Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Hakai Pass is a magical place located on the central coast of British Columbia. This hidden oasis was discovered as a stomping ground for massive Chinook Salmon, legendary coho and unbelievable amounts of bottom fish. Joe's Salmon Lodge was started by Joe Vilidka in 1985 and the secret soon got out about the beauty and the bounty of Hakai Pass. Starting as a deckhand in 1987 current owner Doug Stuffco has loved the lodge since day one. He became owner in 2000 and ever since then he has been filling the lodge with loyal guests, new friends and avid anglers. You will arrive at Joe's Salmon Lodge as a guest and by the time you leave you and Doug will be best friends. The lodge is entering 2016 with a new partner in Carl Rosenau. Carl fell in love with Joe's Salmon Lodge after fishing for half an hour at the Gap, an amazingly scenic and fish filled location near the lodge. He and his wife Grace can be seen entertaining guests out on the water or up in the bar with their kind and embracing presence and contagious laughs. Joe's Salmon Lodge is unlike any other fishing destination on the coast. We allow you to come and be yourself and have the time of your life while catching the kind of amazing fish that can only be found here. Book a trip with us this summer and see why our guests keep returning year after year. Come and join the Joe's Salmon Lodge family and experience the kind of fishing and laughter that only happens one place on earth. Only at Joe's.
First class operation. From the greeting by the entire staff when you arrive to the "gift" box of neatly package fish when you leave, Joe's makes you feel welcomed and has everything covered so you can enjoy your trip. The staff is professional and courteous, the lodge has plenty of space to spread out, the scenery and wildlife is spectacular, and of course, the fishing is unbelievable. Thanks to Doug and Carl for an amazing trip.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Go with the flow. Getting here takes some time and you are at the mercy of the weather. The...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First timers at Joes and had a blast. Doug, Carl and the entire staff is outstanding. A true fishing lodge where you go to enjoy great fishing, amazing scenery, and everyone treats you like a friend. Great food and drinks. Chef even loaned his guitar so we could enjoy the deck. First class people at Joes
Read more
Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an awesome venue for a fund raiser. The weather was warm and seas were calm most of the time. Over $100,000.00 was raised for the kids. Everyone went home with fish. Thank you to Dave Babych and Dana Murzyn for inspiring all of us with your endless support of events like this. YOU ROCK! The staff at the lodge are great and are always willing to help with the problems guests may encounter.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:this is a small venue with room for 35 people. on a floating barge. silgle beds for all guests. 3...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great staff, Great food, Great fishing, Great scenery and a absolute spectacular Great time. If you have never gone salmon fishing this is the perfect place to start. Was one of not the best times I've had on a trip. Will definitely be going back.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:It's not all about the fishing
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I never have been to a fishing lodge before so I have nothing to compare Joe's to, however I'm still happy to share my experience. A group of 4 of us showed up never been saltwater fishing before expecting some guidance or information that would help us make the most of our time. We quickly discovered that Joes is a rustic lodge with (a quote from one of the owners) "very few rules. Bring the boat back prop side down and we're happy."
Joe's is a self guided lodge, and if you've never fished those grounds before you will be largely dependant on your dinner placemat for guidance as that's the only map available. The boats do have a GPS system, but no one tells you that or has any guidance on how it works. Radio channel 69 if you're lost or in trouble and if you're in range of the lodge; this may be important if your boat runs out of fuel or has mechanical issues which several boats did.
Safety is entirely absent at Joe's. Many boats don't have the required gear, there is no orientation on running the boats, alcohol consumption at sea is encouraged, and faulty equipment is rampant. First aid kits and AED's are absent, there are no emergency plans for fire or flood on the barge. You don't even sign a waiver on your way in.
Guides are available if you book in advance, however this isn't mentioned on any of the literature they send you to prepare you for your trip, it's only listed on their website. We were a little surprised that the guide was consuming a high volume of alcohol while we were out with him. Super nice guides that take care of you as best they can, and I don't care if they have 1 or 2, it's a lodge everyone should have a good time, but the reason you hire a guide is because you're not confident to do it on your own, you're not confident if your driver is drunk.
