Lodge News
January 19 - 2012 - New Year's Resolutions & Trip Discount
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Resolution One, "Spend more time with family". Simon & daughter Shayna
with their trophy chinook.
WHALES
Speaking of escapes ... we just returned from a family holiday in Mexico. It was so nice to get out of the snow here in Canada for a few weeks and get some sand between our toes. And no we didn't have any encounters with the Banditos, but we did have a bunch of humpback whale encounters. We never did go out on the boat tour to see them as we see so many in Rivers Inlet each summer and they were easily spotted from the beach breaching offshore. In never ceases to amaze me that these giant beasts swim all the way down from Rivers Inlet to Mexico in the winter and then back to visit us in the summer. It felt like we were following them to their winter get-away.
Both Gray and Humpback Whales are sited in Rivers Inlet each summer, but they are often hard to tell apart. There are some humpback whale facts at a link at the bottom of this page.
Humpback whales working as a group to feed on Krill. Amazing!
THE THREE STAGES OF FISHING
There is something about fishing that differentiates it from other popular sports like golf or skiing. Mainly it is the huge luck factor. You go out prepared and informed but that is only a part of it. You have to have luck on your side to be successful. This "mystique" is why fishing is one of the more popular pastimes in today's high tech modern society. Anyone can be lucky so hence that "unknown" that keeps anglers coming back for more. This "you just never know" factor is definitely at play in Rivers Inlet where at any moment your rod can double over under the weight of a monster trophy salmon.
As an angler evolves in their fishing career
they go through three distinct stages....
Stage 1
They are excited about the new sport and want to have a bunch of different types of fishing experiences and catch different fish.
Stage 2
They decide on a specific type of fishing and they dedicate themselves
to catching the "BIG ONE".
Stage 3
There comes a realization to the angler that even with expert skill and preparation they still may not be successful. At this stage they let luck take over and lose all emotional connection with the pursuit of the fish. They are genuinely content to just be out there in the great outdoors and not cleaning the garage or cutting the lawn on their time off.
Watermen are a superstitious bunch.
See the link on the legend of NO bananas in the boat below.
GUEST TESTIMONIALS
Hello Barbara, Simon, Cathy and the Crew,
I enjoyed my trip to your beautiful place, The fishing was great! And your hospitality was outstanding, the facilities and the boats were excellent, the equipment and the guides you provided were the best. I have been talking to everyone I know since I have gotten back and have highly recommended that they take the trip to go and visit you.
Wish you all the best in the future. JN - Toronto Ontario.
LINKS
New Years Resolutions Doomed to Fail?
Humpback Whale Facts
Marine Mammal Guide
No Bananas On The Boat!
Book now for the 2012 fishing season
& get the best choice of dates and the best pricing.
All the best from Simon, Barbara, Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Crew!
Resolution One, "Spend more time with family". Simon & daughter Shayna
with their trophy chinook.
We hope that you all enjoyed some fabulous time over the holidays with friends and family and that you are settling back into the "groove" so to speak.
How about those New Year's resolutions? Did you make any? Are you keeping them? I know that one of mine was to spend more time with family doing fun things outside and not staring at a electronic screen of some sort. Turning my phone off on family outings and not texting when I am meant to be engaging with other people.
We at the Sportsman's Club want to help to keep these sort of resolutions that many of us have made so we are making it more affordable by extending our offer of a $400/trip discount into the New Year.
Planning ahead is one of the best ways to keep your resolutions. If you have not already done so, book your trip now with the Sportsman's Club for the 2012 fishing season. We don't have cell service in Rivers Inlet but we have the lodge "lit up" with WiFi. So, if you want/need to be in touch during your fishing trip you can.
We at the Sportsman's Club want to help to keep these sort of resolutions that many of us have made so we are making it more affordable by extending our offer of a $400/trip discount into the New Year.
Planning ahead is one of the best ways to keep your resolutions. If you have not already done so, book your trip now with the Sportsman's Club for the 2012 fishing season. We don't have cell service in Rivers Inlet but we have the lodge "lit up" with WiFi. So, if you want/need to be in touch during your fishing trip you can.
For those of you who want to "switch off" the real world for a few days and enjoy the chance to truly escape, pristine, natural Rivers Inlet is your place.
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| One... Expectation | Two... Anticipation | Three... Elation! |
WHALES
Speaking of escapes ... we just returned from a family holiday in Mexico. It was so nice to get out of the snow here in Canada for a few weeks and get some sand between our toes. And no we didn't have any encounters with the Banditos, but we did have a bunch of humpback whale encounters. We never did go out on the boat tour to see them as we see so many in Rivers Inlet each summer and they were easily spotted from the beach breaching offshore. In never ceases to amaze me that these giant beasts swim all the way down from Rivers Inlet to Mexico in the winter and then back to visit us in the summer. It felt like we were following them to their winter get-away.
