Joe’s Salmon Lodge in northern British Columbia is a fun place to fish for salmon. I purchased a trip for two at our MDF banquet a few years back and took my brother along. Our dates were in early July and we fished for about three days.
The trip is an interesting adventure, traveling on three different planes between Oakland and the lodge. The last was a “Grumman Goose” Seaplane, one of serveral classic planes that’s been in use in BC and Alaska for many decades.
This is how the Goose looked on the runway at the airport on wheels.
The “Goose” arriving at Joe’s Lodge on water.
Because the Goose floats on it’s hull and not floats, it’s not a “float” plane it’s a seaplane and it is capable of landing in swells up to three feet (according to my research).
An interesting fact is that the Goose seaplane has been out of production for over 60 years but a company on the east coast is planning to build new planes starting this year.
More on this trip later….
Wow – that must be an odd feeling when you land to see water splashing up out your window. And I’ll pass on landing in 3 foot swells!
I have flown into Joe’s Salmon Lodge-twice. Both flights were in the indomitable Grumman Goose. What a spectacular entrance on the the water in front of the lodge. These pilots are seasoned veteran fliers and they slip these aircraft in between the cliffs, (from the ocean entrance), with just enough room for you to appreciate the beauty of the approach and scenic grandeur which awaits your arrival. As you touch down, and the power is chopped, you feel the hiss of the water as the hull settles. There is a short taxi to the landing, and as the “goose” lays on her side, she is secured to the dock and you are welcomed not only by the the staff at Joe’s, but also a very satisfied and jovial group of anglers, who will be making the return flight to Port Hardy and thence onward to Vancouver BC. This is just the beginning of the experience of a lifetime. I was fortunate enough to experience ‘it’ twice, in the company of my co-workers from Howard S. Wright Construction Co. Seattle WA. We all caught fish. Salmon, Cod, Hallies and some other great bottom fish. Early one morning,as our little ‘armada’ of 8 vessels were headed to the Halibut fishing grounds, a pod of Gray Whales surfaced in our midst. On the second trip, we were rewarded with the sight of a pod of Orcas ‘fishing’ for salmon! The Orcas were between us and the island! Great pictures. The food at Joe’s is great. The camaraderie we enjoyed with the other guests, was very memorable, as was everything else about this great experience.