Review Highlights
Guests rate North King Lodge very highly, with mostly 4- and 5-star reviews. It is a floating lodge in a remote part of coastal British Columbia, on Borrowman Bay near Bella Bella. Reviewers describe it as well run and welcoming, and several say they would return or already have. One long-time guest has been going for about 10 years, and another says the lodge and service have improved a lot since the owner's earlier converted-tug setup.
Guests consistently praise the fishing, the food, the lodge and the staff. Catches include halibut (two reports of fish over 110 lb), lingcod, yelloweye, rockfish, Pacific cod, coho, and king salmon up to 38 lb. One guest says the fishery is lightly pressured because no other lodge is nearby. The 16-18 ft aluminum boats are stable and well suited to fishing. Several guests like fishing on their own from sunrise to sunset, using the laminated map of common fishing spots. Meals are spectacular and include steaks, seared ahi, seafood buffets, and hearty breakfasts. Rooms are big and comfortable, with private showers and good views. The lodge also has a dining room, a pool table, and a hot tub. Reviewers describe the staff as exceptional, and one says the owner works constantly to keep guests comfortable. High-end storm and rain gear is provided.
The main thing to be aware of is weather. Early reviewers had flights disrupted, and one had to take a water taxi from Bella Bella. Helicopters now carry guests from Bella Bella, a trip of about 30 minutes. Westerly winds can make the water rough and limit offshore trips. Gear is a smaller issue. Some boats have downriggers and some do not, and one guest says flashers and spoons are not supplied and lodge tackle is marked up, so bringing your own is advised. Guests who guide themselves should expect to learn the bottom contours and deal with kelp and shallow spots. The lodge suits anglers who want productive saltwater fishing for halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and salmon in a remote setting. It also works for groups of friends and for parents with teenagers, and it is best for guests comfortable fishing on their own.
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North king Lodge (thread reply)
Been going there for 10 years..pm sent
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DirtyDog
Apr 22, 2017
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North king Lodge (thread reply)
Same experience for me regarding weather, was 2010. Helicopters take care of getting guests there now. Back when it was possible my son (14yrs old at the time) landed a 116 pound halibut. Lodge was great, boats were great. Fishing on your own is what I liked, sunrise to sunset if you want. Would recommend, thinking of going back soon.
This lodge
North king Lodge (thread reply)
I was there in 2012 for a 3 day trip. Getting there was a little frustrating due to weather; we tried to fly out of Port Hardy but ended up taking a water taxi out of Bella Bella to get to Borrowman Bay. When we got up there we were made to feel welcome and the lodge (floating barge) is quite nice. Very remote location and can be subject to weather. Accommodation was good and the food was spectacular. The boats are made for fishing. We were issued our own boat and guided ourselves. They gave us a laminated map that identified common fishing holes. Boats are 16-18 welded alum. with 4-stroke power and electric downriggers. They provided a small cooler each day with herring for cut plugging. I'd bring some tackle because they don't provide flashers or spoons on the boat, and gear bought at the lodge has a big mark-up. When the weather co-operated we went offshore (1hr run) and bottom fished at a reef. Helped a guy land a 110lb halibut. Salmon fishing can be productive. We did good on halibut as well, 10 min run from the lodge. The owner of the lodge is working at every turn around to make sure everyone is comfortable and may be the hardest working person there.
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Thanks for one of the most incredible times, i have had in my life, Liam you are a rock, star, and all the staff there are 5+ stars, all the way, from taking off in Vancouver to Bella, Bella, to helicopter to the lodge, the food is absolutely incredible…
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North King Lodge Fishing Trips
I always consider myself lucky to be invited as a last minute fill-in for a fishing trip to North King Lodge, British Columbia. These trips are an adventure and the stay at the lodge was a wonderful experience. Well run, excellent staff, so much good food and to top it all off, a really great group to go fishing and socialize with - and oh yes, the fishing was fantastic. We caught ling cod, halibut, king and coho salmon, rockfish and Pacific cod. I saw some new country and met some new people. What could be a better way to spend a few days?
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North King Lodge, Caamano Sound
Trip report. Flew from Vancouver South Terminal to Bella Bella, then a 30 minute helicopter ride to the lodge. The boats are 16-18' strong and stable aluminum centre-console jobs that rode and fished very well. Challenges: getting to know the bottom and contour, lost a cannonball on a shallow, battled kelp, and one afternoon the westerly wind made running rough ('lumpy too, but all part of the adventure'). Most of the time it was perfect and very fishable. The lodge provides high end storm and rain gear. The staff and crew at North King were exceptional. The meals were fantastic: steaks, seared ahi, seafood buffets, incredible lunches and hearty breakfasts, creative salads. Great dining room and sitting area, pool table, hot tub. Big rooms, comfortable beds, private showers, great views. The fishery is incredible because there's not another lodge anywhere near it; the only fishing pressure is from the North King boats. The haul was countless yelloweye, ling, halibut, some nice coho and springs to 38.
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north king lodge (thread reply)
I was at North King this June. Rick has done a great job. The staff are excellent, the gear was decent (no downriggers, but that didn't slow us down). The lodge is very nice. Food, drink etc all good. Several years back I was on Rick's original converted Tug. The lodge, service and everything are greatly improved. I have also been to St John's several times. The gear at St John's includes downriggers, which is nice, but frankly the St john's boats we saw did no better than my fishing partner and I. The facility at North King is somewhat nicer, but St John's is a great choice as well.
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Boats & Equipment