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Pitt River Lodge is your opportunity to experience world-class fishing and wildlife at Vancouver's doorstep. We offer guided fishing trips for sea run bull trout, steelhead, all five species of salmon, cutthroat trout and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our Guiding Services & Lodging

We are a remote lodge located in Alvin, BC

The Pitt River is a unique glacier-fed river; it has large runs of all five Pacific Salmon species and ocean-going Steelhead and Bull Trout, combined with local and transient Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. Our fishing can be divided into 4 distinct seasons. Each one of these seasons sees different water conditions and fish species.

Pitt River Lodge is your opportunity to experience world-class fishing and wildlife at Vancouver’s doorstep. We offer guided fishing trips for sea run bull trout, steelhead, all five species of salmon, cutthroat trout and more.
FAQ

Getting to the Lodge

We are a remote fishing lodge with boat or air access only. Our crew boats pick up from Grant Narrows Provincial Park on Pitt Lake for the scenic boat ride up the 24-kilometre lake. The closest reference for GPS is Swaneset Bay Resort & Country Club at 16651 Rannie Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y1Z1. Do not turn in here; continue to the end of Rannie Road, another 7 kilometres to Grant Narrows Provincial Park, where our staff will meet you. There you will find a boat launch and overnight parking. The lodge is on the north end of the lake in Alvin, BC.
Transportation across the city to the boat launch in Pitt Meadows is not included in our price. There are a variety of ways to get here, including taxi, limo and float plane services. Grant Narrows Marina is located just outside Vancouver, BC. It is close enough to the airports that you can likely connect to most North American destinations on the same day. If you are arriving in Vancouver the same day you are joining us, make sure you book your flight before 1 pm on your arrival day and not before 1 pm on your departure day.
Many people rent a car for their stay in Vancouver and then leave it in the locked, secure parking lot at Grant Narrows Marina.

The fee is $15 per day for parking at the marina.
The cost of a cab or Uber from the airport is approximately $150 one way. Limos vary in price, so you should call ahead.

Central Valley Taxi from Abbotsford Airport – 1.800.898.3232

Taxis at Vancouver International Airport

Please discuss these transportation options with the lodge when booking or making your deposit so that we can help you make reservations.

The Lodge boats run on a schedule of Monday, Wednesday and Friday arrivals. Please let us know at the time of booking the limits of your schedule, as we can arrange a water taxi for $400 one way.

The most popular route is to fly in with float planes with Seair Seaplanes out of the south terminal at Vancouver International Airport or with Harbour Air out of Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver. The flight time is approximately 20-30 minutes from either location and is hands down the most beautiful and simplest form of transportation for our guests. Guests are flown over the city and into the mountains and across Pitt Lake to the north end, where we will meet you with lodge trucks where we then transport you to the lodge. Prices depend on the number in your group, plane used, company and location, and generally start at $1464.58 + GST for 1-5 passengers, one way. Because of weight concerns on float planes, guests flying on float planes can only bring 25 lbs. of baggage on the float plane with them.

Seair Seaplanes– South Terminal Vancouver Int. Airport Tel: 604-273-8900 or 1-800-447-3247
Shuttle to South Terminal

Harbour Air Coal Harbour – 1.800.665.0212
Westcoast Air- Coal Harbour, downtown Vancouver 604-648-4417
Canada Line SkyTrain from the airport to downtown

FAQ

Fishing at the Lodge

Please purchase your fishing license online before your trip at https://j100.gov.bc.ca/pub/ras/signin.aspx. You will need freshwater fishing for unclassified Water. You do not require a classified water license. If you are targeting Steelhead, you will need an enhancement for this species.

Keep a copy of your fishing license on hand when fishing.

Wading Gear

The lodge has a small supply of wading gear. Please check ahead to ensure we have your boot size in stock!

Fly Fishing

The lodge has a small supply of single-hand fly rods. Our guides have a selection of time-tested flies to help our guests get into fish.

Gear Fishing

We are primarily a fly fishing lodge, and our guides teach many people to fly fish every year.

The lodge has a small supply of gear rods. However, spoons are not provided by the lodge, so if you wish to spoon fish, please bring your spoons. We have spinning rods available, but spoons are not included. Gibbs Koho Blue Illusion 35/45 is the spoon of choice. A Copper Koho 35/45 for Coho salmon tends to do very well.

Spey Fishing

The lodge does not have spey rods for loan. Our guides have a selection of time-tested flies to help our guests get into fish.

  • 5-6 Weight Single Handed Rod with a Floating Line with Maxima tippet 6-12lb
  • 7-8 Weight Single Handed Rod with a F/S and a Type 5-6 sink tip with Maxima tippet 12-20lb
  • 7-9 Weight Spey Rod with a F/S and a Type 5-6 sink tip with Maxima tippet 12-20lb
  • The 5-6 Weight Rod with a floating line is used for nymphing single eggs on a strike indicator, but we do get surface-rising fish and will fish or wake dry flies. The 7-9 Weight Rod is set up for streamer fishing

See “When can I expect to catch certain fish” below for flies related to the species.

Generally speaking, large black, white, and olive spey flies tend to do well for most species of fish. You should bring up a handful of intruders, leech and baitfish patterns.

Spey Flies in assorted colours, especially black, orange and blue, Gorman eggs, minnow patterns, egg-sucking leeches, and leeches.

Our lodge is open from March through October each year. Here is a general breakdown of the fish you can expect to encounter throughout the year.

Spring (May – July)

Late Steelhead to 18 lbs, Bull Trout to 8 lbs, Rainbow Trout to 5 lbs, Cutthroat Trout to 4 lbs.

Flies: Large weighted baitfish patterns, some black and olive colours. Blue string leeches, intruders, Gorman eggs, minnow patterns, egg-sucking leeches. A small selection of medium-sized dry flies.

Summer (July – September)

Bull Trout to 8 lbs, Rainbow Trout to 5 lbs, Cutthroat Trout to 4 lbs.

Flies: Weighted Motor Oil colored Leech for the Sockeye, large weighted baitfish patterns, some black and olive colours. Blue string leeches, intruders, Gorman eggs, minnow patterns, egg-sucking leeches. A small selection of medium-sized dry flies.

Early Fall (September – October)

Bull Trout to 8 lbs, Rainbow Trout to 5 lbs, Cutthroat Trout to 4 lbs.

Flies: Flashier flies such as Christmas Trees or other large flashy baitfish patterns work well for the Coho, weighted motor oil coloured leech, large weighted baitfish patterns, some black, orange-red and chartreuse. Blue string leeches, intruders, Gorman eggs, minnow patterns, egg-sucking leeches, and a small selection of medium-sized dry flies

Late Winter (March – April)

Steelhead 18 lbs, Bull Trout to 8 lbs, Rainbow Trout to 5 lbs, Cutthroat Trout to 4 lbs.

Flies: Spey Flies in assorted colours, especially black, orange and blue, Gorman eggs, minnow patterns, egg-sucking leeches, and leeches.