The Most Memorable Trip of Your Lifetime.
Memories that Will last a Lifetime.
Why Fish at Copper Bay Lodge?
It is a destination you should want to visit even if it did not have such great fishing opportunities. One thing all our guests agree on is that returning from Haida Gwaii feels like returning with a new secret. It is an eye-opening experience that will stick with you in many ways beyond more fish pictures on your phone.
Copper Bay Lodge will tour you through the islands in a way that connects you to the fish, the landscape and the culture in a meaningful way that will stay with you long after you return home. This trip is about the overall experience and one that should not be missed.
Haida Gwaii floats off the coast of British Columbia like a long wedge of pie. It is 100 kilometres in the north tapering down to a narrow point. Of the archipelago’s approximately 350 islands, over 200 lie within the boundaries of Gwaii Haanas Park, which comprises the southern third of the chain.
Haida Gwaii has been dubbed the “Galapagos of the north” for the many endemic species and subspecies that evolved there while it was an ice-free refuge. Widespread species that are completely distinctive genetically such as the hairy woodpecker, saw-whet owl, Steller’s jay, Peale’s peregrine falcon, black bear, and pine marten—are all found here and nowhere else in the world. These remote islands are home to one of the oldest traceable populations on Earth.
The Haida have probably lived there since the end of the last ice age, 11,000 to 13,000 years ago. Its wild coastlines and old-growth forests are home to a wealth of animal life – 750,000 seabirds, 20 species of whale and dolphin as well as a rich Haida history. The Haida phrase for this is yah’guudang – respect for all living things.
The Accommodations
Food & Drink
We fish until midday, then stop for a streamside lunch. Lunch can be either hot or cold, and might include such fare as steaks, quiches, sandwiches, salads, cheese, and fresh bread. Due to shorter winter days, lunch is often a very quick affair as typically we all want to get right back on the water!
After fishing through the afternoon, you would normally get off the water by 6 or 7 p.m., then return to the lodge for happy hour. We serve drinks and hor d’oeuvres before dinner in front of the fireplace. Dinner is usually served between 7 and 8 o’clock, although we’ve been known to eat much later if the fish are pouring in on a tide and you just can’t tear yourself away.
We are very flexible when it comes to arranging your day. If you have a special request, just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you and give you the best experience possible.
Nestled in the midst of a rainforest and a stone’s throw from your own private beach, Copper Bay Lodge in Sandspit, B.C., offers a host of activities: exceptional steelhead fishing, comfortable lodging, and extraordinary cuisine. Our caring staff will make your Haida Gwaii experience a very special one indeed.
Amenities
Guides
Derek Botchford
Operator
Once the young buck, now the old man of the sea. When Derek took over Copper Bay Lodge he was a mere 34 years old and felt he still had an entire lifetime ahead of him. However, the cruel reality of time flying by has certainly made its mark. Now, 5o years old and hobbling around to keep up with his young team of athletes Derek hangs on to his glory years. The young guides still like to hear his ‘when I was your age’ stories but we aren’t sure for how much longer. Fortunately for anglers, Derek’s midlife crisis has been driving him to guide more days not less to “prove” he can still do it. If guests can get through the “back in my day” rants on the way to the river, they will be treated with some excellent knowledge on the water. Each gray hair represents a trick up Derek’s sleeve, and there is a lot more than a mere quiver. Malcolm Gladwell famously wrote about the 10,000-hour rule being the key to achieving true expertise in any skill, and at 50 years old, 26 straight years of guiding at remote fishing lodges, it’s where Derek gets his win. Gladwell also stipulates the importance of culture, family, and friendship being critical in any individual’s success. Derek’s staff are all of those things to him and his adoration for his team shines through at all times at the lodge. Gleaming with respect for the fish, the water, his guests and his staff, Derek is a joy to spend a day with, no matter how old he gets.
When the person selling trips to folks is the same guy that takes you out on the water, you can believe they are going to give you everything they have.
Steve Morrow
Lodge Manager
Stevie guides and operates a lot of fisheries over a given year with Epic Waters Angling. However when a guest asks him what his favorite fishery is over a calendar year, he tells them bluntly every time – Haida Gwaii. It is for many reasons Stevie feels this way. With only 4 guests a week and a lot of 1 guide to 1 guest angling, it does somewhat seem like a working vacation for the staff. A team that has been guiding together for so long leaves little room for any dramatic events during a season. Instead the weeks fly by flawlessly season after season. The fishery can be challenging as with any winter Steelheading, but each day, with a lot of effort and guide instinct, Stevie knows he can always find a fish out there. Getting blanked is a rare event. Some days this takes hiking several miles through the rainforest, or hitting multiple systems in a day, but when that line tightens no one ever forgets why they came. The fish are spectacular, the scenery is unmatched, and the guide team is simply second to none. For those that have been lucky enough to spend a week with Stevie Morrow on Haida Gwaii know they are all better anglers because of it. The challenging conditions, the rugged hikes, and impossible casts make every fish that much more special. To sit down with Stevie and chat about some of his most memorable fish from Haida Gwaii is one of those fishing conversations you will never forget.
