John Day Drift- Pic Heavy

jaxflyfish · 07-06-2009, 10:31 AM

We got back from our annual John Day float as a family on Saturday. When we put in on Thursday, the river was at 750 cfs which is the lowest I have ever run it in the 12 years we have been doing this.

It was at 650 when we pulled out on Saturday. I took my older drift boat and the raft as I was assuming the drift boat would take a bit of a beating. Actually it wasn't too bad. Burnt Ranch Rapids were tougher than I had ever seen them but we shot through without mishap. We had to drag the drift boat about 5-6 times when we simply ran out of water in the flat wide areas.

my older boys ran the raft without any problems for the entire trip. They inflated it, loaded it and ran it.

We averaged about 50 fish/day each for those of us that were fishing. We were working flies on the top with some pretty vicious hits. The bass cooperated pretty well. The fish were running bigger than they have for us in the last few years with this 18 incher being our largest. This fish really worked me over for a while but we landed her. She took the same hopper that I used for the whole trip...well almost, I had to switch flies because...if you look closely, you can see my new piercing. I drove a hopper right through my ear.

We didn't fish too hard, I was on the oars 100% of the time as my wife was busy with our 2 year old. It is his first time on the river with us. He did great and was very interested in the entire process.

Give him a few years and he will be a machine on the oars....I can't wait for that...LOL. My wife hasn't been on the drift since our little guy was born and she worked the fish over pretty well....it was great to have her back in the boat with us.

All in all, it was a great trip. It was pretty hot. 106 on Saturday...yowww.

Most years we catch more fish...but with the fish running a bit larger, we were happy.

Here is a closeup of my new piercing...my wife reached for the camera long before she reached for the first aid kit. After assessing it, we decided to leave it in until we pulled out for the evening since I wanted to look at it in a mirror before I decided how to get it out. So I wore it for about 3 hours.

Newbs · 07-06-2009, 11:01 AM

Looks like an awsome trip.

NWaddict · 07-06-2009, 01:00 PM

I'm curious how you negotiated clarno in the drift boat. Did you line it or is it runnable?

nookslayer · 07-06-2009, 01:05 PM

Good question on Clarno. I've done it in a drifter many times but not at that CFS. Can't imagine what that 106 felt like on the water! Great story and nice piercing.

jaxflyfish · 07-06-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWaddict

I'm curious how you negotiated clarno in the drift boat. Did you line it or is it runnable?

We pulled out at Clarno so I didn't run the Clarno Rapids...The only major rapid that we ran was Burnt Ranch Rapid which was pretty rough with all the exposed rock but we got through it untouched.

dubl_t · 07-06-2009, 01:24 PM

great vacation! (maybe except for the 'piercing'). Yea, haven't been there for years, longing to go back, but looks like I missed the window to float. Where'd you float from/to and who shuttled you?
Thanks,Tom.

jaxflyfish · 07-06-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubl_t

great vacation! (maybe except for the 'piercing'). Yea, haven't been there for years, longing to go back, but looks like I missed the window to float. Where'd you float from/to and who shuttled you?
Thanks,Tom.

You know...I thought I had posted that but it isn't there. We did Twickenham to Clarno...34 miles. We have always used Ruby Nunn in Fossil for our shuttle. She keeps the vehicle at her house during your drift and then drops it off. If you are interested, PM me and I will get you her info. Service Creek Stage Stop also shuttles.

dubl_t · 07-06-2009, 02:02 PM

Thanks Jax,
does Ruby own the hotel in Fossil? I like the idea of the truck at her place instead of....well, you know. Last time my vehicle was shuttled to clarno, the tank was bone dry and we were pulling off the river at 9pm!! By the Grace of God, a guy in Antelope was working in his shop at 10:30pm on a Sunday night, and gave us 10 gallons to get to Biggs.

Now, throw up some more pics please!

AlseaAssassin · 07-06-2009, 02:56 PM

Nice!! That's a sweet float for sure.

Slow and Low · 07-06-2009, 04:09 PM

Awesome post.

AndyK · 07-06-2009, 04:31 PM

Sounds like a great trip!

Wingdam · 07-06-2009, 05:07 PM

Great post. We talked about doing the JD next year as we crossed it heading home yesterday.

NWaddict · 07-06-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxflyfish

We pulled out at Clarno so I didn't run the Clarno Rapids...The only major rapid that we ran was Burnt Ranch Rapid which was pretty rough with all the exposed rock but we got through it untouched.

Ah. That makes sense. For some reason when I read burnt ranch I thought of basalt rapids.

Sweet post. The john day is great.

jaxflyfish · 07-07-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubl_t

Thanks Jax,
does Ruby own the hotel in Fossil? I like the idea of the truck at her place instead of....well, you know. Last time my vehicle was shuttled to clarno, the tank was bone dry and we were pulling off the river at 9pm!! By the Grace of God, a guy in Antelope was working in his shop at 10:30pm on a Sunday night, and gave us 10 gallons to get to Biggs.

Now, throw up some more pics please!

Ruby doesn't own the hotel...I didn't know that there was one. Ruby's place is right on the main highway through fossil. Their outbuilding must have 100 sets of deer and elk antlers on it. It is hard to miss.

chromeseeker · 07-08-2009, 08:07 AM

Great post! That pic of your wee one at the oars is priceless. A smallie of that size on a fly rod will really rip you a new one as you found out. Pound for pound, they fight much harder than trout or steelies. Those pics make me long for this fall to chase steelies over there. I love the JD.

CS