John Day Float [Archive]

Slow and Low

04-11-2007, 06:54 AM

Hi All,
Floated a short little float o the JD Fri-Monday. Fourth time floating and the first time with any water in it. Great boat ride and camping trip. Water temps were 54-58 degrees and there were bugs everywhere most of the trip. Caught plenty of smallmouths and broke one of that was 5-8 pounds biggest bass I've hooked. Stupid 3x. Weather was 50/50 and the wind was strong Sunday and Monday. Saw one boat with no gear below 30 mile. Great trip looking forward to some decent water clarity.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060001.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060014.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060016.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060022.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4080115.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4080122.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4080120.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060071.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/P4060093.JPG

D3smartie

04-11-2007, 07:08 AM

nice pics!!! sure looks different from the couple months i spent down there this year. there are some hawg smallies in there its just a matter of finding them and picking through the little guys. glad you had a good trip

rowmanholiday

04-11-2007, 09:54 AM

Nice pics Slow & Low. Did you float solo or have comany with you on your trip? Also, I've never floated the John Day, let alone the area you were in. The scenery looks stunning. How technical was that stretch of river?

Glad you had a good time.:cheers:

bignate

04-11-2007, 12:48 PM

Beautiful pictures. I have been looking into that float. Glad that you had a good time.:yay:

nate

LunkerFish

04-11-2007, 01:16 PM

Very nice pics and report. Doing one of the John Day floats has been high on my list for a while. I have a friend who loves to fly fish for bass (I try not to hold it against him :grin:) and we have talked about heading out there.

Salmo trutta

04-11-2007, 02:22 PM

Did you put in at 30 mile and take out at Cottonwood?

I have floated from Clarno to Cottonwood the last three deer seasons. Gawds country!! Beautiful and peaceful. Alot of fish have sore lips cause of me in that river!!

Nic pics and great trip report!!

AlseaAssassin

04-11-2007, 06:25 PM

30 mile is below Clarno rapids I believe and that big dog roller is Clarno rapids.

Moldy45

04-11-2007, 06:40 PM

That is a fun float! it is really easy ,only spots that I thought were any trouble was clarno and great basalt. I like that Hoot owl

Slow and Low

04-11-2007, 07:52 PM

Clarno to Cottonwood, it's 70 miles. The big roller is clarno, there are 3 droppes bit the third is a non issue at low water. The float is easy at this level. This is my 4th time 3 of the 4 with my wife. Ran it last November 300-400 in my supercat and we had to line clarno. This the first time I have made the float over 750, and left the raft at home. Only 4 scratch on the new coat of gluvit. Yep Gawds country.

Glad you guys enjoyed the pictures.

TallFlyGuy

04-11-2007, 09:46 PM

Looks fun. I take it there wasn't alot of traffic. You have the whole place to yourself?

Is this float good for steelhead in the fall/early winter?

Justin

cphatts

04-12-2007, 06:38 AM

Great photos S & L! That looked like a killer trip. Thanks for sharing.

BigSkyHunter

04-12-2007, 10:36 AM

Great Pictures! I have only floated around Monument on the John Day in toons, looks like I need to expand my river miles this summer.

Matthewc

04-14-2007, 07:57 PM

very nice pics, love to see that part of the state. I am of envy believe me....

Patrick Kollodge

04-14-2007, 10:10 PM

Great pics of a great place. The third picture from the top shows the big drop in Clarno Rapids. The preferred route for a drift boat at higher flows (3,000 cfs and up) is the big tongue in the left channel. Once the water drops to 2,800 cfs a large rock comes into play. It is hidden by the first standing wave in the left channel.

Check out the BLM website for up-to-date John Day River camping and floating information.
http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/johnday/boating-general.php

Three things to remember before launching:
1. Fires must be contained in a fire pan supported above the ground. No fires or charcoal after midnight, May 31 through Midnight Sept. 30.
2. River toilet is mandatory. Animals dig up buried human feces. There are no outhouses on the river, except for launch and take-out points.
3. Leave No Trace.

Slow & Low's pictures show an incredibly beautiful and remote 70 mile stretch of Wild and Scenic River. It is truly one of Oregon's treasures.