In 2009 Derek Botchford and Andrea Soto ventured to Haida Gwaii for the first time in the hopes to find true steelhead solitude. Not only did they discover the hidden gem of Copper Bay Lodge, they found another gem in 21 year old local Sandspit resident Evan Quaas, who had an undeniable passion for steelhead. Immediately after meeting Evan Quaas both Andrea and Derek knew they had found the anchor for a brand new steelhead operation. A new, diverse program that had never been done on the islands. Evan grew up fishing these waters with his father Bill who is truly an iconic steelheader on Haida Gwaii. Bill is a very important part of the history of steelhead fishing on Haida Gwaii and now Evan has been passed the torch.
Evan knows the different systems intimately and offers valuable knowledge of the surrounding lands. A day with Evan gives you decades of local knowledge fishing the rivers of Haida Gwaii and a take on the entire landscape that only someone born and raised there could share.
These rivers are very challenging, and you have to have intimate knowledge, of when, how, and where to fish them. This is where local knowledge is invaluable. Evan was born and raised on the rivers of Haida Gwaii and he knows where the fish will be before the fish even know. Now 31 years old with a decade of guiding under his belt, we are very proud of the guide and person Evan has become.