Dave Page
Guide
Stevie guides and operates a lot of fisheries over a given year with Epic Waters Angling. However, when a guest asks him what his favorite fishery is over a calendar year, he tells them bluntly every time – Haida Gwaii. It is for many reasons Stevie feels this way. With only 4 guests a week and a lot of 1 guide to 1 guest angling, it does somewhat seem like a working vacation for the staff. A team that has been guiding together for so long leaves little room for any dramatic events during a season. Instead the weeks fly by flawlessly season after season. The fishery can be challenging as with any winter Steelheading, but each day, with a lot of effort and guide instinct, Stevie knows he can always find a fish out there. Getting blanked is a rare event. Some days this takes hiking several miles through the rainforest, or hitting multiple systems in a day, but when that line tightens no one ever forgets why they came. The fish are spectacular, the scenery is unmatched, and the guide team is simply second to none. For those that have been lucky enough to spend a week with Stevie Morrow on Haida Gwaii know they are all better anglers because of it. The challenging conditions, the rugged hikes, and the impossible casts make every fish that much more special. To sit down with Stevie and chat about some of his most memorable fish from Haida Gwaii is one of those fishing conversations you will never forget.
Evan Quuas
Guide
In 2009 Derek Botchford ventured to Haida Gwaii for the first time in the hopes of finding true steelhead solitude. Not only did they discover the hidden gem of Copper Bay Lodge, but they also found another gem in 21-year-old local Sandspit resident Evan Quaas, who had an undeniable passion for steelhead. Immediately after meeting Evan, Derek knew he had found the anchor for a brand-new steelhead operation. A new, diverse program that had never been done on the islands. Evan grew up fishing these waters with his father Bill who is truly an iconic Steelheader on Haida Gwaii. Bill is a very important part of the history of steelhead fishing on the island after walking the rivers, rod in hand for 45 years, and now Evan has been passed the torch.
Evan knows the different systems intimately and offers valuable knowledge of the surrounding lands. A day with Evan gives you decades of local knowledge of fishing the rivers of Haida Gwaii and a take on the entire landscape that only someone born and raised there could share. These rivers are very challenging, and you have to have intimate knowledge of when, how, and where to fish them. This is where local knowledge is invaluable. Evan was raised on the rivers of Haida Gwaii and he knows where the fish will be before the fish even know. Now 35 years old with a decade of guiding under his belt, we are very proud of the guide and person Evan has become.
The Fishing
Getting There
Air Canada offers departures from Vancouver (YVR) at 1:10 pm arriving at 3:05 in Sandspit; (YZP) flights depart at 3:25 pm returning to Vancouver.
In the Winter flights are quite easy to get and there is often availability.
Upon arrival, our guides will be at the airport to quickly get you back to the lodge only 10 minutes away. After a brief tour of the lodge, you will be out on the river fishing in mere minutes. Guests constantly find themselves in culture shock after leaving a large city in the morning and find themselves deep in the rainforest that evening hooked up to a Haida Gwaii Steelhead.
Information
Details
- Please purchase your license. You must have:
- An angling license for your duration
- We have a decent supply of beer and wine at the lodge but no hard alcohol. Duty-free is a great place to purchase alcohol prior to entering Canada. Our health care is expensive and you will feel it when you buy booze here. Please note there is no liquor store at the lodge and people regularly regret not bringing scotch to toast that 30 lbs Musky they caught!
Before travel
Traveling with Special Items: Fishing Equipment
- Travelling with outdoor gear and most fishing-related items is permitted. Outdoor enthusiasts should carefully prepare and pack to avoid the removal of prohibited items from checked baggage or surrendering prohibited items at the security checkpoint. Here is a specific list of all permitted and prohibited items.
- Fishing Rods – Rods are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. However, please check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carry-on items. Ultimately, it is the carrier’s decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carry-on baggage.
- Tackle and Other Equipment – Most fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage, especially tools and other tackle equipment that can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as flies should be packed in your carry-on baggage. (*T.S.A. Recommendation from T.S.A. website, March 1, 2009)
- Please keep in mind that these are T.S.A. policies for flights originating within the United States. Canada may apply different standards and different policies with regard to rods, reels, flies, etc.
ID Requirements for Airport Checkpoints
Acceptable IDs include:
- U.S. passport card
- DHS “Trusted Traveler” cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents)
- Permanent Resident Card
- Border Crossing Card
- DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
- Driver licenses or other state photo I.D. cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
- A foreign government-issued passport