The rooms and the lodge are clean, but maintenance is low priority; our toilet, like our boat, was broken for our entire stay. Windows don't close, doors don't lock, blinds are broken, etc. Prepare to get cozy and personal with your bunk mate as space is extremely limited. Breakfast is served directly outside your room, if you're not a 5:30 fisher prepare to be one.
All of the staff at joes are very nice, and seem to genuinely want to make sure all of the guests have a great time. However, they're not the most experienced, communication is a problem with management, and training is low priority. The fish are cleaned very poorly, keep an eye on yours as they're filleted as many guests complained about loss of good meat. Bartenders are friendly and get to know you, but have limited skills and resources to work with. The chef is excellent, he is the best part of Joe's, but don't expect to eat fish while you're there; all we ate was beef & chicken with the exception of one seafood pasta.
At the top of the food chain is one of the owners, Doug, who we thought treated Joe's as one big party instead of a business. Do not expect to see him without a drink in his hand. Doug and Joe's as a whole aren't used to servicing people who have never stayed at another lodge, so ask lots of questions. He was surprised and a little put off that we asked for a cooler instead of a typical cardboard box to bring our meat back home in as we had a layover in Vancouver. He does his best to accommodate, but doesn't treat Joe's like a business and doesn't teach his staff the importance of communication. Multiple times guides were sent out to look for fishers who had checked in with fish shack staff with their float plan prior to leaving. The most disappointing part about Doug's leadership was the way Joe's expects a $250 tip per person at the end of their stay and as soon as envelopes are submitted Doug takes them and runs to the kitchen, opens them, and examines how much you've left.
I don't think Joe's is worth the price of admission; you can do a lot of other charters or lodges for the price of Joe's. At $6 per can of beer and $10 per highball, be prepared for an expensive holiday.
If you're an experienced fisher looking for a lodge to call home base and no one breathing down your neck, head to Joe's. It's a low maintenance easy going experience.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What really impressed me was the staff at Joe's salmon lodge and the owner, Doug. Together they make you feel like you are a part of the family and go to great lengths to ensure your trip is a memorable one. The lodge is clean, the staff is friendly and professional and the gear is top shelf.....and we havent even got to the fishing yet!
If you want to fish halibut they will ensure you catch a halibut. The same goes for salmon and cod. The friendly environment and Comradary make for a great experience and I would highly recommend booking a trip.
One last thing, the scenery is nothing shorter than amazing.
Thank you Doug and staff for making our trip one of the best times of our lives and we look forward to seeing you next year!!!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had the pleasure of taking some clients to Joe’s Salmon Lodge in early July 2019. The lodge is well maintained and has all you need to relax and enjoy a week of fishing. Doug, Carl and Grace ensure you are fed like a king and Deni (shout out) will keep you hydrated at the bar! All the staff is accommodating and very friendly. The fleet of boats, tackle and Mike (guide) are top notch and ensure you have a safe and informed trip. Our man Enzo ensured the boat was stocked daily with bait, gear and very clean. This is a 5 star fishing lodge without the Egyptian cotton and cellular service but rest assured the entire staff make you feel at home. We ended up with 70lbs of fish that they seal and box for the trip home. We will visit here again!!
