YOUR HOSTS
Walter
Blondy
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BC sport fishing guide Walter Schoenfelder grew up on the banks of the Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC, next door to Roderick Haig-Brown. He began working as a sport fishing guide at age 13 and by 16 spent his summers guiding. Walt quickly acquired a loyal clientele, many of his guests have been with him from the beginning of his guiding career. In 1991, Walt and his wife Blondy started First Light Charters. From the beginning it has been a small, family-run business and the Schoenfelders two children, Nick and Sam have worked with them. First Light grew into Quatsino Lodge in 2001 and has never looked back.
In 2003, ocean kayaking was added to the company with Blondy at the helm. We think that family is part of the charm of Quatsino Lodge. When you come and stay with us, you're treated like family. We love to get to know you and yours, and spend a lot of time making sure your needs are met. Enthusiasm, professionalism, friendliness and skill are the hallmarks of the Schoenfelders and their team at Quatsino Lodge. Blondy is your go-to person for everything at the lodge as well as heading up the kitchen. She loves cooking, gardening, kayaking and beach combing. |
The Guides
Terry Gurney
Terry began guiding back in 1979. In 1984, he started working with Walt at the sportfish centre. In the early 90's Terry started adventuring out to greener pastures, as many other sport fishing guides did. Gold river was hot - but Quatsino was hotter and it reminded Walt and Terry how good fishing used to be, back in the old days in Campbell River. When Walt asked Terry to join him in Quatsino he could think of no place he would rather be so in 1998 he started the annual journey north to Gods Country.
Terry began guiding back in 1979. In 1984, he started working with Walt at the sportfish centre. In the early 90's Terry started adventuring out to greener pastures, as many other sport fishing guides did. Gold river was hot - but Quatsino was hotter and it reminded Walt and Terry how good fishing used to be, back in the old days in Campbell River. When Walt asked Terry to join him in Quatsino he could think of no place he would rather be so in 1998 he started the annual journey north to Gods Country.
Les Black
Les has been a fishin' fool for most of his life. He has spent many years fishing with family and friends and then running his own boat. We are excited to have him on our team. He comes to us with enthusiasm, experience and energy. Folks are loving it and Les is too. He "loves his job" and it shows. He also loves his dessert. And that means the kitchen loves you too Les.
Les has been a fishin' fool for most of his life. He has spent many years fishing with family and friends and then running his own boat. We are excited to have him on our team. He comes to us with enthusiasm, experience and energy. Folks are loving it and Les is too. He "loves his job" and it shows. He also loves his dessert. And that means the kitchen loves you too Les.
Nick Schoenfelder
Nick had a rod in his hand from the time he could walk and his career as a sport fishing guide has very much mirrored that of his father, Walter Schoenfelder. Nick's enthusiasm, experience and commitment to the family business has earned him the reputation as a first rate guide and nothing pleases him more than seeing his guests reel in and land the fish . . . especially if they are bigger than those landed by his dad! Nick doesn't fish full-time at the lodge but is available for request charters.
Nick had a rod in his hand from the time he could walk and his career as a sport fishing guide has very much mirrored that of his father, Walter Schoenfelder. Nick's enthusiasm, experience and commitment to the family business has earned him the reputation as a first rate guide and nothing pleases him more than seeing his guests reel in and land the fish . . . especially if they are bigger than those landed by his dad! Nick doesn't fish full-time at the lodge but is available for request charters.
Mike Wadsworth
Mike joined the Quatsino Lodge family in 2017 and has been an excellent team member ever since. His positive attitude and boisterous laugh keep things upbeat on and off the boat. He may be the youngest of the guides, but he has been fishing his entire life and his skill level never ceases to impress. Mike has grown into a much sought-after member of the fishing team and his friendly
competitive spirit does inspire the whole team.
Mike joined the Quatsino Lodge family in 2017 and has been an excellent team member ever since. His positive attitude and boisterous laugh keep things upbeat on and off the boat. He may be the youngest of the guides, but he has been fishing his entire life and his skill level never ceases to impress. Mike has grown into a much sought-after member of the fishing team and his friendly
competitive spirit does inspire the whole team.
Neil Matheson
Neil has been our regular part time guide for years. He is a master fisherman who began his guiding career in Campbell River in the late 70s and has been consistently producing fish everywhere he works since. He also is one of the few fellows who can run the SeaPig so we like to have him up as often as possible. Neil is father to Nico, who is working as part of our regular crew. Neil will be with us quite a bit this busy summer so if you are lucky you'll get to have him take you out.
Neil has been our regular part time guide for years. He is a master fisherman who began his guiding career in Campbell River in the late 70s and has been consistently producing fish everywhere he works since. He also is one of the few fellows who can run the SeaPig so we like to have him up as often as possible. Neil is father to Nico, who is working as part of our regular crew. Neil will be with us quite a bit this busy summer so if you are lucky you'll get to have him take you out.
