Canada: Fishing adventure in Great Bear Rainforest

With the spring fishing season fast approaching, a remote lodge in British Columbia is offering the opportunity to fly fish for trout in some of the most pristine coastal rivers in Canada.

At Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, near the northern tip of Vancouver Island, the fishing spots are so isolated that guests, accompanied by expert guides, reach them by helicopter.

The season opens April 15 and continues through May 31, when many of the fish have reached 25 pounds in weight. Steelhead, a type of rainbow trout, spend two to three years in the sea before returning to freshwater streams and rivers to spawn.

All-inclusive heli-fishing packages for parties of two to four anglers start at about $2,240 per person, per day. Guests can bring their own gear, but the package includes the use of custom R.B. Meiser rods.

Despite its location deep in the Great Bear Rainforest, the resort offers plenty of luxurious creature comforts. Guests can unwind in one of two cedar hot tubs adjacent to a cascading waterfall or take a plunge into the invigorating water beneath the falls. (The water is so pure that it’s the source of the lodge’s drinking water.)

Forbes magazine has included Nimmo Bay on its list of the top 10 eco-resorts in the world.

The lodge uses barbless hooks and practices a catch-and-release program. However, staff members photograph the trout that didn’t get away before they’re put back in the water. Guests are given memory sticks containing the photographic evidence.

Tall tales about previous fishing conquests are encouraged. As noted on the resort’s website, visitors are urged to share their humorous stories as part of the fun.

Info: Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, (800) 837-4354

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