John Day River Phillipi park?

Sandybar · 10-20-2001, 08:01 AM

Anybody up there this weekend? I would like to go next weekend and hook into them there steelhead that are coming over the Dam in great numbers. Is the fishing better behind the dam or uo the arm? Any info would be great!

Vinny · 10-20-2001, 09:55 AM

Sandybar,
The big numbers are diminishing below John Day. Above JD & the Snake are still pretty good.
I like the following website for counts because I can get the water temps (which are finally about 60 degrees, some cooler) on one screen. I've read steelies don't bite actively above 60.

Select "Daily Fish Counts" (#5)
Daily fish counts & temps

Thing have been slow on the mid-Columbia and Snake. I'd go with the counts and stay upriver from John Day.

I've never fished the JD. I'm new to the area. Let me know how you do.

FEAR NO FISH! · 10-20-2001, 12:39 PM

Vinny,
McNary is not slow! My fishing partner, Gary,
fished graveyard last night. 4 on, 3 landed.
He caught another hog last night. 37.5 inches!!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Another colossal steelie.

fishchaser · 10-21-2001, 11:28 PM

We usually fish the JD around Veterans day weekend.This year I think I will be down in tidewater though. If you go up let me know so I can schedule a trip up after the vets day.

We usually use either sand shrimp on two hooks underneith a Hot-n-tot with a very small pink pearl spin-n-glo. Or try a orange tiger striped wiggle wart. That proved deadly last year. I caught one last year on a Micheal Jackson w/hemmoroids. (black wiggle wart w/glitter and an Orange butt.

If you go up don't foreget your heater and warm clothes, it gets pretty nippy up in them hills. I am hoping to make it up this year before it gets too darn cold up there. Good Luck [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Sandybar · 10-22-2001, 05:20 AM

Fishchaser,

I have been to the John day for the last 7 years. I know all about the cold and the WIND.

I really like this fishing hole. I have in years past done well. I only went once last year and did not get into one. I wondered if the tatics changed after last year?

I will probaly go the second week of November, maybe the 9,10,11.

Will I see you there?

Don't go to fast you may end up on a Sandybar!

Jim · 10-22-2001, 10:49 AM

Ok, this one has my curiousity...are you fishing Steelies that are heading up the John Day River near Biggs?? Is Phillipi the park that you boat to??

I love this area, in the summer we make a couple of trips there but was once told that it doesn't get any anadroumous fish...was I told wrong?

Lots of questions that I don't have answers to!

Jim

Sandybar · 10-22-2001, 04:02 PM

Jim,

Yes they do fish all the way to the falls, however the main concentration is around Phillipi park.

Plugs work good Wiggle warts and shrimp works well also.

I don't know about water fowl hunting but I see em hunting pheasants every time I go up there.

Don't go to fast you might end up on a Sandybar

fishchaser · 10-22-2001, 04:15 PM

You could also try sand shrimp and a bobber. That is also real deadly. just a slow drift down river w/bobber & bait. We have used wiggle warts & shrimp and have gotten fish. We mostly hang around Philipi Park,between the upper point and the lower point. Up one side down the other. Good luck [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Fishtail · 10-22-2001, 04:38 PM

I plan on heading there next Tuesday and then again on or about 11-11-01. I've seen Hot Shots work as well as Wiggle Warts but I haven't fished any bait. It seems that November is the best month to fish but I'm wondering if they're in the river already with such large #'s of steelhead over the dams.

Sandybar · 10-22-2001, 11:10 PM

Jim,

Yes the John Day River arm upriver from I-84 about 2 miles is phillipi park. The one you boat to.

They are fishing for Steelhead that are hanging out in the John Day arm waiting to go upriver this winter.

Jim · 10-22-2001, 11:52 PM

Sandy,
Is it better the closer you get to the falls, is it a plug show? Spinners? Bait? For some reason this is exciting to me...probably won't get there but after catching thousands of smallmouth up there and some decent Cats....It would be fun to fish it...its all closed to Waterfowl hunting...right??

Jim

SureSet · 10-23-2001, 06:18 PM

Fished up there yesterday with a buddy. Pretty slow still. I talked to the park guy who set some pretty poor expectatoins as we came in. We released a 10# native right above the park and only saw one other fish hooked which was out in the Columbia. The weather was nice though, rained a little but absolutly no wind while we were there. The drive back stunk as the wind and rain moved into Hood River about 6PM.

Give it a couple weeks.

SureSet

Fishtail · 10-23-2001, 06:44 PM

Has anyone fished the mouth of the Deschutes in the last couple of days??? Looking at the fish counts, it appears most of the fish are crossing over above the John Day and McNary Dams. I would think if the fish are not committed to the John Day River yet, that a person would have a pretty good shot at the fish in the Columbia. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]