About Us!

Group in front of their caught fishYes Bay Lodge has been owned by the Hack Family since 1977 when Art and Marlys Hack purchased the property and building and transformed it into one of the first Premier Fishing Lodge’s in SE Alaska. The Lodge was operated by Art and Marlys for many years until their sons Bill and Kevin took over the operation. Bill ran the Lodge from 1996 to 2005, while his brother Kevin focused his efforts in town running the air operation Promech. In 2005, Kevin and his family took over the Lodge operation, and the Hack family tradition continues to this day.

There are a few things that set Yes Bay apart from the other Alaska fishing lodges.

  • A true “Family” atmosphere: Unlike many fishing lodges, Yes Bay is a friendly, family-style lodge where you are more like guests in a private home rather than a guest in a large, cold hotel. Kids are welcome at Yes Bay and will surely enjoy the Yes Bay experience.
  • Yes Bay is the only lodge in the SE that fishes 2-4 anglers per private boat with the personal attention that Yes Bay sets the standard for.
  • Location: Yes Bay is located in one of the most abundant fishing grounds in Alaska. Our inland waters offer the protection from rough seas, so the fishing is comfortable in even the worst weather that Alaska can provide. It is a rare day when it is too rough to go fish!
  • The Yes Bay Dining Experience must be enjoyed to understand how wonderful it really is.
  • The View: If you had all of Alaska to choose from, you would have a hard time finding a more ideal location for a fishing Lodge.

Frequently Asked QuestionsGroup in front of their many caught fish

Listed below are our most frequently asked questions!

Feel free to drop us an email if your question is not listed below.

Where and when should we fly in to Alaska?

You should arrange your flights on Alaska Airlines into Ketchikan, typically through Seattle. We recommend that you plan your arrival and departure flights for midday, with as much flexibility as possible. This will allow you to easily connect with your transport to the lodge. Departure flights from Ketchikan to Seattle begin with the morning 9 a.m. flight, which works well for most of the season.

NOTE: In September, you will need to take a later flight from Ketchikan, as there is not enough daylight for a 6 a.m. departure from the lodge on our floatplane, and weather can often be a hinderance, as well.

How do we get a fishing license? 

Two months in advance of their arrival, all of our guests complete and submit a Guest Registration Form. With this information, we will have your Alaska Sport Fish License completely filled out and ready for your signature upon your arrival. We make it easy for you!

When will I start fishing?

Fishing will start the following day after your arrival – see Typical Day!

Is there cell phone service and internet at the lodge?

There is NO cell phone service at the Lodge. There is service in town and at the airport in Ketchikan.

Yes Bay Lodge offers complimentary Wi-Fi for the convenience of our guests; however, it is extremely limited and delicate. (You are in the wilderness, after all!) It does not support uploading, downloading, video streaming or video calling/conferencing of any kind. It is fine for email and regular web browsing. Our internet access is via satellite and can sometimes be affected by the weather.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable clothing for temperatures ranging from 50° to 75°F. Use of rain gear and rubber boots are included in our package price. Personal items to consider bringing that are not available at the lodge are: camera and film, sunglasses, any tobacco products, and small day bag for on the boat.

Here is a more comprehensive list that may provide more guidance.Group in front of their two caught fish

Suggested Clothing Items

  • Light-to-medium waterproof/water-resistant jacket
  • At least one sweatshirt, sweater or vest (wool or fleece)
  • Mix of long- and short-sleeved shirts for variety and layering
  • Jeans or casual pants
  • Thermal or fleece bottoms (especially cooler months)
  • Wool or thermal socks
  • Fishing hat (or beanie during cooler months)
  • Comfortable tennis shoes or boat shoes for around the lodge

Personal Items and Accessories

  • Sunglasses (polarized for spotting fish)
  • Reusable water bottle or thermos
  • Phone/camera, charger/batteries and memory sticks
  • Backpack or dry bag
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Binoculars
  • Tobacco products
  • Personal medications
  • Toiletries

When packing, remember that you will most likely be returning home with a 25-50 lb, airline-approved, wet-lock fish box. In consideration of this, we recommend keeping your luggage to one small suitcase/duffel bag. 

How do I get my fish home?

Each day, when you return from fishing, we process, vacuum-pack, and flash-freeze your fish before packing tightly into airline-approved, wet-lock fish boxes labeled with your name and address for you to take home as checked luggage. You can also arrange at the lodge to have your fish shipped home through a third party, using FedEx overnight delivery. 

Yes Bay Lodge is NOT responsible for fish boxes upon departure from our dock.

This includes a loss of fish boxes caused by third party mishandling, flight delays, or incidents resulting from inclement weather or any other conditions beyond our control.

While at the lodge, your fish boxes are stored in our freezer at -6°F until your departure. This process typically allows for about a 12-hour travel time in moderate temperatures. Some partial thawing can be expected, but if returned to a freezer immediately upon arrival home, this is generally not a problem.

When summer temperatures exceed 80°F, airport ramps can sometimes reach up to 140°F or higher! If you are traveling to a particularly warm climate, or if your itinerary is 12+ hours, we highly recommend guests research satisfactory transport solutions appropriate to their travel needs.

PLEASE NOTE: Dry ice is not a viable solution due to Alaska shipping regulations, nor is adding ice packs to fish boxes (fish frozen at -6°F serves as its own ice pack).

What is included in the package price, and what are my extra costs?

Our package price includes all meals, lodge accommodations, round-trip transportation from Ketchikan to the lodge, fully guided saltwater fishing, bait/tackle, use of rain gear/boots, and professionally processed and packaged fish for travel home as checked luggage. Not included is tax, fishing license, optional flyout excursions, gratuities, and store/bar purchases. 

How do gratuities work? Group in front of their eight caught fish

We feel strongly that Gratuities are a personal item and should be at the discretion of our guests.

Suggested gratuities have remained stable with the industry standard at about 15-18% of the package price, with a slight lean toward your guide, as you spend the most amount of time with them. House Staff gratuities are pooled and divvied up to the penny for all non-guide crewmembers (housekeeper, dockhands, kitchen, etc). Suggested gratuity is as follows:

House Staff Pool: $100 per Guest per Day
Guide: $125 per Guest per Day

As for payment method, you have options! Most commonly, guests leave a cash gratuity directly to their guide, but you can certainly include both guide and house staff gratuities in your final check-out.  

What payment methods do you accept?

We will run a tab for all store and bar purchases while you’re here, and we’ll settle up either the night before or the morning of your departure. We accept Visa/Mastercard (no AMEX or Discover), and there is a 3% Service Fee on all credit card charges. To avoid this extra fee, you’re welcome to pay with cash or check.