John Day Slayfest

Tanner · 07-07-2003, 03:23 PM

My son and I just returned from three days on the John Day. We floated from Service Creek to Twickenham and absoluitely tore up the fish. Unfortunately we didn't find any big ones that wanted to play. The biggest were in the 17" range. Talked to some other boaters that had caught some in the 20" - 22" range and saw a guy catch a nice 19" fatty right in front of our first nights campin beach. My son caught some beautiful catfish, one that was close to 10 lbs. It was a great trip and a great time for a father and son.

Elwix · 07-07-2003, 03:52 PM

Sounds like you had a great trip. My father took me on a number of fishing/camping adventures when I was young. He's gone now, but I still have all sorts of wonderful memories of the times we spent together in the great outdoors. Now I have a son of my own, and I'm planning to take him on a fishing/camping adventure within the next few weeks. Not sure where we'll go yet, but I hope our trip turns out as well as it sounds like yours did.

bucketmouth · 07-07-2003, 05:28 PM

Elwix, you're right. But in Tanners' sons case, he probably hated it.

jokester · 07-07-2003, 05:50 PM

I bet you and your bass hating son hated every minute of it :grin: Nice job

SCUTZ ZA · 07-08-2003, 08:01 AM

Tanner some buddies and I are thinking of floating on the 25-27 of July, do you think we would be ok with water levels? How was the water level for you? We have pontoon boats, so what did you guys float in? And what was your choice of bait? Any info will be great. Thanks, Scutz

Tanner · 07-08-2003, 09:00 AM

Scutz,
We floated it in my 16' Sotar Cataraft. We actually had to get out a couple of times and drag it but that is no big deal. What size pontoon boats are you thinking about floating it in? I have actually floated the river at 70 CFS in my Cataraft and it wasn't all that bad. The fishing is absolutely incredible when the water is that low.

We mainly used plastics. Grubs, 4" worms rigged texas style and 4" tubes. I also like t0o flyfish that river. Poppers on the surface are a blast but the biggest fish I hooked all weekend (which I lost) was on a size 10 Cary Bugger.

When the water gets low and the fish get that concentrated, you could throw just about anything at them and they will be all over it.

One thing you want to make sure you don't do is ignore the catfishing there in the evenings. There are some brutes in that river. I saw a couple that we floated over that I know were in the 25 - 30 lb range. PM or e-mail me and I will fill you in on some details.

Tanner

SCUTZ ZA · 07-08-2003, 09:47 AM

Tanner you have mail.
Thanks, Scutz