Mid Columbia Bass

[duckhat]

Mid summer last year I made a scouting trip up to the area between the Biggs & the John Day Dam. Got lucky & the wind was calm. Tried along the Oregon side but anything less than 10ft deep was full of moss & everything I worked through came out all slimy. Went over to the Wash side & started to work the rocks. Caught fish all day long. Strange thing was I was the only one on the river for miles. My question is has anyone had some experiance as to when this section of the river starts to turn on in the spring? It looks like it would be a knock out for big bass if you can time it right & in all my years going up & down the gorge I have seldom ever seen anyone fishing there.

good fishun

[BuKuBass]

That section of the river "has been veddy veddy good to me" both in Ts and rec. fishing. Nothing over 5#s, yet, but lots from 2 to 4#s.

[bucketmouth]

Caught some real nice Smallies in the back shallows off the islands by Rufus. And lower, have caught Bass around Miller Island and off the shelf out in front of biggs. For sure a good stretch of the River.

Dont know when it cranks up for good fishing in the spring. But I do know it's a long way to go only to find the River completely blown up. When you find those days without heavy wind it a blessing! :smile:

[Wannabe]

Wind is definetyly a problem up there but seclusion is usually the norm. Many times I've been the only boat and the fishin is awesome.
&lt))><

[MrFish]

Duckhat,

I fish that area quite a bit. I've found that weed growth (probably because of sunlight) rarely seems to be deeper than 10-15 feet. Also it seems to grow where there is less current.

That mucky weed growth you experienced in late summer isn't there in May and early June. When it grows in, I go deep. I also bring my walleye gear when I go up there, and when the chop is up, I troll worms and spinners for walleye. When the wind lays down I move up to shore where it's still deep.

Crank baits parallel with the rip-rap will get you some amazing takes, but a crawfish colored 1/2 oz jig bumped right through the rocks produces best for me, personally.

Great spot,

MrFish

[Just Fish]

Dont you guys know there are no bass around rufus biggs it had to be a fluke