Guide D.J. Returns...to The Clubhouse!

There is at least one silver lining in the recent news that North Island Lodge will not operate this coming season, and that is that former NIL head guide, D.J. Shinduke, will continue patrolling the waters of Langara Island in 2020, much to the delight of a countless number of long-time friends and guests.

D.J. is ready to take on his 28th season at The West Coast Fishing Club!“It was disappointing to say the least that North Island Lodge won’t be open this year,” says D.J., who first arrived there as a 19-year-old dock hand in 1993. “I have had the pleasure to know so many of the regular guests and groups there over the years. I just hope they know I’m still going to be guiding at Langara Island and that as many as possible will come up to fish with me again.”In spite of the profession of saltwater guiding being one that sees a lot of turnover, The Clubhouse has always retained an inordinate number of seasoned guides who are clearly among the best in the business. Still youthful and energetic going into his 28^th season, D.J. is mighty happy about being part of a team that is stacked with equally skilled veterans who know every rock and eddy for miles around.

Whether you've fished with him or not, D.J. has been a long-time favourite among our guests throughout the years. “I am looking forward to being part of a fantastic team of guides at The Clubhouse,” I don’t think there is any question that they are the best in the business, anywhere. I’m also looking forward to running one of the larger boats. The entire fleet is Boston Whalers and there is no better boat on the market for those waters.”D.J. grew up in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley where his introduction to fishing was fly-casting on small mountain lakes and trolling for Kokanee and big rainbow trout on the larger lakes. Like most guides, he has a deep appreciation for all the amazing summers in Haida Gwaii and swears that there isn’t a better a better place in the world to fish for Pacific salmon. And, like his colleagues, he has an innate and uncanny ability to find them, including the big ones.

D.J. swears there's no better place to fish for salmon than Haida Gwaii. Find him in a 27-foot Boston Whaler this season. The largest, he says, was a 60, caught off Andrews Point many years ago by a guest whose name he can’t recall. He does remember a chap named Keith Oberg, for whom he guided a 58 off Seath Point in his second season, and a 51 more recently for the late Al Norris, who was a long-time favourite among NIL staff.

A very memorable 51lb tyee for D.J. and the late Al Norris.Watch for D.J. in one of The Clubhouse’s 27-foot Boston Whalers when the season gets under way June 4.

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