Haida Gwaii is a special place regardless of the spectacular wild steelhead fishing opportunities. The archipelago, floating off of the British Columbia coast, is comprised of around 350 islands and has been inhabited since the last ice age. The vast coastlines provide access for wild BC Steelhead in to numerous small to medium sized coastal rivers traversing their way through old growth forests; most of which are rarely fished or seen by anglers.
Your hosts, Epic Waters, operate some of the finest steelhead lodges in British Columbia, which is why we’ve been working with them since the late 80’s. Copper Bay Lodge is comfortably located on Morseby Island, and only accommodates four guests. It overlooks the infamous Hecate Strait and has you situated just a short drive from its most prolific fishery, the Copper River. It’s an incredible base camp, setting and place that by the time you leave; you’ll wish you’d have spent more time at.
The small coastal rivers that characterize Haida Gwaii take on large, wild BC steelhead in good numbers. Apart from the Yakoun, none of the waters are more than 35-minute drive from the lodge. Due to the proximity to the salt (often within a couple of miles) the steelhead here are chrome bright and likely to have never seen a fly or ever see one again. Fishing small runs and targeting buckets and holding water, anglers will fish winter steelhead flies often on shorter two-handed fly rods. This is a winter steelhead fishery though the rainforest weather is temperate and freezing temperatures and snow are possible though uncommon. On the other hand, the islands receive a ton of rain and it’s those rains that keep a steady stream of winter run steelhead moving into these tannin-stained rivers.
Tucked into a rainforest and overlooking a pristine beach and the Hecate Straight, CBL is a quaint and cozy lodge with exceptional cuisine and a thoughtful staff. The lodge only hosts four anglers per week with 4 single occupancy bedrooms and two shared bathrooms. Breakfasts are served sit-down or to-go depending on the day’s itinerary and lunches are served streamside a mid-day allowing anglers to quickly get back to swinging flies. After the fishing day, drinks and hor d’ourves are served by the fireplace prior to dinner served around 7PM or 8PM which consists of thoughtfully prepared, traditionally inspired cuisine.
For as remote and quiet as the lodge is, access & travel is straight forward. Anglers will fly to Vancouver, BC where they will connect on a short, domestic flight to Sandspit. Upon arrival, CBL guides will greet you for a quick transfer to the lodge; only 10 minutes away. With an early arrival, guests will settle in and tour the lodge before quickly heading out to fish the afternoon.
