John Day River last Thurs

My buddy and I went for a quick trip to the river last week.  We woke up to some heavy frost and loaded up the kayaks.  We were east bound at 8:30am from Prineville and arrived at the Priest Hole at about 9:30am.  The temp was warming up and the sun was out, the water looked great.  We had the water to ourselves and fished for SMB's all morning.  No luck, only two hits.

We took a break on a gravel bar and had MRE's.  Just love those.  We were distracted from our slow fishing by rockhounding, my kids would have loved the rocks.  After the quick break we returned to the river.  I decided to go for steelhead and chose a walleye rig, something not conventional but works.  I tipped the Lindy rig with a nightcrawler and attached a 1 oz. bottom walker.  

I lowered it over the side and dropped it back about 40 feet.  Paddling very slowly up to the head of a pool was the trick, WHAM!  I got to fight a nice native- that I was sure was going to slip off the hook before I got a pic!  I didn't realize I forgot my net until the fish was on and jumping!

I got lucky and the current pushed me to the shore before the fish released itself.  My buddy took the pic and I got to release the fish back into the river.
-Scott

Very cool.. Looks like Smallmouth central.  Bet the water temp is dropping pretty hard this time of year. 

Looks like ya'll had a blast! Great report and pics!

Wow!  Looks like a beautiful place to fish.  Thanks for sharing with us!

-Spot-

It is a great smallmouth fishery, especially during May-June!  I wanted to share the east side pics because I enjoy seeing the pics from the west so much.  If anyone wanted to do a one day float, like first timers, I would suggest Twickenham down to Priest Hole.  It's a great float and easy to accomplish.  I would help in the logistics (shuttle/float times/how to find these places/) for anyone who may need it when the time comes. Just PM.  Oh, I will be fishing too!
-Scott

Scott,, thanks for the report!!
  My kids like that place, they call it the swallow cliff.. better fishing in  the next hole up stream,,
   Had a big rattler come up  along the water edge there, saw us and crossed the river to that grassy area. They are really good swimmers..   Thanks for the  pictures