John Day River Low Water?

K-Mac · 07-09-2003, 12:55 PM

A freind and I are planning on floating the John Day from Service Creek to Twickenham Bridge July 26th through 27th. We each have 10 foot pontoons. Can you float that stretch around 150-250 cfs without doing much dragging or portaging? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tanner · 07-09-2003, 01:02 PM

Yes,
I did it at 70 CFS in a 16' Cataraft. Had to get out a few times and drag it but it was pretty much a piece of cake. Plan on doing a lot of rowing though as there is a lot of frogwater in there.

K-Mac · 07-09-2003, 02:05 PM

Thanks Tanner for the reply. Are there any Pontoon Poppin' rocks to avoid when it's that low?
I have done that stretch years ago in late June and I just remember dragging over some gravel bars. I don't remember the cfs but it was just after a huge thunder storm which muddied up the water so we could not see any rocks below the surface.

Tanner · 07-09-2003, 02:13 PM

Russo Rapids has some fairly sharp rocks in it but at that water level you could just about walk your boat through it. The next set of rapids below Russo is a "mine field" but the rocks are smooth cause they are submerged most of the year. Again, you should have no problem doing any of that water.

SCUTZ ZA · 07-09-2003, 02:27 PM

K-mac lets stop worrying about the water and remain focused on catching thousands of fish and taking pics to post on ifish, so we can make other ifishers jealous. I'm more concerned about my "fish poppin rod" :grin:

K-Mac · 07-09-2003, 02:41 PM

I think you're right Skutz. I need to focus on the job at hand. Thanks for snappin' me out of it.
Less talk, more fish.
Small talk, BIG FISH!

Big Smizz · 07-09-2003, 02:57 PM

K-Mac:

Congratulations on joining the world of ifish. Just remember, communication is the key to success. By the way fellas...there may be 3 pontoon boats going down, not 2. :grin: We'll see.

-bigsmizz

K-Mac · 07-09-2003, 03:11 PM

bigsmizz-

Thanks for the congrats. Hey, you better be able to go. Were talkin' the best fishing trip of the year until the Fall Chinook come in.

Shouldn't you and Skutz be working instead of posting posts at Ifish? I'm gonna get fired because of this Ifish craze!

SCUTZ ZA · 07-09-2003, 03:24 PM

Official break time posts are ok guys. Just think how peacful and beautiful and tranquil and oh who cares we will be too busy catching fish by the pontoon load, to see anything else.

This guy has on his polarized fish finding shades on, like me in two weeks.