Great Saltwater Fishing

  After a long pandemic absence, I was able to return to Blackfish. I've missed my annual visit and wanted to share it with my youngest brother. It was a great... read more reunion with Chris, Hannah and the children. The other 2 guests were great and we got along very well. Fishing was outstanding. I booked for next year!

  This was my fishing trip to Canada with my son, and the experience was nothing short of amazing! Chris and Hannah, the owners of Blackfish Lodge, were some of... read more the most knowledgeable, kind, hospitable people we've ever met and made this experience very memorable for the two of us. My son and I caught salmon, halibut and rockfish, all the while seeing bald eagles, black bears, humpback whales, dolphins, sealions, mink, ect-unbelievable amounts of wildlife. The lodge itself was large and beautifully made, the food was excellent, and my son and I were a big fan of the sauna every night. Highly recommended all around and can't wait to visit again!

  Fun family fishing trip. We had so much fun, My 7 year old grandson caught his 1st fish. He was pretty happy catching it was right off the dock.... read more He has taken the title of Rock Cod king.
We really enjoyed the food cooked by Hanna & Chris our guide were perfect hosts.
The scenery was just fabulous. Beautiful British Columbia is exactly that.
Thank you for the wonderful experience.

  My dad and I stayed at blackfish lodge for a week and had an amazing experience!

Chris was really attentive to the list of things we wanted to accomplish... read more and curated an experience that fit both of our experience levels with fly fishing (I'm pretty much a novice and my dad is quite experienced). Chris has a gift for teaching and gave me great guidance to improve my casting technique. I was blown away with the amount of wildlife we saw while fishing and at the lodge.

Hannah's cooking was out of this world. The culinary experience is what put the trip over the edge for me! The fresh seafood, desserts, local wine selection, and picnic lunches were such a treat.

10/10 I would definitely go back in the future

  Staff and fishing guides were absolutely wonderful. Food was excellent. This was a great family trip with teenagers. Wifi available but we were so busy enjoying the... read more environment that it was nice to just unplug for a few days. Came home with plenty salmon for the freezer. Don't miss the hike to the falls and a day of fly fishing. Breathtaking beauty of BC cannot be put into words, wildlife at every turn, views from the float plane are stunning.

  My wife and I wanted to take our two grown daughters and two oldest grandsons (ages 10 & 9 respectively) on a unique family vacation that would hopefully provide them... read more with memories to last a lifetime - I think we succeeded. My one daughter's significant other accompanied us so our party totaled 7, which meant we were the only ones at the lodge. Even though only 2 of us were what I would call more hard core fishermen everyone had a great time. With 3 guides (including Chris) two took 2 people out and one took 3 out each day.

Our planning started over a year in advance and Rick Groman handled all of that, answering tons of questions I had regarding the fishing, having kids at the lodge, trip logistics, etc. Rick was extremely responsive to all my e-mails and we also had a few lengthy phone conversations. Simply put he provided fabulous service in preparing us for the trip, all of which played a key role in the success of the trip.

We took Rick's suggestion and stayed at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson located in Bothell, WA the day before flying to the lodge. The place was very nice (pricey but I guess that's Seattle) and also provided a free shuttle to Kenmore Air, about a 20 minute ride from the hotel.

Kenmore Air was first rate in all regards - very organized, efficient and friendly staff. They weighed in all our bags to make sure we met the 25#/pp limit on luggage, we filled out paperwork, and got all our gear loaded onto the turbine Otter for our flight - Norm was out pilot. There was a total of 9 passengers on the plane. It was ~ a 1 hr flight to Nanaimo, where we stopped for ~25 min to go through Canadian customs and refuel, then about another 1:15 to the lodge. Even though the weather was overcast the views on the flight were spectacular - simply beautiful country.

We arrived at the lodge as the current group was gathering their stuff to fly out, some were still getting lunch as I guess our plane was a bit early. We had some fish chowder and Dungeness crab for lunch then went fishing in the afternoon - my wife and I went out with Graham. We had no fishing success that day (guess we missed the high tides which didn't help) but we did see orcas, humpback whales, eagles, sea lions, etc. so we were very satisfied with the half day.

