John Day mouth to the narrows

[mrprincedog]

Hello fellas. I'm taking the kids and wife to this section for a camping and fishing trip Wednesday and Thursday. We'll be staying at the boaters camp park (never been but heard its fun.) I'm not a big bass fisherman, but hope to get the kids into some action for smallmouth or catfish. Any tips or reports, would be appreciated. I've never caught a catfish and would like to give it a try.
Thanks in advance. :bowdown:

[Wreckless]

You can catch bass all through the area on grubs, tubes & crankbaits. I like the natural, crawfish like colors in all of these or a chrome crankbait (smolt/minnow imitation). Drop shot & Carolina works too, but I like a tube or grub on a light spinning outfit :dance:.

Catfish are also spread out in the area, with up toward the narrows seeming to be a bit better, for us anyhow.

Just a word of caution, BEWARE OF THE WIND!!! I've seen tents torn apart up at Phillipi park. People tie them off to trees to secure them from the wind and they tear! The wind can whip up some BIG waves also, so be aware. A friend of mine calls that area Jekyl & Hyde. When it's nice it's gorgeous!! When it's windy it's H%!!!! I was once stuck at Phillipi park for 2 days in a howling wind storm, you couldn't even set your FULL beer on the picnic table with out it blowing off :bigshock: I learned THAT ONE the hard way :rolleyes: :shrug: :laugh:

Having said these things I've been back since and had a great time.

Good luck & have fun!

[Codfish]

I'll second the tubes for bass. Thats one of my favorite baits there. Hop it down the rock walls and you'll get bit. Also when you are reeling it in stop and let it fall, sometime those smallies will be following it in and they'll nail it when it stop and starts falling. Of course now I'm jumping on the 3" senko bandwagon so I'd take some of them along also. Have fun, it's a great place to fish with lots of smallies. :dance:

Codfish

[bassbusta01]

how are you fishing the three inch senkos up thier :help: