Yes Bay Lodge
1601 Tongass Ave Ste 102, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6800
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#7 of 13 Specialty lodging in Ketchikan
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5.0
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
4.8
Value
4.0
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1601 Tongass Ave Ste 102, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6800
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This was our 6th season to fish at Yes Bay Lodge. It will be our last. Nicky and Ryan are gone. They made the experience sparkle. The new management is clueless. They lost a box of our fish and refuse to respond to calls, letters or voicemail for reimbursement. We lost about $500 worth of fish. Fishing was okay but when you have to tell the guide where you want to catch the fish its sad. Nicky was a Michelin star caliber chef, this year the cook was no better than a line chef. When guests ask if there are any hamburgers to be had you know there is a problem. Barely seasoned fish 4 nights in a row on a bed of fish is not what you expect for what you pay. Our disappointment far outweighs any pleasure we had on this trip. The new management has a lotto learn about how to treat people.…
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Room Tip: Negotiate a far better price. SHould be at least $1,000 less.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Response from Kevin Hack, Owner at Yes Bay Lodge
Responded Oct 25, 2022
Nikki, We were so happy that you and your husband caught nearly 120 pounds of fish and crab during your three days with us! You came right at the peak of coho salmon season, and you two performed very well with your guide. The smiles on your faces in your daily catch photos say it all! Sure, your first day was a little bit slower, but it’s fishing, and you more than made up for it with your second and third days! Regarding the food, most of our nearly 450 guests this season had great reviews of our chef’s menu, which featured a regular rotation of both steak and seafood such as salmon, halibut, ling cod, rockfish, crab, shrimp, and scallops. You are right, though, that not everybody loves seafood, and this is why we gladly welcome special requests and take pride in making sure everybody is happy and well-fed. You were afforded the same opportunity as everybody else to state a special preference, but you chose to stick with the posted menu. We think it’s great that you were able to take home two full 50- pound fish boxes with you! It is very unfortunate that your third, smaller, 19-pound fish box was lost in transit by a third party, but we cannot be held responsible for fish boxes after they are out of our control – as clearly stated in the agreement you signed prior your trip to us. Kevin Hack, the long-time owner, president, and general manager of Yes Bay Lodge, is certainly not “new” nor “clueless,” as you put it. He simply chose to cease communication after repeated, unfounded demands for money. For nearly five decades, the Hack family has taken pride in providing our guests with the utmost hospitality and quintessential Alaskan experiences, and if mistakes are made on our end, we go the distance to make it right. We are sorry you lost your 19 lb fish box, and respect and more than support your decision not to return to Yes Bay Lodge.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My first trip to Yes Bay was in 1953, over 65 years ago, before Alaska became a state. I was a stream guard for the Fish and Wildlife Service, a summer job that took me to Alaska and filled a childhoood dream. Yes Bay was my wilderness home for six weeks. This was an incredibly beautiful spot in Southeast Alaska, scared by the site of an abandoned, partially burned, salmon canneery. What happened during my visit is documented in my book, "PaPa;s Alaska Stories, 1953-1954", available at Amason.com. I knew that I had to return when I heard there was a fishing lodge at Yes Bay. The Hack family lodge has brought about a beautiful transformation to the site. Their lodge blends so nicely with the natural surroundings. I am now 86 years old, not as agile as I was at 19, and have a visual handicap. I have been returning to the lodge with my family for several years and each trip has bveen exceptional. For many yeaqrs I have fished remote Canada and other parts of the US . , but all fall short in comparison. The first time only my son-in-law and my grandson went with me. In years that followed we brought the ladies and made it a grand famiy vacation. The first day Pam went out with John and me we had our18 salmon limit, a halibut, and two rockfish before lunch. I told Pam that she must have been our lucky charm. That year we brought home 165 lbs. of fish. The accomodations are top notch. The staff and management treat guests as royalty, I am an early riser. I am up when the kitchen crew gets started in the morning. My day starts with a freshly brewed cup of coffee sitting in front of the massive fire place contemplating the new day. The sweet aromatic scent of cedar smoke conjures memories when life was not so grand for me here. By the time the othwe guests are up I have had my second cup, a YBL gorilla cookie or two, and ready to catch some fish. I admit that my personal history with Yes Bay has influenced my feelings about the location, however my feelings about the lodge are genuine and my review was not solicited or compensagted by the management. What is advertised is not an oversstatement. Each year I look forward to see old frienfs and meet new ones, Ryan and Nicki are graceous hosts. Once in awhile I even get a chance to chat with dad Kevin and uncle Bill and talk about what it was like in the old days.…
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Date of stay: August 2019
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Room Tip: rooms assigned. You may request twin or queen
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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Let me start out by saying I researched fishing lodges for several months before making the decision to go to Yes Bay. If you're like us, when you book a trip like this it can sometimes be a once in a lifetime bucket list trip and you want everything perfect. There isn’t a week that goes by that I either talk about this trip, show pictures or brag about how awesome our stay was. Let’s get to the details. After contacting Ryan, we had great communication throughout my very extensive list of questions and concerns. We are avid fishermen, but as this was celebrating our 24yr. anniversary, we also wanted the atmosphere to be nice. I had read other reviews from other lodges that talked about the party atmosphere and the raucous nights, and we really didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars to listen to that. The lodge itself is dated and rustic, but it should be it’s been there since the early 1900’s. The rooms are just like the pictures. Think 1980’s motel, but CLEAN and cozy. The mattress was a little firm for us, but after a full day and a glass of wine you hardly noticed. The showers were always hot with good pressure. The walls are thin and we had a heavy snorer next to us a few nights but managed just fine. It was nice that every guest was like-minded. From mechanics to doctors it was all about the atmosphere and the fishing. We met fantastic people and enjoyed great conversation. Nothing pretentious about this place. Every morning you were met with hot coffee, tea, cookies etc. and a roaring fire to enjoy it by. The main areas are comfortable, with a pool table, ping pong and a small bar area where appetizers are served while you look over the bay and watch the fish jump, seals dive and the eagles soar. Dining area is overlooking the bay as well with a nice wood burning stove. Speaking of food. You will gain weight here! Over seven days we did not experience one bad meal. This is five star food with family hospitality. Our diet is mainly pescatarian and they were more than able to accommodate us. I could go on for another page just on the food! Everything is FRESH and homemade, from breads to deserts. Nikki and Maryann did a wonderful job. The fishing. What sold us on this trip is they have a two person per boat standard. Basically you have a personal guide and never have to fight for a rod, or wait your turn. I believe it’s the only place in Alaska that does this. Our guide was Tina (Old Spice). She was very knowledgeable, as this was her 6th year guiding, and she had no problem putting us on the fish. She worked tirelessly to get on the spots, and didn’t waste our day. If they weren’t there we moved until we found them. We caught silvers, pinks, chum, halibut, rockfish, cod, crab, shrimp and even a two pound squid, which was a blast to do! The biggest Halibut was 70 lbs! We fished from 7am until they made us come in! Ha-ha. The weather was great for our stay with a couple of really cold mornings and one windy and rainy day. The bay allows you to fish even in bad weather. You can always tuck in somewhere and do well. All rain gear and boots are provided. We also enjoyed taking a hike in the forest, and trying some river fishing. Wherever we were while at Yes Bay the scenery was breathtaking. The one thing I would like to address was our boat. They have newer boats that have a solid cuddy, as well as the canopy covered boats. We always felt safe and stable, however when the rains came, and they will, it would have been nice to be in a cabin as opposed to the canopy WITHOUT side curtains. It’s a little more privacy for the women as well when nature calls. Just be aware that they have two different style boats. You can see them both on their website. The bathrooms really need a shelf for your personals. The walls have room so it would be a nice addition. Not sure if other rooms have one, but ours did not. The main thing that sticks in my mind was the cohesiveness of the staff. Everyone from head to tail was top notch. You would never want for anything, and they all did their jobs as if they loved them, because I believe they really did. From Ryan and Nikki, to Con, Brianna, Maryann, Anita, all the guides willing to share their knowledge and stories, and whoever else we came in contact with, you were all like family, Thank you. All in all we ended up taking home close to 250 pounds of fish that we have enjoyed every week for the last 7 months (and beyond). We really dream of returning one day.…
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Date of stay: August 2019
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Room Tip: Get one with a view of the water
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Our family has been coming to Yes Bay since 1990. We’ve always had an outstanding experience on and off the water. Young or old, experienced or completely new to fishing Yes Bay is a wonderful place to visit. The facilities, the guides, and the location make for an unparalleled experience.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I have spent the last two summers as a guide at Yes Bay Lodge. Are you ready for a unique fishing experience? Ready for whatever the day brings? Do you have a sense of adventure and need a couple of Ahhhs in your life. This might be the place for you. The lodge is remote, situated 35-40 minutes away from Ketchikan, AK by float plane or 1.5 hours by water on our new "Water Horse" transport boat. The beauty of the area will astound and amaze you as you look at the trees growing out of the rock cliffs. Fishing the "inside" waters of Behm Canal is usually calmer than the open ocean. Your professional guide will do their very best to put you on the fish. We fish for all 5 species of Salmon, Halibut, Yellow Eye Rockfish and other assorted rockfish. All of your catch is processed, vacuum packed and frozen on site. The food is top notch ranging for fresh fish, beef, chicken and pork. Special need meals are also available. The staff and crew look forward to your visit in the 2020 season.…
