Tsyl-os Park Lodge  

British Columbia

Travel:
To get to Ts’yl-os Park Lodge you will need to make travel arrangements to and from Vancouver, British Columbia. Most packages at Ts’yl-os Park Lodge run from Sunday to Sunday. You should plan on arriving and spending the night on Saturday in Vancouver.

On Sunday morning you will take the charter aircraft to Ts’yl-os Park Lodge. You will be met by lodge staff who will drive you to the lodge. The truck trip takes about 1.5 hours and is a beautiful drive.

The following Sunday you will be back in Vancouver around 1:00PM but we recommend that you do not make a connecting flight until after 4:00PM in case the planes are delayed due to bad weather. It doesn’t happen often, but can happen.

Region and Waters:
After a one hour flight from Vancouver, BC over the spectacular Pacific Coast Mountain Range you will arrive at the north end of 52 mile long Chilko Lake. Fed by glacial streams and surrounded by majestic peaks, it is one of the most impressive areas in British Columbia.

Ts’yl-os Park Lodge is located at the north end of Chilko Lake and the beginning of the Chilko River. This is the dividing point between the stunning Coast Mountain Range and the Chilcotin Plateau to the north. The Chilko River winds its way down to the Fraser River. Chilko Lake is a natural filter for run off, consequently the river does not blow out.

The area not only offers world class trout fishing, but great horse back riding along beautiful scenic trails, canoeing, and hiking. Since 1957 the McLean’s have been providing unforgettable wilderness escapes in this piece of paradise.

Fly Fishing Seasons:
The Chilko River opens June 11. During this time period there is a migration of salmon fry leaving the river and heading into Chilko Lake, where they will live for a year prior to heading to the ocean. Starting the first week in July throughout August the dry fly fishing season occurs. Starting mid-August and the first week in September the Chinook and sockeye salmon arrive to spawn in the river. During the first two weeks in September both dry flies and egg patterns are the dominant flies.

Guide Staff:
Ts’yl-os has one guide for every two anglers. Occasionally a guide will take three anglers if they are float tubing or a group of three who wants to fish together.

Fishing Program:
Guests and guides meet for breakfast at 8:30AM and head out to fish by 9:30AM. Each guide accompanies two anglers. Everyone returns to the dock by 5:30PM for drinks and hors d'œuvres.

The lodge is located on the Chilko River. Anglers have a variety of fishing styles and waters to choose from. You will typically fish the upper Chilko River drifting in a jet boat, wading along the shelves, or on hot days some guests prefer to use float tubes for a nice change. The jet boats are used to drift down the river and the motor to come back up. The upper part of the river offers great fly fishing for both avid and beginner fishers. The lower part of the Chilko River is fished from the drift boat. The drift boat trip leaves the dock by 9:30AM and is picked up at 4:30PM 25 km down the Chilko River. Chilko Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and is home to both large bull trout and rainbows. When you fish on Chilko they will beach the boat and cast sinking tip lines with large streamers into the lake fishing for the bull trout. Tsuniah Lake is a beautiful smaller lake filled with lively small trout. It is a 1.5 hour drive through beautiful scenery to fish it.

Accommodations and Meals:
Accommodations are individual cabin units located within cabins. Each room offers a private bathroom with great showers, sink and toilet. Comfortable beds and nice views ensure a good sleep. The units are heated either by wood stoves or gas fireplaces.

Life at the lodge is focused around the great outdoors. The gathering of everyone for meals is a special time of the day. All of the meals at the lodge are served “family style”. Wonderful Canadian breakfast as well as fresh fruits, cereals, yogurts, and juices are served before your active day on the river, lake, or trail. Lunch is spent streamside, on top of a mountain, or wherever your wanderings have taken you, giving you total freedom throughout the day. The evening meal is especially nice…after a great day, everyone gathers for a tasty meal, a glass of wine, and great company, sharing stories from their day’s adventures. Wonderful meat dishes, breads, salads, pastas, fresh vegetables, delicious deserts, and table wines are served.

The lodge is the central gathering place. It houses the dining room, bar, lounging area around the fireplace, fly tying area, a barbecue deck with outdoor seating, a deck with a Jacuzzi overlooking the river, and another outdoor bar and dinning deck. It also holds the office and gift shop. Ts’yl-os has a fully stocked and licensed bar at the lodge. It is opened in the late afternoon to welcome guests with icy cold drinks and hors d'œuvres as you get back from a great day on the river, mountain, or trail. Complimentary wine is served with dinner.

Ts’yl-os encourages guests who are coming to bring great music. They have a stereo at the lodge with a CD player or you can plug in an iPod. There are also a couple of guitars for people who like to strum a tune. The lodge has an assortment of cards, dice, board games, poker chips, horseshoe pit and volley ball court for evening use as well as an assortment of books for reading. The small gift shop offers a wide range of flies, tippet, leaders, caps, t-shirts, fleece jackets and vests, and a few odds and sods that people may forget or decide they need.