Thinking of fishing from a 18ft Hewes,115 Yama for salmon in Canada this summer.
Do most people trailer up to PA and ferry across and go up the Vancouver island coast ? Are there lodges that allow you to stay and fish from private boats, i.e Rivers Inlet etc... ? Any tips,advice or what not to do would be appreciated.

Lots of places to fish. You need to check with some and see if they allow private vessels. A lot of folks go to Gold River and run to Critter Cove and other places at the head of Nootka Sound. Accomodation quality varies, everything from cook for yourself to room and meals.

A group from our PSA chapter fished the mouth of Esperanza Inlet (N side of Nootka Island) last year. We're going back again this year and will be trying a different lodge. We'll have the whole lodge for our group. Meals are provided. We had a good time and caught fish. Our group launched at Tahsis and Gold River to make the run to the lodge. It was about 48 miles from the Gold River launch to the lodge.

The M/V Coho makes mulitple trips every day from PA to Victoria. They charge by the foot. You can check their schedule and prices on-line:

http://cohoferry.com/main/

I'd suggest reservations if you go across. The BC ferry system is an alternative, too.

There are lots of places on the inside, too. Port Hardy, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Sooke, Port Renfrew....

I go up with a group for two weeks every year. We take a camping trailer and boat and stay on Nootka sound. Like Bushbear said there is everything from camping to full deal meals up there. I have taken a 17 ft Fiberform up there and did quite well, though most of the fishing was done inside the sound.Google Nootka Sound or Barkley Sound (which is closer) and there will be lots of places pop up.

Like bushbear said, make reservations on the ferry,you will thank us when others get left behind.

Fishy

Is Rivers inlet doable (spell?) ?

I'd go to nootka if you can,
Lot's of reasons but having an 18'hewes has something to do with it...
I'd go critter cove , 3rd week of August...should be decent fishing inside.

Local I agree head to Nootka, every year we launch at Gold River and run to the northwest part of the island (Esperanza Inlet). I think it's easier on the package (BOAT, TRUCK, trailer) to launch at @ Gold River and run through the islands. Most of the water is protected, there are a couple parts that could get a little bumpy. Fishing is usually pretty good it will depend on what they let us keep for size (77cm or bigger inside) Within 1 mile of the coast line, and how far off shore you got to go to be able to get into some big ones. Up until this year I was in a 19' Hewescraft Searunner 1994 so it was more like the sportsman series now ( a little flatter bottom). Last year we went 16 miles out not a problem other days we were getting good fish 2.5 to 4 miles off the coast. After we would get what we needed for our possesion limit we would fish a couple of the coastal spots and played catch and release all day with some big ones. You just got to keep an eye on the weather and do what you can. It's great it's nice to get away and forget about Puget Sound for a little while.

I would try the North Island above Campbell River, Coastwide would say Port Hardy but I would suggest the Port McNeil area. We RV & tow our Trophy Boat up and stay at Alder Bay Resort & Marina (Telegraph Cove Road). Telegraph Cove has some nice facilities and is a protected moorage. A lot of Folks Park & Launch at Alder Bay and go to places like Double Bay and a few other places in the Indian Island group.

Nope...I wouldn't say Port Hardy...
The boat just isn't big enough for some of the offshore day's quite frankly and he would be way better off somewhere with some inside waters...
South of Port Hardy is nice but come on....the guy wants to catch fish and down that way last summer it was dead...

I have done Tofino a number of times out of my 20" Wooldridge. If the ocean is too rough, you have lots of protected water in the sound. However, fishing has been pretty slow in the sound. I would recommend going in August, maybe towards the middle. If there is going to be good fishing inside, that's when it will happen, although I have done good inside at the end of July. Some good spots off shore are only four or five miles out, but be careful of the weather. Last year, it was a 28 mile run out for fish.

There are several places to stay where you can dock your boat. Crabbing is killer there. Try Weigh West or Tofino Swell.

Sooke is pretty easy and close too.
I like to camp at Sooke Community Park.

Cougar Creek in Nootka Sound is lots of fun. Bring your own Everything.

Port Renfrew is cool with easy access to swiftsure for butts/lings. Stayed at some awesome cabins w/dock in Bamfield inside Barkley. Woods End Landing. Good inside blackmouth fishing. Awesome bottomfish. Great salmon runs in season - early offshore Le Peruse, later in close.

Good luck! Planning those kind of trips is really fun