About The Steelhead House
We started this lodge because we love sharing experiences with our friends both on and off the water. Being located in Terrace, British Columbia, we have a cozy, unique lodge that offers the opportunity for our guests to connect with some of the most beautiful wild fish on the planet. And there isn’t anything we would rather do than host you for a memorable trip.
British Columbia’s best kept secret: The Steelhead House
The Steelhead House is nestled in the heart of Skeena country and not too far from the Kitimat and Nass watersheds. We are happy to say we have experienced many great years at The Steelhead House. When you’re here, smiles and good laughs are shared on the river, around the fire, and of course at the dining room table.
There have been many beautiful fish caught and respectfully released over years on our guided angling adventures. As we proceed into the next year, we look forward to swinging flies for both steelhead and salmon on the Skeena and Kitimat Rivers with you.
So here’s to a great season on the water, making memories, and spending quality time with you here at The Steelhead House.
All the best -- Darren, Missy and River
Meet your hosts
When you’re at The Steelhead House, you’re family. We are a tight-knit operation and we love our job: making sure you have the best stay possible. From near and far, we are happy to make sure every detail is covered. Take a second to meet the crew below!
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Missy's dream in life has always been to own a lodge. She's turned that dream into The Steelhead House. Missy also loves to fish. She had been fishing in Alberta for years, and in the last decade, she found her love for steelhead.
Growing up in Sarnia, Ontario, she decided one day that she would move to Banff, Alberta and live the dream of skiing. She's worked in the hospitality industry since she can remember and learned that she enjoyed it so much that she could do it forever.
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Darren has been fishing for as long as he can remember. His parents had a rod in his hand since I was a young lad. He grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and played hockey for a good portion of his upbringing.
For years Darren did jobs that made him a stronger person, but he always knew that one day he would be doing what he loves and that is guiding anglers into wild fish.
Darren has been guiding fly anglers for 20 years and he enjoys every minute of it. As he puts it, "I wouldn't change a thing about my life."
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One thing is for sure, when you’re out on the water with River, she has your back. As the cornerstone of the operation, she keeps the bears away and loves seeing all of the lodge guests return year after year.
The history of The Steelhead House
The Steelhead House is itself a piece of Terrace history.
With true log cabin roots, it took a village to build this magnificent structure. The original owner was Daryl McDonagh, who bought the three lots it currently sits on in 1974. One lot was two acres and this backed up to Crown land, This was the lot they decided to build the house on. The middle lot had a cabin and stairs for access. Daryl decided he would live there while they were building the Steelhead House, as you know it. At that time, there was no driveway, so they would park at the bottom of the hill and walk up the stairs that had been carved in the hillside. All of the house's furniture was carried this way as well.
That same year they started clearing the lots with a bulldozer, chainsaws and an old Ford pickup truck. Daryl tried to get permits for the log size he wanted and was refused. So, he decided he would do it anyways and hand-picked the best of the best logs in sizes that suited him. He was caught and charged, and then went to court where he was fined $25.00. These logs were then seized and put up for auction by the forestry. Daryl, determined to get them back, bid on his logs and ultimately achieved what he was after... Shortly after they poured the cement, they started the build and these logs have been the structure of the house until current day.
With these special logs secured for the structure, it was time to build out the rest of the house.
They moved their focus onto the remainder of the house, and they had a unique vision. Daryl also decided that a partial basement was needed after most of the house was built, so they lifted the building with a crane and poured cement in for the basement. Next was the iconic roof, where each cedar shake was carefully made by hand.
In the end, it took 18 years for Daryl, his wife and good friends to finish the house. In 1994, they sold the house to a different set of owners. These owners built all the outbuildings and put the driveway in. They eventually sold the house again in 2009 to another family, but it was only a short-term place for that family. Lucky for Darren and Missy, they were at the right place at the right time and bought what is now The Steelhead House. As soon as they drove up the driveway, they knew they could do great things with this truly special house that has an incredible history.
Since that day, they have put their heart and soul into this lodge to make it The Steelhead House. It's a one-of-a-kind place with deep roots, anchored in this majestic natural area that we know and love as Terrace, British Columbia.
“With Darren and his partner Missy (a most able steelhead angler in her own right) at the helm, you can be sure The Steelhead House will quickly earn an envied reputation among discerning steelheaders.”
— Peter McMullan, Guest