Pontoon and mouth of John Day?

[capt. slo-mo]

How much current is still flowing down by the confluence of the John Day and CR?

If one had an electric motor on the pontoon, could one get upriver on the JD any significant amount in search of smallmouth and catfish?

Or is there a better place to take the pontoon in that area?

[Jrr]

It's not flowing that fast right now, a 30lb thrust motor pushes a toon at a pretty good clip against current or wind

[Lou]

The only thing I've ever noticed is the wind. can get real bad.

[team anarchy]

It's 9 miles up to the narrows where the best catfishing is. As stated in another thread I read recently, alot of the lower area is mud with not much structure. But there can be some pretty dang good bass fishing under the I-84 bridge and along the rip-rap up and down the Columbia (although the JD warms up first).

[Jrr]

If you pay attention to the winds, go out to the CR turn right and start banging the rocks good smallie fishing.

[Lou]

I catch bass all up and down, above the power lins to ourside,
while steelie fishing. Thet like the same plugs. Best is below the rimrocks
that are near the water or that have trees. You just need to
see for your self.
Just be aware of the wind. You can walk back

[team anarchy]

Lou says you can walk back -- GOOD LUCK!!

[capt. slo-mo]

Yeah, it's a long walk to the nearest bridge, once you're blown onto the Washington side of the CR!

Here's another catfish question: Fox road comes down to the river below the falls. Is that private land there, or BLM? The satellite map shows a substantial set of foot pathways from the end of the road along the river.

Also, how about the McDonald area further upstream? There seems to be some road access to the John Day from both sides. Decent place to catfish/look for smallies (from the bank)?

[The Fish Box]

if the wind picks up you are s.o.l

[catfishman89]

No current and a beautiful place take to pontoon, unless there is wind in which i dont even think about going out in in my 14 foot klamath. 3-4 foot swells on the main columbia and upstream on the john day. The farther you go up stream the worse it gets.

[Stinkbait]

Willow Creek off of I-84 might be a little more pontoon friendly. Just depends on where your coming from and how far you want to drive.

[catfishman89]

You also might try those i84 ponds. The deep one's look good.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by The Fish Box

if the wind picks up you are s.o.l

And the wind OFTEN picks up. With the rise in computer fishing, has come a rise in the # of people I've had to tow back down river.

[Green Eyes]

Have to agree with most of the above posts, watch the wind and look for structure. If it is windy a toon is super in the backwater lakes all along I-84 from Hood River all the way up to Blalock Canyon. The area below the John Day Dam has a large area of backwater, some shallow but sheltered and perfect for a toon. We have caught smallies, cats, crappie and even walleye in that area. Watch for pipes or channels connecting lakes on the south side of freeway to the Columbia, they can also be hot.

[Lou]

Originally Posted by capt. slo-mo

Yeah, it's a long walk to the nearest bridge, once you're blown onto the Washington side of the CR!

Here's another catfish question: Fox road comes down to the river below the falls. Is that private land there, or BLM? The satellite map shows a substantial set of foot pathways from the end of the road along the river.

Also, how about the McDonald area further upstream? There seems to be some road access to the John Day from both sides. Decent place to catfish/look for smallies (from the bank)?

There is a unimproved road that comes down to a newer pit toilet.
On the west side.
Folks bank and launch from the river side. Not sure how to get to it.
But is is there. I just boat up, while wife is at LePage.
I have incountered 4 foot waves in the JD. Lost a net one time, to
a sudden gust. Never saw it again.
Just be carefull!