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Date of stay: July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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My husband has been traveling to Alaska annually for decades; I’ve been going with him since we married 3 years ago. This year we decided to try a different lodge and investigated the numerous options available at the Sportsman International Expo. We settled on Yesbay Lodge partly because the managers Nicky and Ryan treated us so well at their booth. I was also interested in a lodge that was “female friendly” rather than a rough male oriented place (as some of these hunting/fishing places are). Yesbay Lodge appeared to fit the bill. Ryan’s pretrip communication was thorough and timely. We felt taken care of before we even arrived. We choose to spend the night in Ketchikan so we had time to explore the downtown before going to the lodge. They actually sent a van downtown to get us and take us to the float plane for a 30 minute flight to the lodge. Though it was raining Ryan was on the dock to welcome us and escort us to the lodge. Note: There is a sharp uphill ramp and 15-20 stairs to negotiate but if you are in a wheelchair you can be accommodated. The public areas of the lodge are beautifully decorated with mounts and rustic decor. Our room was also paneled and rustic with a huge king bed and plenty of luggage room. Rain gear and boots were already hanging in the closet. I have a gluten allergy and the head chef (Ryan’s wife Nikki) ensured that I was accommodated at every meal. They even made me special gluten free chocolate chip Cookies! Meals are excellent and plated stylishly. Lunch is your choice - either eat on the boat or come in from fishing to eat at the lodge. The fishing is spectacular- we caught 226 lbs over 5 days of silver salmon, cod, flounder, rockfish. Our private fishing guide Stan was wonderful- experienced and knowledgeable. I have some physical disability and he was patient and helpful with my limitations. In all, a 5 day heaven on earth experience: wonderful people, food, fishing, lodging and scenery. It doesn’t get much better than Yes Bay Lodge! …
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Date of stay: September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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My husband and I just spent a week at Yes Bay Lodge and it was everything we hoped for and more! We arrived early in Ketchikan on Tuesday morning and a staff member from Pirate Air picked us up took us to the office. They kept our luggage while we explored the town. They offered to drive us to downtown, but my husband and I decided to walk. After lunch, the staff called and said we were going to leave early so they came in to town and picked us up. The flight to Yes Bay Lodge on the float plane was gorgeous. We were met on the dock by owner/manager Ryan. He was very personable and made us feel welcome immediately. Our luggage was already in our room waiting for us. The rooms are basic, but is perfect for what we needed. The beds were comfy and the showers were hot! The lodge itself is beautiful and has lots of character. Every staff member was very friendly and welcoming. The food was the best food we have had in years! Every meal was better than the last. From the cocktail hour to dessert, we were served gourmet food that made our taste buds sing! Chef Nicki is a wonderful chef! Dave aka "Fabio" was great. He was dedicated to making our experience the best ever and he definitely delivered. I got sea sick the first day, and he took us to calmer waters and showed us gorgeous waterfalls and gave my stomach time to settle. We caught two halibut that had to be returned because they were too large and that was just the first day! We brought home a large amount of fish and made a wonderful new friend. I can't say enough good things about Fabio! I can honestly say this was by far, my favorite vacation ever. We came as guests but felt like family by the time we left. This was our first trip but won't be our last!…
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I took my 15-year-old son on his first trip to Alaska and was fortunate enough to book at Yes Bay Lodge. Everything had excellent customer service and it was an overall quality experience. The float plane ride from Ketchikan to the lodge in and of itself was breathtaking. As a mom I usually have to worry about all the small details to make a trip go well. At Yes Bay lodge I got to relax and enjoy myself because everything was taken care of including the correct size boots, rubber pants and coat, all the food, a clear and organized schedule for every day and very personalized attention while fishing with only two customers for each guide. The experience was not cheap but you get what you pay for. My advice is if you're going to spend the time and money to go to Alaska, pay a bit more for the quality experience, charm and remote fabulous location of Yes Bay Lodge. …