Both Gray and Humpback Whales are sited in Rivers Inlet each summer, but they are often hard to tell apart. There are some humpback whale facts at a link at the bottom of this page.
Humpback whales working as a group to feed on Krill. Amazing!
THE THREE STAGES OF FISHING
There is something about fishing that differentiates it from other popular sports like golf or skiing. Mainly it is the huge luck factor. You go out prepared and informed but that is only a part of it. You have to have luck on your side to be successful. This "mystique" is why fishing is one of the more popular pastimes in today's high tech modern society. Anyone can be lucky so hence that "unknown" that keeps anglers coming back for more. This "you just never know" factor is definitely at play in Rivers Inlet where at any moment your rod can double over under the weight of a monster trophy salmon.
As an angler evolves in their fishing career
they go through three distinct stages....
Stage 1
They are excited about the new sport and want to have a bunch of different types of fishing experiences and catch different fish.
Stage 2
They decide on a specific type of fishing and they dedicate themselves
to catching the "BIG ONE".
Stage 3
There comes a realization to the angler that even with expert skill and preparation they still may not be successful. At this stage they let luck take over and lose all emotional connection with the pursuit of the fish. They are genuinely content to just be out there in the great outdoors and not cleaning the garage or cutting the lawn on their time off.
Watermen are a superstitious bunch.
See the link on the legend of NO bananas in the boat below.
GUEST TESTIMONIALS
Hello Barbara, Simon, Cathy and the Crew,
I enjoyed my trip to your beautiful place, The fishing was great! And your hospitality was outstanding, the facilities and the boats were excellent, the equipment and the guides you provided were the best. I have been talking to everyone I know since I have gotten back and have highly recommended that they take the trip to go and visit you.
Wish you all the best in the future. JN - Toronto Ontario.
LINKS
New Years Resolutions Doomed to Fail?
Humpback Whale Facts
Marine Mammal Guide
No Bananas On The Boat!
Book now for the 2012 fishing season
& get the best choice of dates and the best pricing.
All the best from Simon, Barbara, Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Crew!
December 13, 2011 - Season's Greetings!
We are celebrating our 29th fishing season in 2012...
November 22, 2011 - Happy Thanksgiving!
Long-time guest Keith Reynolds and guide Joey looking very "thankful"
with a chrome bright 30 lbs. chinook salmon.
We have so much to be thankful for...
In Canada we celebrated Thanksgiving last month and this weekend is our American friends' turn. What blessed lives that we all lead with freedoms that we often take for granted. Thanksgiving is a time to take a moment and reflect on our fabulous existence.
HATCHERY UPDATE
A few weeks back our crew of dedicated anglers were up at the Head of Rivers Inlet in one of the three main Rivers that feeds Rivers Inlet, the Wannock River. The purpose was to get the eggs and milk from the spawning salmon to hatch some babies for our private hatchery that is funded by our Lodge Association. Not only were they battling these might Rivers Inlet chinook salmon on rod and reel they were battling the stormy fall weather.
There were several BIG females taken including this 48 lbs. salmon that you can see pictured below. In just 2 days the crew estimated that they were able to harvest over 300,000 eggs which they mixed with the milk and are incubating right now at the hatchery. They figure that the run was stronger this year by the numbers of fish they encountered. We know that from the summer of great fishing that we have at the mouth of Rivers Inlet. The crew will have a better idea of the size of the run when they do the "head pitch count" in a few weeks. Counting the dead salmon carcasses on the river bank is another good way to estimate the number of fish that have returned.
Thanks to all of you who supported our hatchery this year
by purchasing tickets in the hatchery derby.
Phil Mudge, Todd Driediger, Kevin Midwood & guide Peter - 54lbs. halibut.
A THANKFUL WHALE
We are all very lucky to have had many whale encounters in Rivers Inlet each summer but here is a great whale tale ...
According to local news coverage, it all began on Sunday, December 11, 2005, when a fisherman spotted a 50-ton humpback whale tangled up in crab trap lines off the Marin County coast in northern California. His call for help was answered by the Marin Marine Mammal Center, which dispatched a group of Coast Guard divers and whale experts to the site near the Farallon Islands to free the animal.
The rescue operation was both difficult and dangerous. Crew members found the whale entwined in some 20 ropes, each 240 feet long and wrapped so tight they were slicing into its flesh. The lines had to be cut by hand, which required diving perilously close to the whale and its powerful tail. It took about an hour, and no one was injured.
