05_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 35
locations
The scream of the reel as
the broad-shouldered king
salmon took another run
was music to my ears. The
single-action reel handles
spun dangerously around
as I got my hand out of
the way just in time. They
don’t call them knuckle
busters for nothing, and I
learned that painful lesson
earlier in the day. That
said, it was a lesson gladly
accepted because it meant
the fishing action was hot,
and indeed it was. Our
boat’s fish hold was steadily
filling up with the bounty
of the ocean in this remote
location off Zeballos, on
Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Canada.
Ever since I moved to
the Pacific Northwest
and started going to
Sportsman’s Shows, I had
the dream of someday
fishing a true “destination”
fishing location. Wandering
up and down the booths,
looking at pictures of
giant halibut, ling cod, and
Chinook salmon, it just got
me thinking how much I
wanted to try something
like this out. All the maps
of faraway, exotic places
to fish – I wanted to go!
But I had other priorities
and needs, not the least
of which was raising my
two boys. They are grown
now and moved out of
the house, and with a wife
encouraging my dreams,
my opportunity finally
came.
We had been invited by
Northwest Fishing sponsor
Adrian O’Connor to come
up for a few days and
enjoy fishing and stay at
his lodge, Reel Adventures
Sportfishing. What can I
say? My jaw dropped when
Rob told me we would be
traveling to this fishing
Mecca in B.C.
Zeballos is a small, remote
town located at the end of
Zeballos Inlet on the west
side of north Vancouver
Island, a little more than
halfway along the large
island. In days past it
had been a vibrant town
of a couple of thousand
residents. A gold rush
between 1938 and 1942
produced a booming town,
which quickly faded after
World War II when the price
of gold collapsed.
The town turned to forestry
and fish processing. It’s the
tourist and sport anglers
who come now to visit, at
least those in the know.
Our crossing at the border
was uneventful. Although
I must admit to being
taken aback when we
told the border officer our
destination was Zeballos,
and his response was, “Are
you making that up?” No
officer, and please don’t
pull us over and empty
our vehicle! But he smiled
and waved us on. Next
stop was the ferry crossing
at Tsawwassen, due
south of Richmond (near
Vancouver). It’s a two-hour
crossing from Vancouver
to Nanaimo. The B.C. ferry
system is impressive.
Large, comfortable ferries,
reservation systems
(recommended), and good
food on board made the
crossing a breeze.