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Date of stay: August 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Yes Bay Lodge is simply magnificent. A half-hour by sea plane north of Ketchikan, it is situated in a relatively quiet bay surrounded by very tall pines. The air is so fresh and the cool scent of pine and salt water are intoxicating. My partner and I spent three days here with three other members of her family in early September. There is a dock from which all boats leave, which rises and falls hugely with the tide -- sometimes it is practically level with the wooden walkway to the lodge; at others, there's a very steep incline. Normally, there are two guests to each boat with guide, but there is a larger boat that can accommodate five guests with guide). After breakfast (cold or hot -- your choice) at 6:30 a.m., everyone heads for the boats and is on the water by about 7:00 a.m. We trolled for salmon in the morning (magnificent silver salmon but some pink and chum) and bottom fished for halibut, Yellow-Eye rockfish and sablefish in the afternoon. The guides are all pros -- nearly all from Florida, especially the Keys, but each seems to have found his way independently to Yes Bay Lodge -- most seem to return for multiple seasons. They are scrupulous about requiring each guest to carry her/his Alaska fishing license and about observing all regulations -- their strong conservation ethic was appealing and reassuring. Fishing continues until about 11 a.m. when the boats head in for lunch (although you can stay out fishing if you choose). Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. and by 12:30 p.m. you're heading back out until 5:00 p.m. The Lodge has no control over the fishing, but our experience was grand -- my partner caught a 55-inch, 80-pound halibut first time out on the first day (we had to release it -- anything between 44 inches and 108 inches must go back). We caught many sliver (coho) salmon, some pink and some chum. We each caught a Yellow Eye rockfish (the limit is one per person per season) and several black cod. On our last run on the last day, I caught a 42-inch, 33-pound halibut right at the entrance to Yes Bay. As the Lodge Manager Ryan Martinez says, "The tug is the drug!" Cocktails at 5:30 in the bar precede dinner, and the hors d'oeuvres are a treat (e.g., bacon wrapped scallops). Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and is invariably delectable -- Chef Nikki prides herself on culinary masterpieces and her crew shares her enthusiasm -- lots of fish and seafood -- her mango crusted halibut was extraordinary -- but also filet mignon and other delicacies -- also lots of fresh salads and vegetables. Desserts are equally superb. After dinner, many guests (there are probably no more than 24 at the lodge at any one time) head for the bar to play cards, talk or sit by the roaring alder wood fire in the gorgeous field stone fireplace. To bed as you wish but we were pretty tuckered out by 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. Then its up again and fishing the next day. What makes Yes Bay so special? The setting, clearly (while Nathaniel Hawthorne never visited, the dark waters and pines and gray skies evoke his pre-occupation with light and dark). There is a ceremony morning and afternoon on the dock for each boat to display and be photographed with its catch, and the guides clean all the fish and pack it. We flew home with 30 pounds of fish -- stored in a freezer overnight in Ketchikan, then transported to Seattle and Chicago as checked baggage, another night in a hotel freezer in Chicago and home to the East Coast the next day. Above all, the staff -- from the guides to the wait staff to the bartender to the manager -- are extremely welcoming, helpful and there to please. We felt truly pampered for our entire stay. Had I done something like this before, I might not be so gob smacked -- but this was truly the experience of a lifetime. A few additional notes: Internet works occasionally on the water (the guides can find spots where you can get reception if you really need it), but otherwise there is (slow) internet in the bar. Bring a book and unplug -- Yes Bay is prime for that. Layers are a must -- even in September it can get very warm on the water when the sun shines, but it can get cold when it doesn't -- three layers seemed about right on the boat. The Lodge supplies waders, jackets and boots as well as bait and all tackle. Guest rooms are small but adequate -- our beds were extremely comfortable. Bathrooms are also small but adequate, although there was a prodigious among of wonderful hot water. And the water tasted so good I found myself drinking it every chance I got.…
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
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Room Tip: We found the lodge very quiet and serene -- no worry about noise.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Attended business networking and fishing conference sponsored by a mortgage banking firm that, together with its predecessor firms, has hosted a three night two full day fishing trip at Yes Bay Lodge for more than 15 years. The trip began with a seaplane flight to the lodge over spectacular Alaska scenery and then we were greeted by our host of the lodge who took the time to learn all 20 names of guests. The motto of the lodge is essentially that the weather may be bad and the fishing may be bad but the food better be good. Fortunately the weather was good as was the fishing, good enough for us to walk away with a box apiece of salmon filets that we had caught. The guides were engaging and helped rookies like me to be successful in catching enough fish to create our own fishing stories. The Bar and waitstaff kept the fun spirit going from morning to night. The lodge is lodge-like and the location is relatively remote but that's part of its charm. All in all, a special retreat spot in Alaska. …
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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LOCATION
United StatesAlaskaKetchikan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
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