In interviews with reporters, some of the divers remarked on the whale's "affectionate" behavior. One said the creature watched and seemed to wink at him as he was cutting a line that went through its mouth. Once freed, the whale began circling and approached the divers one by one to "nuzzle" them. "You hate to anthropomorphize too much," Mick Menigoz told the San Francisco Chronicle, "but the whale was doing little dives and the guys were rubbing shoulders with it. I don't know for sure what it was thinking, but it's something that I will always remember. It was just too cool."
Book now for the 2012 fishing season
& get the best choice of dates and the best pricing.
All the best from Simon, Barbara Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Crew!
with a chrome bright 30 lbs. chinook salmon.
We have so much to be thankful for...
In Canada we celebrated Thanksgiving last month and this weekend is our American friends' turn. What blessed lives that we all lead with freedoms that we often take for granted. Thanksgiving is a time to take a moment and reflect on our fabulous existence.
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| This 48 lbs. monster was the biggest female of the brood stock take. | The hatchery crew and their impressive catch of chinook salmon. |
Extracting the eggs from one of the females, primitive but effective. |
A few weeks back our crew of dedicated anglers were up at the Head of Rivers Inlet in one of the three main Rivers that feeds Rivers Inlet, the Wannock River. The purpose was to get the eggs and milk from the spawning salmon to hatch some babies for our private hatchery that is funded by our Lodge Association. Not only were they battling these might Rivers Inlet chinook salmon on rod and reel they were battling the stormy fall weather.
There were several BIG females taken including this 48 lbs. salmon that you can see pictured below. In just 2 days the crew estimated that they were able to harvest over 300,000 eggs which they mixed with the milk and are incubating right now at the hatchery. They figure that the run was stronger this year by the numbers of fish they encountered. We know that from the summer of great fishing that we have at the mouth of Rivers Inlet. The crew will have a better idea of the size of the run when they do the "head pitch count" in a few weeks. Counting the dead salmon carcasses on the river bank is another good way to estimate the number of fish that have returned.
Thanks to all of you who supported our hatchery this year
by purchasing tickets in the hatchery derby.
Phil Mudge, Todd Driediger, Kevin Midwood & guide Peter - 54lbs. halibut.
A THANKFUL WHALE
We are all very lucky to have had many whale encounters in Rivers Inlet each summer but here is a great whale tale ...
According to local news coverage, it all began on Sunday, December 11, 2005, when a fisherman spotted a 50-ton humpback whale tangled up in crab trap lines off the Marin County coast in northern California. His call for help was answered by the Marin Marine Mammal Center, which dispatched a group of Coast Guard divers and whale experts to the site near the Farallon Islands to free the animal.
The rescue operation was both difficult and dangerous. Crew members found the whale entwined in some 20 ropes, each 240 feet long and wrapped so tight they were slicing into its flesh. The lines had to be cut by hand, which required diving perilously close to the whale and its powerful tail. It took about an hour, and no one was injured.
In interviews with reporters, some of the divers remarked on the whale's "affectionate" behavior. One said the creature watched and seemed to wink at him as he was cutting a line that went through its mouth. Once freed, the whale began circling and approached the divers one by one to "nuzzle" them. "You hate to anthropomorphize too much," Mick Menigoz told the San Francisco Chronicle, "but the whale was doing little dives and the guys were rubbing shoulders with it. I don't know for sure what it was thinking, but it's something that I will always remember. It was just too cool."
Book now for the 2012 fishing season
& get the best choice of dates and the best pricing.
All the best from Simon, Barbara Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Crew!
Thanks for Another Fabulous Season!
Eric Berger and wife Keeley very excited about boating yet another trophy chinook salmon.
We are now back in our winter offices after another exciting and successful summer on the water. The camp has been towed to our winter moorage in Sunshine Bay across the Inlet and the fishing season seems like a lifetime ago already.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our guests old & new for joining us at the Sportsman's Club. As the first snow flakes of the fall settle on the ground outside of my office in Whistler, I think back fondly of all the great adventures that we had.
The weather was cooler than normal but the fishing action was red hot through most of the summer. Many of our guests caught their limit of salmon and some caught their quota quite early in the trip. I have never had to spend so much time in the dining room at meal times giving seminars ... not on fishing ... but on how to count to 8 (your take home limit of salmon).
The New Regime ...
I must say that I was the last to convert to using the down-riggers since we introduced them as another weapon in our fishing arsenal back in Summer 2010.
I, like many of our long time guests, preferred to use our tried and proven method of mooching (slow trolling) near the surface using light weight and a cut plug herring. However, there was a time when it "happened" for me one July morning this summer out at the nearby Dome Rock. I had 5 young kids in the boat, my 3 children and 2 of their visiting friends and our dog Chester. We were fishing alongside another boat that was a bit further off-shore and obviously fishing a bit deeper with the down-riggers. Over a 2 hour period I watched as they caught 11 fish ... released 3 and the guide kept the 4 for each guest. We didn't even get a bite during that time. My 10 year old daughter, Rory, looked up at me and said ... "Daddy ... I think that it is time to start using those funny things." Sure enough, the next time we went out fishing, we used the down-riggers and we caught 12 fish in 3 hours using a white hoochie at 69 feet ...