Dan Cox
We are so excited to announce that Dan Cox will be returning to Quatsino Lodge this summer. Dan brings with him 16 years of guiding experience right here in Quatsino Sound. He is also a halibut specialist and for those who want to seek halibut, first and foremost Dan is your man. He is bringing new knowledge to Quatsino Lodge and we are excited to share our knowledge with him as well. Welcome back Dan!
We are so excited to announce that Dan Cox will be returning to Quatsino Lodge this summer. Dan brings with him 16 years of guiding experience right here in Quatsino Sound. He is also a halibut specialist and for those who want to seek halibut, first and foremost Dan is your man. He is bringing new knowledge to Quatsino Lodge and we are excited to share our knowledge with him as well. Welcome back Dan!
The Crew
Breanna
2021 will be my fifth year working at Quatsino Lodge and every year I look forward to heading north for the summer season, each time with new ideas to keep our food exciting and interesting. This year is certainly no exception! I'm excited to share my cooking with everyone, reunite with the staff, and chat with all of our fantastic guests.
Evan
My name is Evan Black and I am returning for my fourth full time summer at the lodge. I am attending Vancouver Island University and heading into my second year for fisheries and aquaculture this fall. I am exited to be back to welcome all new and returning guests to an amazing trip.
My name is Evan Black and I am returning for my fourth full time summer at the lodge. I am attending Vancouver Island University and heading into my second year for fisheries and aquaculture this fall. I am exited to be back to welcome all new and returning guests to an amazing trip.
Graeden
Hi, my name’s Graeden and I am from Vancouver. I'm going into second-year Mechanical Engineering in the fall at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. I’m so excited to be part of the team for my first summer at the lodge where I will be working pretty much everywhere including the dock and the lodge itself. When I am not fishing, I am often biking, skiing or jogging, and I also enjoy building bamboo fly rods and tying flies.
Hi, my name’s Graeden and I am from Vancouver. I'm going into second-year Mechanical Engineering in the fall at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. I’m so excited to be part of the team for my first summer at the lodge where I will be working pretty much everywhere including the dock and the lodge itself. When I am not fishing, I am often biking, skiing or jogging, and I also enjoy building bamboo fly rods and tying flies.
Zelda
This will be my first season working with the team at Quatsino Lodge. My interests are hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and pretty much anything outdoors I'm willing to try. I also enjoy crib, spite and malice, and DANCING.
This will be my first season working with the team at Quatsino Lodge. My interests are hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and pretty much anything outdoors I'm willing to try. I also enjoy crib, spite and malice, and DANCING.
Hi, Walt, Blondy, Nick, Sam, and Tyee,
We're home, reviewing photos and memories. It was great to be with you again and have such a fabulous outing. Springs, cohos, halibut, tasty orange rock fish, whales, eagles - you guys have it all.
And I will forever cherish the memory of "Moby Dick" the chinook that hooked up at the last possible second, and then went down, down, out, out, taking line as though the reel had no drag, and breaking the 40 pound line in the kelp bed like kite twine. He's like the giant buck that slipped away into the fog before you got a shot, and you'll never foget him.
We were honored to be on Tyee's first trip, loved the food, enjoyed the company of your other guests, and we appreciate your hospitality to Fran and Jerry on their first visit. They loved every minute of it!
Put us down (Joe and Nadyne) for August, 2 years from now, the same dates if that's what's available, or a week or two earlier if anything opens up. We'll work on Nadyne's cousins, or my trout fishing buddy to join us, But you'll have the two of us at the least.
Thanks again for everything, including this big old male coho, whose photo will be on our Christmas news letter.
Joe and Nadyne
We're home, reviewing photos and memories. It was great to be with you again and have such a fabulous outing. Springs, cohos, halibut, tasty orange rock fish, whales, eagles - you guys have it all.
And I will forever cherish the memory of "Moby Dick" the chinook that hooked up at the last possible second, and then went down, down, out, out, taking line as though the reel had no drag, and breaking the 40 pound line in the kelp bed like kite twine. He's like the giant buck that slipped away into the fog before you got a shot, and you'll never foget him.
We were honored to be on Tyee's first trip, loved the food, enjoyed the company of your other guests, and we appreciate your hospitality to Fran and Jerry on their first visit. They loved every minute of it!
Put us down (Joe and Nadyne) for August, 2 years from now, the same dates if that's what's available, or a week or two earlier if anything opens up. We'll work on Nadyne's cousins, or my trout fishing buddy to join us, But you'll have the two of us at the least.
Thanks again for everything, including this big old male coho, whose photo will be on our Christmas news letter.
Joe and Nadyne