This trip is six nights accommodation and five days fishing. We anticipate the dates to correspond with the early stages of the sockeye salmon run. The sockeye move up through the Fraser River system into Quesnel Lake and into tributary streams to spawn. The rainbows and bull trout from the lake follow the sockeye into the streams to eat the eggs, much like the autumn situation on the great rivers of Alaska. Along with the Horsefly and Mitchell Rivers we also may wade and fish the mouths of some tiny creeks where they flow into Quesnel Lake. Other possible options are the upper and lower Quesnel River.

 

At this time of year the fishing is almost all done with egg patterns or streamers. The rainbows run 12 to 20-plus inches and the bulls from two to ten pounds or more.

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Northern Lights Lodge was the headquarters for several episodes of

Fly Fusion TV, which Jim co-hosted with Derek Bird,

including two of the most popular episodes, “Eden,” shot on the Mitchell River (view it here: https://www.wildtvplus.ca/en/movies/130508/?autoplay=true&episode=136318), and “The Next Bend,” shot on the Horsefly River (view it here: https://www.wildtvplus.ca/en/movies/130508/?autoplay=true&episode=136323). 

 

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Northern Lights is our favourite fly-fishing lodge, partly because of the fishing and partly because of the atmosphere of the lodge and the hospitality of the people who run it. Long-time owners Skeed and Sharon Borkowski have the know-how to make the experience something you'll always remember. Skeed will keep us entertained; Curtis and his crew of guides will find us the fish; and Sharon, Karla and staff will keep us extremely well-fed. This an "exotic trip" without the prohibitively high cost of getting there. 

 

Northern Lights 2025: Six nights accommodation, five days fishing

Sept. 7 - travel to the lodge. A four-hour drive on paved highway from Kamloops, B.C., or flights from Vancouver to Williams Lake, where guests are met at the airport. 

Sept. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - guided fishing (Horsefly River - inflatable raft; Mitchell River - jet boat; creek mouths - wading; and possibly the Upper and Lower Quesnel River) 

Sept. 13 - depart the lodge

 

The fishing on the Mitchell River is all wading and fishing while stopped. The fishing on the Horsefly is a combination of fishing on the drift and wading while stopped. The creek-mouth fishing is wading on solid gravel bottom.

The Horsefly River is a short drive from the lodge; the Mitchell River and the creek mouths are a 90-minute boat ride to the north arm of Quesnel Lake on a large boat, where guests and guides transfer to a smaller jet boat for the day’s fishing.

 

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Cost: $5000 U.S. plus 5% GST

What's included....

- all lodging, guiding, meals, beer, wine, flies, leaders

- pickup from and return to Williams Lake airport, if required.

 

What's not included....

- travel to the lodge   (drive directly to lodge or fly to Williams Lake for pickup)

- licenses

- gratuities

- 5% government accommodation tax (on lodging only)

 

More about the lodge? Visit nllodge.com

 

The Fine Print

1. This trip requires a minimum of five guests to proceed as a hosted trip. With less than five it will be a non-hosted trip, but with full assistance of Jim and Lynda to help with details.

2. Deposits of 50% required by November 15, 2024 to secure your spot.

 

If you have any questions about this trip, or would like references from previous guests, please send us a note.

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