On the second day Chris took me and my daughter's significant other on a Wakeman River float trip. There is quite an involved, and lengthy, logistical process for this trip with a long boat ride to get to the offload dock, loading up the trucks, driving trucks to the put in point, inflating the raft, etc. It rained all day long and I only caught two trout but we all had a great time - beautiful river. On the way back we stopped off to check the prawn traps - part of dinner!

On the third day my wife and I fished for salmon with Chris all day. The weather was much nicer, we went out when the tides dictated, and we both caught Coho and Chinook salmon. At one point my wife and I both had Kings on at the same time and Chris did a masterful job orchestrating things so these two rookies were able to land both fish. Others in our group caught salmon that day as well and one group wanted to fly fish so they just fished off a dock in Echo Bay for bass and caught tons.

For the few hours we had the next day before flying out Chris took my wife and I halibut fishing and we had no luck, but again it was a great time and beautiful day.

As everyone says, the food is fantastic, and plentiful. On arrival day for lunch Chris pulled up the Dungeness crab pot and it was no more than 25 minutes from getting the crabs out until they were on the table - best I have ever had by far! We also had venison kebabs (outstanding), fish and chips (fresh cod) and roast pork.

The rooms (4 in the lodge) were all simple and very comfortable, each with its own small bathroom (3 with small shower stall and one with shower/tub combination). The living room and dining room are all one, heated by a small wood stove, and very comfortable. There is a music system available and the wifi in the lodge worked fine for what we wanted (checking e-mail, etc).

I was concerned the two grandsons, who both normally spend a lot of time on electronic devices, would be bored but they both had a wonderful time and really put in some significant hours fishing. They loved watching the resident eagle fly down to pick up fish carcasses about 10' off the dock and between them saw lots of wildlife in addition to the eagles - dolphins, whales, bears, sea lions, etc.

There were only two small hiccups during our visit and both involved fly fishing an estuary. In each case I thought we had clearly communicated one specific group wanted to go to Echo Bay that day where they could easily catch a bunch of bass using a fly rod but the same guide ended up taking them halibut or salmon fishing instead.

I cannot say enough about how hospitable and welcoming Chris, Hannah, and Terra (sp? helped with kitchen/cleaning chores) in particular were. Terra went out of her way to check in with us all the time and ask if we needed anything for food, drink, laundry, etc. Although Chris told us when the best fishing would be based on tides he made it clear the guides would take us out whenever each group wanted to go (although you could see it really pained them if someone was ready to call it a day when the "best" fishing time was just getting going!). They were extremely flexible and bent over backwards to ensure you were having a good time and had everything you needed, doing laundry, providing lunches to take with you, making snacks for the evening, etc.

So, I highly recommend Blackfish Lodge and would like to thank Chris, Hannah and the entire staff for making this such a wonderful family memory we will treasure forever!

  Chris and Hannah and their staff and guides made our stay a real pleasure, we particularly appreciated Chris's patience, kindness and expertise. A wonderful secluded location, delicious fresh meals, lovely... read more wines, sea eagles, mink, bears and fish! A fantastic experience. Thank you.

  The best we had before!Unique place and the best hosts ever!Great lovley and hand made kitchen .Super perfect also the guiding,the guest only has to say what he wnt to... read more see and the guides will do everything to make the guest glad or the wish sucsessful.We will come back as soon as possible.
Hanna and Chris are the perfect hosts!Thorsten &Annette ( Germany)we where so happy with the choice

  If you think the best places are hard to get too, and away from it all, this is the place for you! Getting here by float plane is an adventure... read more and the adventure keeps coming after you arrive.
We (my husband is the fisherman and I record what happens) loved every minute even in the torrential rain.
Hannah, Chris and team are so attentive and cannot do enough to make the stay memorable even for me as someone who does not fish. The catering is superb and plentiful, the company was good and the scenery spectacular. Then you have the abundant wildlife and lets not forget the top notch and varied fishing.