I was sold. However, it's not all down-riggers at the Sportsman's Club as we mix up the style of fishing according to where the fish are - deep or shallow or both. As usual, the biggest fish of the season were caught mooching at the Wall with herring.
The kids the day Simon converted to down-rigger fishing ... we released 4 others!
Guest Testimonial
We are now back in our winter offices after another exciting and successful summer on the water. The camp has been towed to our winter moorage in Sunshine Bay across the Inlet and the fishing season seems like a lifetime ago already.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our guests old & new for joining us at the Sportsman's Club. As the first snow flakes of the fall settle on the ground outside of my office in Whistler, I think back fondly of all the great adventures that we had.
The weather was cooler than normal but the fishing action was red hot through most of the summer. Many of our guests caught their limit of salmon and some caught their quota quite early in the trip. I have never had to spend so much time in the dining room at meal times giving seminars ... not on fishing ... but on how to count to 8 (your take home limit of salmon).
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| The "magic" moment as Simon deftly nets a trophy chinook salmon. | Si Ratliff 46lbs. halibut with Van Peacry & Crew. | Warren McPherson and a classic chrome bright Rivers Inlet coho. |
The New Regime ...
I must say that I was the last to convert to using the down-riggers since we introduced them as another weapon in our fishing arsenal back in Summer 2010.
I, like many of our long time guests, preferred to use our tried and proven method of mooching (slow trolling) near the surface using light weight and a cut plug herring. However, there was a time when it "happened" for me one July morning this summer out at the nearby Dome Rock. I had 5 young kids in the boat, my 3 children and 2 of their visiting friends and our dog Chester. We were fishing alongside another boat that was a bit further off-shore and obviously fishing a bit deeper with the down-riggers. Over a 2 hour period I watched as they caught 11 fish ... released 3 and the guide kept the 4 for each guest. We didn't even get a bite during that time. My 10 year old daughter, Rory, looked up at me and said ... "Daddy ... I think that it is time to start using those funny things." Sure enough, the next time we went out fishing, we used the down-riggers and we caught 12 fish in 3 hours using a white hoochie at 69 feet ...
I was sold. However, it's not all down-riggers at the Sportsman's Club as we mix up the style of fishing according to where the fish are - deep or shallow or both. As usual, the biggest fish of the season were caught mooching at the Wall with herring.
The kids the day Simon converted to down-rigger fishing ... we released 4 others!
Guest Testimonial
In life, when a person has an experience which is more than memorable, it is only natural to pass on this experience to others. From the time when we got on the plane in Vancouver, BC, until we landed at Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club in the de Havilland Beaver, a legendary plane that built Canada's north, we knew this trip was going to be an experience to remember.
Met by an energetic staff, getting settled was quick and everyone was greeted like a best friend. Over the next few days, even though mother nature was not on her best behavior with a little rain & fog, everyone always had a cheery smile and always asking if we needed any help. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the guides, Pete, Toby, Griff & Joey for their expertise and patience as this was our first salmon fishing trip. Also, thanks to the dock boys who kept the boats clean & stocked every time we arrived back from out on the water. And last but not least, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to chef Dave & his staff for the tasty meals & snacks; and to the girls who kept the premises spotless, & as always greeting you with a smile, & waiting to give a helping hand with whatever you may need.
Throughout our trip, we caught a few chinook & a few coho, & even a ling cod & rock cod to take home. And, we let a few go, you know the old saying, 'Let it go and let it grow'. The wildlife that we saw was an experience to remember: Eagles, sea lions, humpback whales, all kinds of water fowl, the tidal waters in and out, are an extraordinary memory. We met people from all over the world at the Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club: Germany, England, the Netherlands and the USA. This in itself reflects what an A-1 class establishment that RISC is.
We will be returning to RISC someday to have I'm sure another extraordinary adventure. Until then, keep up the good work, for every effort of hard work was never unnoticed and always appreciated.
Met by an energetic staff, getting settled was quick and everyone was greeted like a best friend. Over the next few days, even though mother nature was not on her best behavior with a little rain & fog, everyone always had a cheery smile and always asking if we needed any help. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the guides, Pete, Toby, Griff & Joey for their expertise and patience as this was our first salmon fishing trip. Also, thanks to the dock boys who kept the boats clean & stocked every time we arrived back from out on the water. And last but not least, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to chef Dave & his staff for the tasty meals & snacks; and to the girls who kept the premises spotless, & as always greeting you with a smile, & waiting to give a helping hand with whatever you may need.