Read more
Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My son and I visited this fishing lodge, early August 2014. A lot has changed since my last visit ten years ago. Many of the same staff are still there, but many new staff have been added, especially in the kitchen which managed to produce a remarkable, almost elegant series of gourmet meals for breakfast and dinner. Doug, the co-owner of Joe's also managed to arrange a late afternoon barbeque for a group of anglers fishing in a remote area far from the lodge. The quality of the equipment is excellent. The Boston Whalers are well-serviced; rods and reels, tackle, bait,etc. are high quality. This salmon fishing on the west coast this year was unpredictable at many locations. This was also true at Hakai Pass, however during our trip the staff worked extremely hard to track dowm the elusive Chinook and Coho salmon we were after. My son and I were very satisfied with our net results and caught and released enough salmon for a very enjoyable holiday. The "bottom line" a wonderful destination for dedicated anglers and possibly your best chance for an energetic 3-4 days chasing salmon and other coastal gamefish.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2014
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As a non-fisherman I must say the experience of being on a floating lodge was amazing. I expected everything to be very rustic and was pleasantly surprised by the how big the lodge is, the rooms, common areas inside and outside, the staff, the incredible food and the attention to the details. My journey started with a chartered flight from Vancouver to the island of Bella Bella and then a water taxi for over an hour in the protected region of Haikai Pass – this untouched wilderness in the West Coast is breathtaking. Once I arrived at Joe’s Salmon Lodge the whole group was greeted and welcomed on the pier by their full staff. My luggage was delivered to my room and the above and beyond service had just begun. The atmosphere was great from the very beginning. The rooms are small of course but with quality mattresses and bedding and the Lodge and even the Fish Shack are very clean. I was assigned a room and a fully outfitted Boston Whaler along with life vests, rain gear, rods, reels, tackle and bait and more. The next morning, we headed out – not as early as most – the real fishermen were having a big breakfast at 5:30am and fishing shortly after. I must admit that I never took part in breakfast and chose to fish later in the morning. The coffee/tea bar is available 24/7 and it was nice to have a quiet coffee and get ready for an awesome day of fishing or being on the water. Their Wi-Fi is great in the quiet common area of the main Lodge. I had the opportunity to fish with Carl my personal guide and Grace my fish whisperer. I completed my lunch request for the boat the night before – my custom lunch was ready to go outside my door in the morning – fresh sandwich, fruit, chips and homemade cookies. The cooler was filled with ice and plenty of cold drinks. There was also thermos or travel mug option available for hot drinks. If you are an avid fisherman, you can fish from dawn to dusk and you have the option of booking a guide. We were at several fishing points just outside the bay and were successful with our catch of CoHo, Spring, Ling Cod and Rockfish. My big catch was a 10-pound CoHo which taught me what getting your ‘knuckles wrapped’ meant but it was worth the fish! Mike the Fish Master was at dinner nightly to go over the game plan for fishing the next day and noted the tide times on the board. Enzo and ‘Skip the Fishes’ was an awesome service – rather than returning to the Lodge if you are out of food, drinks or bait you can use your boat radio to call in and your order will be delivered to you on the ocean no less. This service is definitely above and beyond, and I loved the concept. I also must admit that I was easily distracted on this trip (so sorry Drew & Carl) – you can get lost just watching the whales, seals, eagles and of course the constant and most incredible views. I was told several times ‘check your rod’ and I would have had a bite or possibly a fish on the line! It was easy to be distracted. I loved sitting in front of the Fish Shack after dinner and just listening to nature. When the fishing day was done, we would arrive back at the pier and the Fish Shack staff were there to greet us, collect and measure and weigh in our catch for the official board. They then would clean, fillet, vac pack and flash freeze our fish. The boat is cleaned top to bottom, restocked and refueled for the next day. The management take great pride in their equipment and their staff. If I needed anything the staff was always happy to help with a smile. They all want to ensure that you have the best experience possible and it shows in their passion for the Lodge and how they treat each other. They truly have the most amazing environment and to have all of this in the middle of nature is truly magical. The gourmet meals continued – every meal was 5 stars. Although this trip was the start of a healing process for me personally, I found some peace and solitude and able to be with great friends. I also came home with 36 pounds of fish boxed for travel. Thank you to Doug, Carl, Grace and all the staff for making this trip easier for me. As my Husband would have said ‘this Lodge runs like a well-oiled machine’ and Fred would have loved every second of this experience of a lifetime as he was an avid fisherman!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2019
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everything was 1st class, the staff,the food, and the accommodation.The atmosphere and laughter shared with the other quests was even better. 5 days at Joe's is like your own personnel National Geographic special, whales, orcas, bald eagles, seals, swimming deer, and don't forget awesome fishing. hope to come again soon !!!!
Read more
Date of stay: July 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"Go with the flow. Getting here takes some time and you are at the mercy of the weather. The staff works hard for you, so show them your appreciation, kind words and nice tip"
There are more places to choose from in the Chilliwack area.
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaChilliwack
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
