John Day or Warrenton ramp

Irontrader · 05-22-2002, 08:02 AM

Good chance we'll be going down to Astoria this weekend to try for some keepers. We've always gone out using the Warrenton boat ramp, but I hear a lot about the John Day ramp.

We've had good luck around the bridge, both down river and up river from the bridge.

So how does the John Day ramp compare with the Warrenton ramp? Fees? Parking? etc?

fishchaser · 05-22-2002, 08:07 AM

No different, Just that the John Day ramp is on Hyw 30 heading to Clackanie (SP) You are more towards Tounge point and not the bridge. If you want to fish the bridge, put in at either Warrenton (Tackle Time) or the east boat ramp. They are much closer than the John Day river ramp.

Salmonator · 05-22-2002, 12:11 PM

Small Fry, I think fishchaser already mentioned that one when he said the east boat ramp. It's actually called the east mooring basin. I like putting in there, have even slept in the parking lot on a few occasions although I hear it's not legal anymore. When staying at Ft. Stevens I use Hammond and motor up river though it is kinda far if you have a small boat... Joe

[ 05-22-2002, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

Herring Impaired · 05-22-2002, 04:11 PM

Nice thing about John Day Ramp is that if the river gets real nasty, you can get inside tongue point and it's not near as rough of a ride.
Also, there are some spots that you can fish that are fairly sheltered while the Columbia is rockin-n-rollin.

Bad thing is that it's a longer run if you want to fish around the bridge. If I know I am going to run to the Washington side, I'll use the east mooring basin launch because it is so much closer.

Pitch Pocket · 05-22-2002, 04:17 PM

Can you safely run across to the Washington side if you are above the bridge at East Basin? It looks like there may be a route, but it looks shallow.

Herring Impaired · 05-22-2002, 04:22 PM

It can be shallow, I have a route. I hesitate to give directions, because then I'll be the chump if somebody parks on a sandbar. Many people say it can't be done. During high tide you can nearly cross anywhere, but low tide, you need to have the route down. We used the route last year for silvers, and fished 80% of the time around the bridge. (Man, was buoy 10 packed...)

Small Fry · 05-22-2002, 11:47 PM

There is one in between at the Astoria Boat Basin.
I have never seen the parking lot full.

It's where the trolly line starts.