deschutes,john day reports?

long_shanks · 02-18-2004, 06:28 AM

Any new reports on the the JD, or deschutes? Im getting cabin fever, I need to get my fix!!

Blue Tip Spinner · 02-19-2004, 02:37 PM

don't know.... i'm trying to figure out a way to get to the deschutes this weekend. i figure it should be good for redsides.

BuKuBass · 02-19-2004, 05:08 PM

Was going to show Fall River Guy a couple of spots north of Mitchell last weekend but I couldn't get away; told him where to go. He called me afterwards. "Rog, incredible! Second cast... BAM!! What beautiful water and country!!"
He was slinging hardware.
By now the steelhead should be at Service Creek and higher.

sgs · 02-20-2004, 08:59 AM

I talked with someone that lives over near the John Day about a week ago and he said when the water is not muddy that there are plenty of fish around Service Creek. Anyone know what kind of level you want over there? Anyone planning a bass trip over there this spring?

BuKuBass · 02-21-2004, 07:17 AM

Over the past five days the river has gone from 1400 cfs on Monday to 7K Thursday and is now dropping back thru 4K. Following a period of stability, I prefer a slight rise in flow, temperature, cloud cover and a mild chop on the surface. The beginning of a gentle shower provides all of these factors.
For the next few weeks it is possible to catch both steelies and smallies from the same hole with the same lure or fly.
The best time for catching 20"+ bass is from mid-March thru early May. For gentler floating conditions, May and June are best; after then, the water water gets too skinny for most modes of drifting. Then's the time to to use a small pontoon or float tube that can be dragged thru the riffles.
Altho any lure that you can get wet works, my favorites are drifting senko-types, swimming grubs, twitching suspending jerks and ripping Baby Torpedos. But the absolute funnest is steadily retrieving a big black Jitterbug at night. Paint a phosphorecent stripe on its back to aid in tracking. To me the prettiest sight of all is seeing the wake of an approaching bass shatter a moon beam. C'mon summer!!!

sgs · 02-23-2004, 08:41 AM

Hey! Thanks for the great info. I'm ready to go!
Scott

straightweave · 02-25-2004, 04:53 PM

JD was muddy and rolling over the wkend. Didn't even wet a line. Camped at 4k saturday night and the ground was still pretty wet and sloppy. Alotta roads were impassable where we were. Should be a few weeks yet.