  My buddy and I had a wonderful time. I have worked in customer service for 30+ years.
Everyone at Blackfish made us feel welcome, comfortable and appreciated.
The fishing was... read more good. The scenery and wildlife were breathtaking. Delicious meals.
Most of all we will remember the genuine hospitality! Graham, Ted, Allison, everyone there really “gets what it’s all about” when it comes to treating people right.
Can’t wait to get back!

  Blackfish Lodge and the staff there are really exceptional. The experience we had was phenomenal from the beginning of the trip till the end. The views from float plane ride... read more to the Lodge from Seattle were spectacular. The lodge is a perfect blend of rustic luxury: delightful great room with wood stove and comfortable furnishings, great food, comfortable and quiet rooms, warm and friendly staff, and small enough (maximum of 8 guests) that it feels intimate and familiar within a few minutes. We felt we were friends with the other guests and the staff soon after we arrived. The time on the water was amazing: good fishing both for salmon and bottom fish, beautiful scenery, eagles, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales. But the best part is the people there; owners Chris and Hannah, kitchen and house staff Naomi and Courtney, and the guides. I was with my 2 adult daughters so we fished with Graham for 2 1/2 days because his boat most easily accommodated the 3 of us. He is experienced, knowledgeable, skilled, and great fun with many stories and anecdotes. Our last 1/2 half day we went with Chris so he could teach my daughters how to flycast. Chris is great! They both learned quickly under his guidance and each caught several sea-run cutthroat trout. Lastly, Rick Groman, the business manager for the lodge, was so helpful with the arrangements for our trip; we first booked for 2016 but had to postpone in both 2016 and 2917 because of unexpected health issues. Rick made it easy. We will return, hopefully soon!

  Had a wonderful time.The food was fantastic, really very, very good. If the lodge were a nearby restaurant I would be frequenting it! Loved the chef.All of the staff was... read more wonderful, kind, and was apparent they enjoyed their work.Everyone was attentive, but not overbearing.Chris and Hannah were very nice. Didn’t meet Robin, but Steven was great to chat to.Dawn spent time with Al and enjoyed his company very much on the boat.For me the Lodge was the perfect blend of rustic and functionality.Graham was exceptional as a guide, and really made the trip for us. He was wonderful with my 11 year old daughter, teaching her to tie flies, fly fish and catch fish with the flies.. His knowledge, patience, and ability to share his love of fishing and the land greatly enhanced our trip. I loved listening to his stories as well. I am grateful in this invasive world of technology I was able to share this uninterrupted moment with my daughter. The lodge is a very special place.. I thought is amazing..I wish the fishing had been a little better (fish we could keep, river fishing was awesome, but that’s fishing when the Orcas are around) honestly though, it did not impact our enjoyment.I hope that at some point I can repeat the trip with my younger daughter.

  For the 2nd time I had a fantastic trip to the lodge. The staff, accommodations, food, guides were awesome! I know the rest of my group had a... read more fantastic time as well. I got a couple of hats so I can proudly wear and brag about my time spent at the lodge. Very few people get to experience what I have experienced 2 times, with more to follow God willing. If you want a relaxing, adventurist fishing trip, book your trip now!
Thank you, Hanna and Chis.

  There are not enough superlatives to describe the experiences at the lodge. There were great days of fishing and slow days of fishing but everyday was phenomenal for sites of... read more nature, Besides if you caught your limit of fish everyday it would not be

  The food was 5 Star amazing and all homemade and in most cases from something harvested or grown on site. Rooms were super comfy and hospitality of staff was like... read more being at a five star resort without the 5 Star attitude. It was like being with family! We caught a ton of fish, had the best sleep we ever had and did not want to leave!!!

  Met every expectation, and more, for 3 fly fishing friends from Glasgow looking to experience a fishing adventure of a lifetime. Awesome landscapes. Friendly, helpful and generous hosts. Fantastic ,... read more fresh food. Very comfortable, perfect size lodge to cater for every fishing desire, weather permitting. We couldn't have chosen better.