soup, prime rib, lamb, fresh salads, pasta, and vegetables on any given night. We also do much of our own baking. Award winning Okanogan Valley and imported wines, beer, and other beverages are also provided.

If you�re going to be out fishing all day, we�ll make sure that there is a generous supply of food and hot and cold drinks on the boat. You can certainly request any preferred foods in advance of your visit. We will also be able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. Again, just let us know in advance or by filling out our guest preferences worksheet.

Party size Parties of six will have exclusive use of the lodge. The lodge�s maximum capacity is 6 adult guests.

Environment Framed by the rugged mountains of the Coast Range to the east and beautiful Vancouver Island to the west, the wilderness area that surrounds the Lodge is spectacular. Vertical rock walls plunge into the ocean and 5,000+ foot mountains ood over inlets and fjords. A rich variety of wildlife is experienced each day of your visit. Untouched streams tumble through lovely rich forests to join the saltwater. The scent of cedar is borne on the eezes.

Other interesting sights and activities will keep you occupied in your non-fishing hours. Explore pristine saltwater lagoons, or go whale or bird watching. Have a long picnic lunch in the Burdwoods�one of the most unique and loveliest spots on the West Coast. Perhaps just enjoy curling up with a good book in front of the lodge�s cozy woodstove.

April through October

View our month-by month description on the left.

*Special Package
July 1-10th.  Fly-fishing/heli fishing special.  Pick any 6 nights.  For the serious and fit fly fisherman. Six nights,  including one day of heli-fishing and the full day Wakeman River float trip.  Fish our wonderful small streams and larger rivers for summer-run steelhead, trout, dollies and early coho.  This is also THE time to try your hand at fly fishing for big chinooks in the Wakeman River and tributaries.

Package prices quoted above are per person, are in US dollars, and are based on minimum of four guests. Rates for your trip include unlimited fishing, nature-watching, or sightseeing time, VAT and other taxes, licenses, tackle, bait, fuel, food, drink (beer, soft drinks, & wine), lodging, and guide fees. Airfare, other transportation fees to the lodge, and gratuities are not included.