Throughout our trip, we caught a few chinook & a few coho, & even a ling cod & rock cod to take home. And, we let a few go, you know the old saying, 'Let it go and let it grow'. The wildlife that we saw was an experience to remember: Eagles, sea lions, humpback whales, all kinds of water fowl, the tidal waters in and out, are an extraordinary memory. We met people from all over the world at the Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club: Germany, England, the Netherlands and the USA. This in itself reflects what an A-1 class establishment that RISC is.
We will be returning to RISC someday to have I'm sure another extraordinary adventure. Until then, keep up the good work, for every effort of hard work was never unnoticed and always appreciated.
Sincerely, Warren L. McPherson, Edmonton, AB.
Again, thanks to all our 2011 guests ... we look forward to seeing you in 2012
as well as many of you who did not make it this past summer.
It is never too early to book and mark your fishing trip dates on the calendar (before the company picnic or family reunion). At this time of year we have secured all our yearly regular re-bookings and we have the best choice of available dates for new bookings. Warren McPherson did not delay in booking his return trip, he & his fishing buddy Bill are coming back for a week in 2012.
Please contact us today ... Sincerely,
Simon, Barbara, Cathy, & the Staff of the Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club.
as well as many of you who did not make it this past summer.
It is never too early to book and mark your fishing trip dates on the calendar (before the company picnic or family reunion). At this time of year we have secured all our yearly regular re-bookings and we have the best choice of available dates for new bookings. Warren McPherson did not delay in booking his return trip, he & his fishing buddy Bill are coming back for a week in 2012.
Please contact us today ... Sincerely,
Simon, Barbara, Cathy, & the Staff of the Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club.
August 30, 2011 - What a Season It Has Been!
Simon and Jim Greene at the Head of Rivers Inlet with a 30 lbs. beauty chinook.
Consistently on each trip, almost all the guests had good catches of salmon & halibut. We have had many successful halibut outings & found a few new hali holes that just keep producing. Record catches have been the norm ... we have had to charter extra aircraft just to move the fish. You can see the season's photos to date on our
Flickr galley and Facebook page.
Consistently on each trip, almost all the guests had good catches of salmon & halibut. We have had many successful halibut outings & found a few new hali holes that just keep producing. Record catches have been the norm ... we have had to charter extra aircraft just to move the fish. You can see the season's photos to date on our
Flickr galley and Facebook page.
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| Simon & his 13 year old daughter Shayna with a 26 lbs. chinook salmon. |
Sebastian Tamayo from Venezuela & the largest coho of the season to date, 15 lbs. with guide Joey. |
Chad & Jeff Simpson caught the largest chinook salmon of the season to date at the Wall 5 minutes from the lodge 57lbs. |
The humpback whales were late to arrive but showed up in record numbers.
They put on some magnificent aerobatic shows from Calvert Island to Cranston Point & the lodge. Yet again this year, they are following the schools of pilchards right into our Sportsman's Bay and almost bumping up against the dock. We know they are close by when we hear them blowing air & see the pilchards dancing on the water. Guests love to sit in the loungers on the docks & enjoy the whale show. Chester our camp dog is constantly hunting them ... he loves to run to the end of the pier in hot pursuit.
2011 guests, please share photos of these magnificent creatures who come back
year after year with their calves.
Guides Toby & Joey and a couple of classic chrome Rivers Inlet trophy chinook salmon.
Just a reminder that we are going to have a price increase for 2012 ...
however... if you book your trip by October 15th with deposit we will give you our regular 2011 pricing. Book now for the 2012 fishing season
& get the best choice of dates and the best pricing.
All the best from Simon, Barbara Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Crew!
July 20, 2011 - The Season is Underway
Simon's Daughter Rory and her buddy Carter "slayed the salmon" on their trip this week ...
including this beauty 16 lbs. chinook.
The season is well under way and our fifth group arrives tomorrow.
We are pleased to report that fishing is red hot!
So far we have not had to travel very far to find the fish. The spots only minutes from the Lodge like the Wall, Dome and Cranstown Point have been the best producers. There are even quite a few coho showing up to complement the good chinook salmon fishing. The halibut & ling cod fishing has been good as well with many of our guests choosing to catch them on our light tackle "bass fishing" set ups.
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| You are never too old to fish ... 93 year old Leo Nastilli, Hubert Filarsky and a nice early season coho. |
Mike Brisbain from Arizona beating summer desert heat and landing 60 lbs. halibut. | Rig up of the Lodge was successful in more ways than one. Guides Toby, Griffen and Dock Manager Michael after a fun morning on the water. |
We all about service at the Sportsman's Club.
