John Day Steelhead

[Bighorn12]

I am thinking about heading east for a 3 or 4 day trip (camping) along the John Day River. I'll leave sometime between December 4th and 8th. The goal is to swing flys for steel and get the wirehair some excercise in the hills. I purchased a couple maps from the BLM since I am not familiar with the area. I plan on starting around Priest Hole and working upriver.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by Bighorn12

I am thinking about heading east for a 3 or 4 day trip (camping) along the John Day River. I'll leave sometime between December 4th and 8th. The goal is to swing flys for steel and get the wirehair some excercise in the hills. I purchased a couple maps from the BLM since I am not familiar with the area. I plan on starting around Priest Hole and working upriver.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I would skip it unless it gets some water. I was there the other day and it is low, low, low and gin clear. That was my third trip since October and only one fish to show for it. But since you may be doing some hunting there are a ton of birds there right now. I don't know where the priest hole is so I can't help you there.

In either case have a god time and bring firewood, it's bone chilling this time of year.

[Bighorn12]

Thanks for the heads up. I may give it a go, or start working on a plan B.

[dirty bird]

I was there a couple of weeks back. The water is very low. Somebody did catch a nice fish at The Burnt Ranch boat ramp. There was a few pheasants around. The best map I have found is the John Day River guide. You can get it from the BLM in Prineville. Good Luck.

[sherretb]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I would skip it unless it gets some water. I was there the other day and it is low, low, low and gin clear. That was my third trip since October and only one fish to show for it. But since you may be doing some hunting there are a ton of birds there right now. I don't know where the priest hole is so I can't help you there.

In either case have a god time and bring firewood, it's bone chilling this time of year.

I am headed over to camp as well. Any suggestions for bird hunting places. I was thinking the BLM land around Clarno.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by sherretb

I am headed over to camp as well. Any suggestions for bird hunting places. I was thinking the BLM land around Clarno.

Thant's as good of a spot as any unless you can gain access to private around rock creek.