john day river cats?

[SlamminKokes]

Hi, Im looking for some help on fishing for cats on the John Day. Its much closer than the Snake, so im thinking of trying it this spring! Any tips on where, depth,bait, time of year or any other help would be appreciated! Thanks

[bucketmouth]

May, June and July are all good months for cats on the John Day. Try the slower holes at the end of runs, the depth will vary depending on which hole you fish but just plunk a worm and you will catch some cats. Many people like to run up to the narrows to fish the pools there, others like to stop and fish at the power lines on the way up to the narrows. I'm serious about a worm. It will work better than chicken livers or other packaged catfish baits. Good luck.

[FelonFinder]

What city or town is closest to this spot? Thanks.

[SlamminKokes]

bucketmouth, how far up from the boat ramp is the power lines and the narrows? Ive heard about the narrows already, just not sure how far of a run it is. I only have a 14 foot boat with 9.9 motor, so its slow going for major running. Thanks for the info!

[bucketmouth]

You can launch at the mouth of the John Day River at LaPage park. Then the power lines are up river about 4 1/2 to 5 miles. The Power lines are up river from the Philippi boat camping park. The boat park is about 3 miles up stream from the mouth.

I would not try going to the lines if it's a windy day. 9 1/2 horses are not enough. But if you're up there on a calm day, definately take the time and do it.

On windy days, just motor up to the first turn and fish the cats right there.

[shalom]

Please be carefull as there are some shallow chanells . You can see where the deeper water is if you are carefull and pay attention to where you are going . It is best to make several trips in the daylight to learn the safest chanell to run . Be carefull if you follow another boat upriver . A lot of people have jet pumps that can run in 4" of water .Try to talk to somesone up there that will show you the water . There is no whitewater ,so it is like most rivers be carefull . I didn't want to try to frighten anyone from going up i wanted everyone to be carefull .
:angel: :jester: :yay: :dance: :dance: :angel1:

[SlamminKokes]

thanks again Bucketmouth, so is there a ramp at Philippi park? If i remember right, there is a turnoff from the highway to get there. Also what size cats are the norm? Thanks

[bucketmouth]

There is no ramp at Philippi nor is there any road to it. It is called a boat park because the only way to get there is by boat. You have to launch at LaPage Park at the mouth of the River and motor up to the park to get there. It has docks at which you can tie up yout boat. If you want to stay there, take your tent, cooler, sleeping bags and food with you.

Dont worry about depth of water. There is no water to be worried about up to the power lines. Only after the lines does the river began to get shallow. In a 14 foot Aluminum with a 9 1/2 motor you won't have to worry about it.

The size of the cazts runs up to about 24 inches.

[SlamminKokes]

Thanks agin Bucketmouth, That gives me an option for when the Deschutes is overcrowded during springer season! Thanks for all your help!

[dragon67]

If you go upto the boat park you will probably be able to catch some crappie. Sometimes they are there and sometimes they are not, but during the spring and maybe now you might be able to catch some smallies too. Have fun.

[Carver_OR]

A way to stay away from the shallows is to drive the boat in a straight line from one high bank to the next, I don't cut corners. The land that touches the edges of most water can be read by looking at the land. Deep water, from what I can tell is usually the cliff side or high bank side. Look at the land to read the water.

Don't forget the small mouth fishing, it can be good also. If you make it to the narrows its a great place to walk around, beach the boat on the west side only. The river narrows to into a basalt gorge with water falls and large bass filled holes. Its a real neat place.

Like the other folks said, watch the wind or it could be a long day getting home.

Sharp hooks catch fish, use a file.
Pat HoldZit (www.holdzit.com)

[Walleyed]

OK my 2 bits.
I’m no pro on the John Day.I do take the family up a least once a year for
what we call catbassin. We go for both and got to say the narrows can be a fun
time fishing but the last strech can be shallow and thats no place to loose a prop on any boat.
Now we always go later in the year so I don’t know what fishing is now but I can say my kids have got many,many cats 5#-10# right off the docks with nite crawlers at night
Lot’s of little yellow belly so use a nice size glob of bait and you wont half to be
pulling them in all the time.

[FelonFinder]

Do you fish on top or bottom for those cats from the dock?

[baltz526]

the secret to fishing for catfish. take a five gallon bucket and a crappie rod, catch about a dozen midsized crappie and fillet as needed. keep them fresh and alive as long as possible. a #2 baitholder on a 36"leader swivel with a sliding sinker hevy enough to bounce on the bottom in current.anchor in the center of a good hole and fish the rise out of the hole. the cats stackup on these areas picking up the bait that blows up out of the hole. i can not say enough, fresh cut bait, fresh cut bait freshcutbait. :wave:

[SalmonJeff]

I have heard allot about that fishry as well and I am interested in fishing it also with the cut crappie do you get bigger cats? not that catching 15 inch cats isn't fun but a 10 pounder is funner. I grew up catching huge cats in califonia and I love a long night banging on cats.

what are the odds of catching some bigger fish. some times you find those areas that just have smaller fish and never realy get any big ones?

[baltz526]

the fish i catch using my secret method listed are the active ones.if you get two or three small ones in a row pull the boat foward in the hole. the small cats will be on the tail of the rise. if you hit the hole right your boat will be sitting over the deepest spot, and your bait will be 1/2 to 3/4 way up the rise out of the hole. this is a tactic for large holes with good current flow. the narrows of the johnday, the tunnel hole below oxbow on the snake, the water pump hole at copperfield. you can use the same rig on sturgeon but then you anchor above the hole and bounce your bait right where the hole starts. one place to do this is under the orange ball across from the boat launch on hells canyon res.catch and release only but hook a 10'er on light tackle and gett ready to buy new line. i like to take new guys to this spot and forget to mention the sturgeon. tapp tapp jerk oh my god :yay:

[Sandz]

Now, I have no experience yet with northern catfish compared to the south where I am from but assuming there are some likness's, I generally fish a very small weight or maybe just like 2 split shot 2 or 3 inches below a hook and fresh cut bait, bloodier the better. Catfish as we all know love as many wierd tastes as we can give em but blood tends to drive them a little harder then most things ive used. I used to take a quart of pigs blood from a butcher, soak some 1 day old cut bait pieces in it then fish with it. Havnt done that in years but i know i have cought cats as big as my leg before on that.

[baltz526]

i use this same tactic you mention in areas with little or no current, or to drift fish. also in the outflow of oxbow power plant i'll anchor in the edge seam on the east side and drift my bait in the backwash for cats,i have also caught small sturgeon, rainbows,and sqawfish doing this. the rig i use is a 9' limber uglystick 24lb spiderwire 1/4 to 1oz egg sinker swivel 4'-15lb mono leader #2baitholder hook.1/3 of medium crappie fillet.freshcutbait,freshcutbait,freshcutbait. :yay:

[j.d.smallie]

Hi slamminkokes,j.d.smallie hear.I've caught cats on the upper John Day on cut baits.Herring or anchovies work well I think because of the oils.Never did as well with worms.A small egg loop helps keep the bait on.Good Luck!