To pamper you we have, 2 chefs, 4 housekeepers, 4 dock hosts, 4 guides, Manager Simon & his assistant, Griffen. The new chefs David & Neil are producing absolutely amazing food, even the staff food is gourmet. As usual the four guides we have on staff are consistently getting guests on the fish. If more guiding is requested we can fly in extra "Guest Guides" we just need to know in advance of your trip. Our dock hosts are marvellous at keeping all the moving parts in their place making sure that anything that you need to land the "big one" is at hand.
Peter Wildner & Helmut Foehr from Germany 22 lbs. & 32 1/2 lbs. chinook salmon.
To pamper you we have, 2 chefs, 4 housekeepers, 4 dock hosts, 4 guides, Manager Simon & his assistant, Griffen. The new chefs David & Neil are producing absolutely amazing food, even the staff food is gourmet. As usual the four guides we have on staff are consistently getting guests on the fish. If more guiding is requested we can fly in extra "Guest Guides" we just need to know in advance of your trip. Our dock hosts are marvellous at keeping all the moving parts in their place making sure that anything that you need to land the "big one" is at hand.
Peter Wildner & Helmut Foehr from Germany 22 lbs. & 32 1/2 lbs. chinook salmon.
This first few trips of the season have been a bit like the United Nations.
We have guests from Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, England, Canada & the USA. The oldest guest is 93 and came all the way from Germany to fish at his beloved Rivers Inlet.
We are enjoying a great start to our season, so if you have not booked your trip for this summer there are still some great dates available.
Hope to see you on the water this summer.
All the best from Barbara, Cathy, Simon & the Sportsman's Club Crew.
June 21, 2011 - Time to Go Fishing!
Van Pearcy, his son Vance with Simon & a 62 lbs. halibut.
This was a real fish story as the hook flew into Vance's hand (see bandage) when they landed it and it required minor surgery to remove it.
"Thank you for the awesome fishing adventure, and the absolutely wonderful fishing lodge accommodations. When I die, I can only hope the next stop will be similar to your Sportsman's Club in the Rivers Inlet! Please pass on our THANKS to all the wonderful staff -
they did an outstanding & professional job".
Van Pearcy - Midland, Texas
We are pleased to report that this year's trip sales have exceeded our expectations. Despite the lingering uncertainty in the economy we have secured a solid season of bookings for our up-coming season. However, we still have a few spots available for this summer and we are also already taking booking for 2012.
Remember, if you book your 2012 fishing trip before October 15th you pay 2011 prices.
Simon and the crew flew up to Port Hardy today to run our three Whalers into Rivers Inlet. This boat trip usually takes about three hours and is a fun adventure. Then the crew will start the process of towing the individual floats and buildings that make up the Sportsman's Club from our winter moorage in Sunshine Bay to Sportsman's Bay for the fishing season. By the time we get everything in place and up and running, the rig-up usually takes 10 days or so.
For those of you who have booked a trip with us this summer it's time to start packing for your fishing adventure.
Packing your bag for your fishing trip should be easy. You will need warm clothes for wearing on the boat, & a t-shirt & shorts for warm days on the dock. All of which should be in a soft-sided bag weighing no more than 25 lbs. We know that for many of you your trip to Rivers Inlet is the highlight of the year. The crew is getting excited to see you on the dock when you touch down in majestic Rivers Inlet.
In our 27 years of operation at the Sportsman's Club, we have supported many charities, youth & women's programs in Canada & the USA. Recently, we donated to the Ron Johnston Memorial Golf Tournament. His friend and fishing partner Jim Ross organized the event that raised over $15,000 for charity. Ron was a long time guest and friend, and his smiling face will be sadly missed on the dock.
Other charities we support include ... The Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby which takes place in July. All proceeds go to salmon enhancement projects-mostly associated with school programs in the area.
The Kids Cancer Care's Hopes Challenge at Camp Kindle, taking place in mid-June.
Sointula Horse Club on Malcolm Island near Port Hardy. Last year, our empty cans from the lodge went to the Horse Club. The deposit money from the returns is being used to buy paint for their riding arena fences.
Simon's daughter Rory and a nice chinook salmon she caught solo with her own cut plug herring. The kids can hardly wait to get back up to the lodge!
Please contact us if you have any questions about your fishing trip
or wish to book for 2011 or 2012.
Thinking about cool stuff to do with the kids this summer?
Forget summer camp ... bring them to the fishing Lodge
for the adventure of a lifetime.
2011 Guests please note that your trip pre-registration forms are now due.
If you have not already done so you can fill it out on our website here.
You can also fax (250-923-2689) or email the form to Cathy (cathy.drew@yahoo.ca).
Hope to see you on the water this summer.
All the best from Barbara, Cathy, Simon & the Sportsman's Club Crew.
This was a real fish story as the hook flew into Vance's hand (see bandage) when they landed it and it required minor surgery to remove it.
"Thank you for the awesome fishing adventure, and the absolutely wonderful fishing lodge accommodations. When I die, I can only hope the next stop will be similar to your Sportsman's Club in the Rivers Inlet! Please pass on our THANKS to all the wonderful staff -
they did an outstanding & professional job".
Van Pearcy - Midland, Texas
We are pleased to report that this year's trip sales have exceeded our expectations. Despite the lingering uncertainty in the economy we have secured a solid season of bookings for our up-coming season. However, we still have a few spots available for this summer and we are also already taking booking for 2012.
Remember, if you book your 2012 fishing trip before October 15th you pay 2011 prices.
Simon and the crew flew up to Port Hardy today to run our three Whalers into Rivers Inlet. This boat trip usually takes about three hours and is a fun adventure. Then the crew will start the process of towing the individual floats and buildings that make up the Sportsman's Club from our winter moorage in Sunshine Bay to Sportsman's Bay for the fishing season. By the time we get everything in place and up and running, the rig-up usually takes 10 days or so.
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| John Salo and his tug boat the Robert G II crossing the Inlet with the Lounge in tow. | Ron Matthews is beaming over catching his 45 1/2 lbs. trophy chinook salmon with Terry Holland & guide Simon. | The late Ron Johnston with his trademark smile & a 73 lbs. halibut that he landed with the help of Guide Scottydawg & Jim Ross's son Derek. |
For those of you who have booked a trip with us this summer it's time to start packing for your fishing adventure.
Packing your bag for your fishing trip should be easy. You will need warm clothes for wearing on the boat, & a t-shirt & shorts for warm days on the dock. All of which should be in a soft-sided bag weighing no more than 25 lbs. We know that for many of you your trip to Rivers Inlet is the highlight of the year. The crew is getting excited to see you on the dock when you touch down in majestic Rivers Inlet.
In our 27 years of operation at the Sportsman's Club, we have supported many charities, youth & women's programs in Canada & the USA. Recently, we donated to the Ron Johnston Memorial Golf Tournament. His friend and fishing partner Jim Ross organized the event that raised over $15,000 for charity. Ron was a long time guest and friend, and his smiling face will be sadly missed on the dock.
Other charities we support include ... The Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby which takes place in July. All proceeds go to salmon enhancement projects-mostly associated with school programs in the area.
The Kids Cancer Care's Hopes Challenge at Camp Kindle, taking place in mid-June.
Sointula Horse Club on Malcolm Island near Port Hardy. Last year, our empty cans from the lodge went to the Horse Club. The deposit money from the returns is being used to buy paint for their riding arena fences.
Simon's daughter Rory and a nice chinook salmon she caught solo with her own cut plug herring. The kids can hardly wait to get back up to the lodge!
Please contact us if you have any questions about your fishing trip
or wish to book for 2011 or 2012.
Thinking about cool stuff to do with the kids this summer?
Forget summer camp ... bring them to the fishing Lodge
for the adventure of a lifetime.
2011 Guests please note that your trip pre-registration forms are now due.
If you have not already done so you can fill it out on our website here.
You can also fax (250-923-2689) or email the form to Cathy (cathy.drew@yahoo.ca).
Hope to see you on the water this summer.
All the best from Barbara, Cathy, Simon & the Sportsman's Club Crew.
May 19, 2011 - Book Now and SAVE!
SAVE NOW Book your 2011 & 2012 trips TODAY!
Dave & Christy Cottrell with guide Spencer and their 43 lbs. trophy chinook salmon.
This was one of many caught on their trip in 2010 and they are coming for more in 2011.
This was one of many caught on their trip in 2010 and they are coming for more in 2011.
"Hi Simon, What a trip!!! For the fourth time Christy and I had a super time.
The 2010 trip was really special & we had some fantastic fishing.
The food was great as usual, and the guides were really good.
Thanks for a great week and we will see you in 2011.
Take care, our best to your family."
Dave & Christy Cottrell, VA.
The 2010 trip was really special & we had some fantastic fishing.
The food was great as usual, and the guides were really good.
Thanks for a great week and we will see you in 2011.
Take care, our best to your family."
Dave & Christy Cottrell, VA.
In the spirit of value we continue to offer special pricing on 2011 season fishing trips with up to $700/person off our 4 & 5 day trips. Prime spots are available, including the
Gastronomic Getaway weekend Thurs-Sun Sept 1-4.
Call Simon now for pricing & availability at
1-800-663-2644 / 604-938-0505 or text / call his cell 604-938-3677
2012
At the end of the 2011 season we will review prices to factor in increased operational costs and currency exchanges. At this point we expect this could result in increased prices in 2012. However, if you book your 2012 fishing trip now you will receive our 2011 special pricing!
All 2011 guests re-booking at the lodge for 2012 will receive this year's pricing.
HATCHERY UPDATE:
Gastronomic Getaway weekend Thurs-Sun Sept 1-4.
Call Simon now for pricing & availability at
1-800-663-2644 / 604-938-0505 or text / call his cell 604-938-3677
2012
At the end of the 2011 season we will review prices to factor in increased operational costs and currency exchanges. At this point we expect this could result in increased prices in 2012. However, if you book your 2012 fishing trip now you will receive our 2011 special pricing!
All 2011 guests re-booking at the lodge for 2012 will receive this year's pricing.
HATCHERY UPDATE:
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| The fry in containers in the back of the Goose for the 30 minute flight from the Snootli Creek Hatchery back home to Rivers Inlet. | Legendary Pacific Coastal pilot Stu helps the crew to transfer our little babies into their new home in the sea pens at the mouth of the Wannock River. | The hatchery crew feed our fish their first meal in Rivers Inlet. They will spend about year in the sea pens before their release. |
As many of you know, for over 25 years our Association of Rivers Inlet lodges has operated a privately funded hatchery to raise salmon. Last week, we received a 'good news' report from the hatchery crew. The 2010 brood Wannock River chinook salmon, which were being raised in the hatchery, were flown to the sea pens in Rivers Inlet. A total of 254,619 healthy 2.8 gm fry were transported by float plane with very little mortality. It did not take long for these salmon fry to recover from their trip and start feeding. It was a blustery spring day in Rivers Inlet, but legendary Pacific Coastal pilot, Stewart Dzes, did a magnificent job. He showed his expertise by swinging that Grumman Goose around and sashaying up to the net pens like it was easy. Not only that ... Stewart then chipped in with off-loading.
You can see by the picture that he was enjoying being a hero on his birthday!There are still approximately 29,000 tagged salmon fry (we only tag 10%) at the hatchery which will be transported to the sea pens in a few weeks.
That makes the overall total in excess of 280,000 Rivers Inlet chinook ...
Salmon for the FUTURE!
You can see by the picture that he was enjoying being a hero on his birthday!There are still approximately 29,000 tagged salmon fry (we only tag 10%) at the hatchery which will be transported to the sea pens in a few weeks.
That makes the overall total in excess of 280,000 Rivers Inlet chinook ...
Salmon for the FUTURE!
Not all the salmon in Rivers Inlet are monster sized trophies.
Danielle Thomson proudly displays her chrome bright 12 lbs. chinook.
REMINDERS:
PASSPORT - You will need a PASSPORT if travelling from outside of Canada.
Check to be sure you have at least six months left before expiry.
AIR TRAVEL - Be sure that your flight arrives into Vancouver no later than 10:30 a.m. on your departure day. You need to allow for delays and time to get to the South Terminal to check-in for your flight by 12:00 NOON.
The charter company is Pacific Coastal Airlines www.pacificcoastal.com.
HOTELS - Staying the night before your departure and the night of your return from the lodge is highly recommended. There are several hotels near the airport that offer our guests a preferred 'fishing special' rate.
Contact us for more hotel information.
For more info on Gastronomic Getaway weekend
Thurs-Sun Sept 1-4 click here ...
For more info on the Snootli Creek Hatchery click here ...
If you have not already booked your trip for 2011 ...
contact us today at 1-800-663-2644 or email: info@riversinlet.com.
Sincerely, Barbara, Simon & Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Staff.
Danielle Thomson proudly displays her chrome bright 12 lbs. chinook.
REMINDERS:
PASSPORT - You will need a PASSPORT if travelling from outside of Canada.
Check to be sure you have at least six months left before expiry.
AIR TRAVEL - Be sure that your flight arrives into Vancouver no later than 10:30 a.m. on your departure day. You need to allow for delays and time to get to the South Terminal to check-in for your flight by 12:00 NOON.
The charter company is Pacific Coastal Airlines www.pacificcoastal.com.
HOTELS - Staying the night before your departure and the night of your return from the lodge is highly recommended. There are several hotels near the airport that offer our guests a preferred 'fishing special' rate.
Contact us for more hotel information.
For more info on Gastronomic Getaway weekend
Thurs-Sun Sept 1-4 click here ...
For more info on the Snootli Creek Hatchery click here ...
If you have not already booked your trip for 2011 ...
contact us today at 1-800-663-2644 or email: info@riversinlet.com.
Sincerely, Barbara, Simon & Cathy & the Sportsman's Club Staff.
