Featured : PEREGRINE LODGE

There can come a time in your life to seek out an adventure like no other. To visit a wonderful, new land, steeped in history.  A rugged and majestic location, rich in wildlife, like no other place on earth. A chance to sample some of the finest big game sport fishing in the world. For those who want it all, there can only be one place... Peregrine Lodge, in the spectacular Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.

Your adventure begins with a scenic flight from Vancouver to Masset, near the northern tip of Haida Gwaii. From there you will board a helicopter for a short ride to the paradise known as Naden Harbour, home to Peregrine Lodge. Landing at the lodge is just the first of many exciting moments to come, as you realize that your dream of hooking a trophy Salmon is just beginning.

Soon after you exit the helicopter you realize that Peregrine Lodge is truly an all inclusive experience. A quick visit to the “dry room” will see you fitted for your rain gear and boots then it’s off to your room to get settled in. The accommodation at Peregrine is casual and relaxing while still providing all the comforts you expect. While relaxing in your room is an option the main lodge is where you will find most of your fellow fishermen. You can order your favorite beverage from the full service bar and relax in the lounge or on one of the decks outside. Perhaps you would like to burn off some energy with a game of pitch and putt on the golf area in front of the main lodge or shoot a game of pool in the well appointed games room. Of course you are welcome to just pass the time exchanging fishing stories with old friends or new acquaintances!

The next great experience at Peregrine Lodge comes as you are invited to dinner. The executive chef and his staff provide a wide array of five star dining choices including long standing favorites like prime rib, lamb, chicken, and of course west coast seafood staples such as salmon, halibut and prawns, all done in a unique style based on his years of experience as a certified red-seal chef. While dinner each night is spectacular, the breakfast and lunch options are equally impressive. Each morning you will be served a hearty choice of cereals, fresh fruit, as well as a wide variety of breakfast entrée’s. Lunch to take on the boat includes a choice of sandwiches and wraps, hot soup, veggies and snacks, as well as hot and cold beverages. Oh, and just in case your mouth isn’t watering enough, each day when you return from fishing there awaits an array of appetizers to enjoy, such as Dungeness crab, prawns, and smoked salmon. Just when you start to think that all the great food and spectacular scenery makes the trip worthwhile all on its own, a brief orientation on what to expect when you go fishing the next day reminds you that there are more great things to come!

As you are greeted by your well trained and professional guide the next morning, you quickly realize that you’re “once in a lifetime” experience is just beginning. The boat ride from scenic Naden Harbour to the fishing grounds revs up the anticipation of what lies ahead. The shoreline leading into Naden Harbour provides many areas proven to produce great numbers of Salmon, including both, Chinook (King) and Coho (Silver) as well as Halibut, Ling Cod and a variety of rock fish. Each year, these waters produce many salmon over 30 pounds, referred to as a Tyee, with some weighing as much as 70 pounds. In fact, the record for a Chinook salmon at Peregrine Lodge was broken just last season with a weight of 76 pounds! The well equipped boats are comfortable and designed with both safety and fishing in mind. A quick orientation from your guide will help your understand the techniques involved in what is known as cut plug fishing with herring, how to set the hook once a fish bites, and how to play a fresh and powerful Salmon on a single action mooching reel…A staple of west coast Salmon fishing.

Once your guide has created the perfect roll in the bait he will let out just the right amount of line, place the rod in the holder and the wait begins. Soon a watchful eye will detect a slight tap at the end of the line. You give a little line to the fish then pull the rod from the holder. You wait patiently. Perhaps there is another small tap. You feed the fish a bit more line. You can feel it eating the bait. All of a sudden your rod tip bends toward the water and you feel something heavy where once, was a light tap. You set the hook and feel a mighty pull. The guide yells “let it go” and you quickly move your fingers away from the handles on your reel which are spinning backward at amazing speed as your powerful Chinook salmon takes what could be the first of many screaming runs. As you battle this mighty game fish your guide offers expert advice until you finally wear the fish down so he can net it. After a little shouting and high fives from your fishing buddy, you sit down and realize that you have just done something that very few people on earth have experienced and you can’t wait for the next one.

Back at the lodge, you share the many stories of your great day on the water while yet again enjoying all the great food and amenities Peregrine Lodge has to offer. If you’re muscles are a little sore, you may want to spend some time in the hot tub or really spoil yourself with a relaxing massage, provided by a professional massage practioner, which you can book through guest services. As the day winds down you think to yourself that it doesn’t get any better than this, but with next morning’s wake up call comes the chance to relive your “once in a lifetime” experience all over again!

Peregrine Lodge greatly values the preservation of wild Salmon stocks. While guests are welcome to take home their allowed limit of fish, Peregrine offers an optional catch and release program for their guests. They back up their commitment by offering a chance at free trips to those guests that participate. It is their way of saying thank you to those who value the chance for the next generation to enjoy this great fishery as much as they do.

You are invited to enjoy all that Peregrine Lodge has to offer by visiting www.peregrinelodge.com . You’re once in lifetime opportunity awaits.