The fishing has been pretty consistent since we opened, but the last couple weeks have been especially good. We’ve seen a lot of fish, including some really big ones, caught at both Painter’s Lodge and April Point throughout the month of June.

The salmon seem to be congregating at “The Hump”, which is located at the southern tip of Quadra Island. It may be early in the season but we’ve already seen six Tyees caught this year, five of which were caught over a span of just two days! It seems our guides have found the hot spot.

Earlier this week Kelly Wallace caught a massive 34.2 pound salmon, which was the biggest fish we had seen all year. That record stood for just one day though, as Kory Makay brought in a 34.7 pound salmon the very next afternoon. Lee Hawkins, Joe Coburn and Brian Hillman also caught Tyees during those two days, making for quite an exciting stretch of fishing.

For anyone who’s thinking about going fishing now’s the time to book a tour. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next one to reel in a Tyee!

Catch you later,

Travis

Our Spring Fling Salmon Fishing Derby wrapped up on June 8^th and we have determined our winners!

First place goes to Patrick Graveley, who caught a beautiful 29.5 pound salmon with his guide Russ Lim. The lead changed several times during the derby, but Patrick took over top spot in the final week and held on for the win. For his efforts Patrick will receive a 4 day/3 night fishing package for two at Painter’s Lodge.

Our second place winner is Darleen Turchyn, who reeled in a 27.4 pound salmon while out on the water with her guide Ron Lamont. Darleen will receive a 3 day/2 night adventure package at April Point Resort & Spa. She will get to choose two of the following options: A four hour fishing trip, a whale watching adventure, a $200 spa credit or 18 holes of golf at Storey Creek Golf Course.

In addition to the first and second place prizes, everyone who caught a fish was entered into a draw to win a bonus prize: A 3 day/2 night fishing package at the Canadian Princess Resort in Ucluelet. The draw was performed today and the winner was Murray Hutchison.

Congratulations to all of the winners! We hope everyone enjoyed the derby. Next up is our August Heat Derby which begins on August 1^st. There will be more awesome prizes so book your fishing trip now to reserve your spot.

Catch you later,

Travis

There are a lot of parts about my job that I love: the location, the scenery and my awesome co-workers come to mind. But in the end, the reason I’m here is for the guests. Nothing makes my day more than happy guests, and this week I dealt with a couple guys who made my job extra fun.

Richard and Kent White were two of the most enthusiastic guests I’ve ever met. Not only were they interested in catching fish for themselves (which they did, catching one each) but they were down at the dock every time the boats came in to see who else was catching fish. They seemed just as excited about other people catching fish as they did about catching they’re own fish. These two guys virtually became part of the dock crew during their stay here and were always a pleasure to talk to.

They made sure to thank all the staff before they left for helping make their stay so memorable, but I think they deserve a thank you as well. Its guests like these that make everyone’s job at Painter’s Lodge so enjoyable. So thank you Richard and Kent choosing to spend your vacation at Painter’s Lodge. We hope to see you again real soon!

Catch you later,

Travis

In our last fishing report, Dwayne predicted that fishing would heat up very soon. Boy was he right! We’ve had a slew of fish caught in the last few days, making this easily the best stretch of fishing we’ve had so far this season.

Our new Spring Fling Salmon Derby leader is Darren Murdoch, who caught a 24.2 pounder just this morning. Just a few hours later Arnold Loberg hauled in a 23.8 pounder, putting him in second place. There have also been a number of other fish over 20 lbs. reeled in, making for a lot of happy anglers.

With one week left in the derby there’s still time to get in on the action. The fish are getting bigger by the day, so everyone’s got a chance to come away with first place. Our Spring Fling Derby package is also still available: $329 (per person) for two nights accommodation and two guided fishing tours.

Stay tuned to ‘Dock Talk’ to find out who comes away with our grand prize, a 4 day/3 night fishing package at Painter’s Lodge.

Catch you later,

Travis

The fishing has been pretty good here so far, but according to our Marine Activities Manager Dwayne and some "prophets" down on the docks, it could get even better soon. Here's what Dwayne has to say:

While there is a lot of science involved in making successful angling decisions, there is also a certain amount of rumour, legend and just plain old wives’ tales. So, if you are one of those people who believe that burying a black cat’s bone at midnight will help ward off evil spirits, listen closely.

Some of the prophets on our docks say this: “After the first new moon in June the herring reappear. They were all down south for the Parksville herring spawn and they’re just now making their way up north. The salmon will be following the herring. Rumour has it they’re knocking ‘em dead down at Kitty Coleman and Bates Beach, so they’re headed our way… on top of that, I saw a hump back whale breach twice at noon, which is always a good sign.”

I hope this crystal ball is working well (not that I believe in that sort of thing), but I threw a pinch of sea salt over my shoulder anyway, just for good luck.

Until next week,

Tight lines and keep on fishin’

Dwayne

Can you imagine exploring Discovery Passage in a 52’ cabin cruiser while you sip a glass of wine and sample gourmet cheeses and breads? Stop imagining, because this fantasy can become reality.

Painter’s Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa are offering their Wine& Cheese Sunset Cruises once again this season for just $59. The tours take place aboard the Pachena Princess, which includes a covered deck, on-board washroom and wrap around viewing deck, and sail between secluded Pacific Islands. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of some seals, sea lions or marine birds and, if you’re lucky, you may even spot a whale or two!

Discovery Passage and the surrounding islands have a rich history and culture that our tour guides and deck hands are happy to share with you. You’ll hear stories and neat facts about the area that you won’t hear anywhere else.

And then there are the snacks. Every tour comes with wine, cheeses, and a variety of other goodies for you to try while you take in the breathtaking scenery. For anyone looking for a relaxing night on the water, our Wine & Cheese Sunset Cruises can’t be beat.

Tours are available all season, so don’t miss out!

Catch you later,

Travis

The 19^th Annual Painters at Painter’s was another magical event. British Columbia’s most esteemed artists descended upon Painter’s Lodge to talk to admirers, discuss their work and share their secrets to success.

The only thing missing was Oak Bay Marine Group founder Bob Wright, who passed away before the event. But even though he wasn’t here physically his spirit was present and lives on through the event. The weather forecast called for rain, but it was beautiful and sunny all weekend. Something tells me Bob had something to do with that.

The property was pristine and the perfect location for such an event. As they usually do, a number of artists sat in the sun or down on the docks as they worked on their latest masterpiece. They were always happy to talk to guests who couldn’t help but wonder exactly how they do it.

I’ve attended a number of Painters at Painter’s events, and the art on display this year was one of the best collections we’ve ever had. There was such a wide array of styles, techniques and colours on display. There was truly something for everyone.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Painters at Painter’s without the fabulous brunch, and this year was no exception. Our kitchen staff out did themselves once again, serving a delicious spread of breakfast and lunch items, along with a variety of seafood, appetizers and desserts.

Finally, there were the presentations and discussions by the artists which are always the main attraction. Some were educational, some were autobiographical, others were casual discussions and question and answer sessions. But all were extremely interesting for anyone interested in art or looking to learn more about painting and what it takes to be an artist.

On behalf of the Painter’s Lodge staff I would like to thank all the artists and guests who attended this year’s event, as well as everyone else who helped make this weekend happen. We couldn’t do it without you.

See you next year!

I had a chance to drop in on one of our Live & Learn classes yesterday. If it was any indication of what’s to come this season then our participants are in for a real treat.

Our first Live & Learn of the year, Acrylic Painting: A Taste of the Figure, wraps up today and from what I’ve seen and heard it’s been a huge success. The participants have been all smiles as instructor Nicholas Pearce (who will also be at Painter’s Lodge this weekend for Painters at Painter’s) happily shares his secrets to success. Pearce has a truly unique teaching style. He is energetic and fun, and more than happy to spend one on one time with every student. I even saw him having lunch with the participants, proving this is a truly special experience.

Painter’s Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa will be hosting more Live & Learn classes throughout the year. They’re the perfect way to relax, have fun and uncover some hidden talents. For more information on our upcoming Live & Learns go to http://www.painterslodge.com/lodge/events/live-learn/. I hope to see you here this season!

Every week our Marine Activities Manager Dwayne Mustard provides us with a fishing report. Are you wondering what the tides will be like? Curious where people are catching fish? Or maybe you're just looking for some good fishing stories. If so, you've come to the right place. Here is Dwayne's latest entry:

I don’t know if you have ever noticed that big tide swings always seem to coincide with nasty weather but it was certainly that way over the weekend. Thirty knot winds and sideways rain make fishing difficult at the best of times, but when you add in a weed-filled seven knot tide rip it can become an exercise in frustration. But that didn’t deter our guide Russ Lim from taking his mom Jan out for for their traditional Mother’s Day fish. Russell (as his mom calls him), his fiance Jen and mom Jan all bundled up against the elements and bounced off south toward the Lighthouse. They are perhaps the most fishing crazed trio of angler’s in our fair city and they were gonna let a little foul weather spoil their fun, dammit. An hour later they returned from the Lighthouse, wetter than a crab at high tide, with a nice spring salmon in tow. So the fish are there, it is just a matter of getting to them.

This Victoria Day long weekend should see some more favourable fishing conditions. Environment Canada is calling for nice weather and while you can’t always rely on Environment Canada, you can rely on the Government of Canada tide tables and this weekend will see some fairly light tides. Your best salmon tides of the weekend will be fairly early in the morning, so don’t stay up drinking all night. But midday will see minimal tide movements on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so it might be a good time to see if there are any halibut hanging out at the Hump or off Shelter Point. Send down your salmon gear and who knows? That next big strike might just be a barn door hali!

Until next week,

Tight lines and keep on fishin’

Dwayne

As you may or may not know, Painter’s Lodge is made up of many different buildings. When I first began working here I assumed they were all pretty much the same, but that’s not really the case. Each building offers a slightly different experience, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all a lovely place to spend your vacation.

The first building you’re likely to experience is the Main Lodge. This is where our lobby, Legend’s Dining Room, Fireside Lounge and Tyee Pub are located. If you head upstairs you’ll find our trophy room where you can relive the history of the lodge. You’ll also find 15 rooms, two of which are large suites with extended decks. The main lodge offers both ocean and garden view rooms that are just a few steps away from our lovely dining areas and right in the heart of the action.

The Redonda Wing is all ocean view, but what really makes this building unique is the lawn that the bottom decks open up to. Many guests love to pull their deck chairs out onto the lawn and lounge in the sun right next to the ocean.  The top floor may not have the lawn but offers some of the best views of the ocean on the property.

Directly behind the Redonda Wing is the Vancouver Wing. Situated on a hill, this building looks over top of the Redonda Wing and also offers a wonderful view of the ocean. The top floor features lofted ceilings and the building is just a few feet away from our heated pool and hot tubs.

The Quadra and Cortes Wings are our garden view buildings. Thanks to our expert gardeners every view is a good one at Painter’s Lodge. These buildings allow you to sit out on the deck right next to a wide array of beautiful flowers. The top floors feature lofts and four beds, making them an excellent choice for groups of friends or families. The Cortes Wing is also home to our hospitality room, 325. This room has two floors, two decks and is perfect for large parties and functions.

Finally, we have the Victoria Wing. This ocean view building has seven loft rooms with large seating areas and king size beds. The couches fold out into queen sized beds, making them perfect for family getaways or romantic weekends for two.

In addition to our wings, we also have four cabins nestled in the woods at the back of the property, located right next to our tennis courts, children’s centre and fitness centre. These are ideal for those large groups that need a little more space than a regular hotel room can offer.

So, where are you going to stay when you come visit us? The choices are many, but they’re all good ones.

Catch you later,

Travis