John Day River June 28 - July 1

So some of us on the Ocean Kayak Pro Staff are hitting the John Day River to do some promotional work (photos and videos) from June 28 - July 1.  Taking out the new Old Town Predators for a ride.  Old Town is a sister company to Ocean Kayak, all under the Johnson Outdoors umbrella.  We'll be launching at 30 Mile and taking out at Cottonwood.  Normally a 3 day float, we'll take 4 so we can fish the river hard.

While we can't accomodate any more in our group as we have too much going on, if others wanted to put together another group, it would be some fun times when we're not "working".  This is supposedly the most scenic and fishy section of the river.  The target is smallmouth bass.

-Allen

Just got off the JD last night.  Did the Priest Hole to Clarno.  Water levels very low at 650.  Have to say was the best fishing I have had on a JD trip. You might be dragging you yaks if it keeps dropping.
Have a great time.

Just got off the JD last night.  Did the Priest Hole to Clarno.  Water levels very low at 650.  Have to say was the best fishing I have had on a JD trip. You might be dragging you yaks if it keeps dropping.
Have a great time.

Yeah, keeping an eye on those river levels.  It looks like it came up a little in the last day or so.  Was there rain up there?  But at this point we're committed.  Low water concentrates the fish, well, at least that's what I keep telling myself.

What was the viz like? The photographer likes to do underwater and over/under shots.

Any more details from your trip, and more importantly, pictures?

-Allen

Yes it did rain but not very hard.  Tuesday all day and night was the most rain.  Other than that just intermittent showers.  Water visibility was very good.  Unless levels spike should remain clear.

Yes it did rain but not very hard.  Tuesday all day and night was the most rain.  Other than that just intermittent showers.  Water visibility was very good.  Unless levels spike should remain clear.

I just want levels to maintain.  Historically, the river drops from 600 to 400 in a week.  That usually happens in mid-July, so we're a couple weeks earlier than the stats.  But with this intermittent rain over the next few days, I hoping it just stabilizes.  No big storms so I don't see a spike.

-Allen

Yeah this is the lowest I have gone  down.  We had three sit on tops and two 10' drift boats.  A lot of rocks to run into and some tricky spots.  Even our expert kayaker dumped his yak in tight squeeze with a big boulder in the middle of the river.

Take a fly rod and some poppers.  Those SM bass are awesome on the top water.

Underood ... Pics man, I need pics!

What kind of poppers?

-Allen

I've tied a bunch out of foam that I use but you can just use the cheapo's that you can buy.  Get a bunch because the SM destroy them fairly quickly.

The last time I was down there, we stopped counting after the 100th fish landed.

I've tied a bunch out of foam that I use but you can just use the cheapo's that you can buy.  Get a bunch because the SM destroy them fairly quickly.

The last time I was down there, we stopped counting after the 100th fish landed.

Man I wasn't even planning on bringing the fly rod.  I guess I can stash one in my gear somewhere.   

-Allen

I used a balsa wood chartreuse popper with my 4 wt. fly rod.  Never changed or lost the popper.  I have to say I landed between 150 -200 fish over the four days.  Largest two were 4 and 3 pounds.  4 pounder measured about 20 inches.
One of the other guys used a norm woods special and clark stone fly.  They were smashing those.  I never would have thought to use them.

Any pics of said poppers?

-Allen

I will go get one and take a pic.  Stand by

Here is the popper and a Clark stonefly.
Have to apologize on the number of pictures.  Have done this trip so many times and have so many pic's from previous trips.  I got lazy and didn't take any.  One of the others took pictures.  If he sends them to me will post.

Allen,

Didn't I mention bringing my old Fenwick fly rod?   I was planning on bring just poppers and wolley buggers.  My tying skills are minimal, but what I've seen of the Norm Woods Special I think I can handle putting a few of those together. 

Brian