Frank Staiger - owner, Fraser River Fishing Lodge

The serene Fraser River Fishing Lodge offers world-class fishing, luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine. The lodge is an 80-minute drive from Vancouver, but if you have a private jet you can get there much faster (an arrival method not entirely uncommon at the lodge). However, owner Frank Staiger insists the lodge is not just for the super rich (with rooms starting at $199 CAD, including breakfast), and regardless of your net worth you'll be in excellent company. Past guests have included delegations from the US Government, CEOs from around the world, and Hollywood film producers. "If you want something, we'll make it happen," says Frank. In addition to salmon and sturgeon fishing, the lodge can offer heli-hiking, V8 race car driving, jet boating, totem pole carving, skeet shooting, gold panning, spa packages, medicine walks and of course, arrangement for your private jet at one of two nearby airstrips.

Tell us about yourself.
I came to Canada from Germany 12 years ago. Coming to Canada was my childhood dream. We started twelve years ago with a little lodge in Chilliwack and a small boat.

Describe the lodge.
The lodge is just 80-minutes outside of Vancouver, but you'll think you are in Alaska. All you see in front of you is river, mountains, bald eagles and bison (the lodge has its own private herd). The lodge faces the 7,000 foot Mount Cheam and is located on the Fraser River - considered the best salmon and sturgeon fishing river in the world (guests frequently pull six-foot sturgeon out of the river).

What kind of experience do you offer?
Many people just come to read, relax and do a bit of fishing. We offer communal, five-course meals every night featuring local and organic products (including bison from the herd). We've also got a gym, licensed bar and internet access. Most of the guests you meet are professionals, but you never know who you'll meet here. We've had Supreme Court judges, US governors and we once had the man who built the astronaut masks for the first moon landing! But it's very casual. One of our guests said it perfectly - it's a beautiful place without any pretension.

What type of special things do you offer for groups?
Service and flexibility are what we offer. We specialize in unique client events, corporate retreats, meetings and weddings. We once had a group of executives come that really loved to play poker and smoke Cuban cigars. Because law prohibits smoking indoors, we built them an outdoor poker and smoking tent (it's been so popular we've left it there). If you want to drive a race car, we can make that happen. If you want to experience BC's First Nations culture, we can organize First Nations drumming, a traditional salmon barbeque and totem pole carving. Then we can arrange to have the totem shipped to you anywhere in the world. We can accommodate groups from two to 200.

What makes the Fraser River Fishing Lodge unique?
We try to become better every year. This year I believe we have the best staff of any lodge in BC. Our guides are with us an average of seven years and we're a really strong team. Everyone plays an equal role - from the lodge hands, to the guides, chef and maids. It's a great group.

The Fraser River Fishing Lodge is open year-round in Agassiz, British Columbia.

www.fraserriverlodge.com

November 2007