John Day River: How could a river that literally no one outdside of the Pacific Northwest has ever heard of offer fishing that, once discovered, will draw Steel headers from around the globe. Imagine 20 miles of private water to float, fish and fantasize. Nothing close by except views and wide open spaces. A land out of the real American West with deep river canyons, old homesteads, working ranches and native American pictographs. This beguiling river is over 200 miles long and not a single dam. And a run of thousands of feisty Steelhead. Talk about opportunity. Give me a jingle ... before the world gets word of the news.
This is a unique fishery for the U.S. And most anglers in the country, much less the world,know anything about it. This past year we gained access to about 20 miles of private water through private ranch access. This is in addition to plenty of productive yet little fished public runs where we enter the canyon each day.
The John Day is over 200 miles long and one of the longest, unrestricted flow rivers in the country. The Steelhead that come into the river are a mix of stray and native fish as there is no hatchery on the river. We fish almost exclusively floating lines for most of the year, with a variety of flies from articulated leaches to more traditional wet flies.
These are Summer run fish that have been holding in the Columbia River waiting for water temps to drop so they can move in. Because there are no dams, the river naturally fluctuates between about 6000 cfs in the spring and 75 cfs in mid summer.
Once fall arrives the air temps cool the river much sooner than the Columbia, making the John Day the only Sanctuary for cooler water once the fish pass the John Day Dam. Some estimates are that upwards of 30,000 Steelhead or more will enter the John Day in a single year.
The John Day River is located in north central Oregon, near the border of with Washington. You will stay in Condon, population 550, as it is centrally located to the best fishing on the river during this time of year.
Lodging is at the Hotel Condon which was built in 1920, the Condon Hotel was recently renovated into a gorgeous 18 room hotel combining historic charm with modern amenities." The Hotel is very comfortable and has a great menu and very comfortable common area for sipping drinks and talking about the day. This area is separate from the public restaurant and bar downstairs where meals take place. Rooms are basically single only and are absolutely amazing if you consider how far in the middle of nowhere you are.
The price per angler for 7 nights lodging/6 days fishing based on 4 anglers with 4 anglers maximum and includes the following:
All lodging while on trip.
Round trip private charter airfare from Seattle to Condon/Arlington.
Fishing licenses for the week.
Lunch is provided each day but dinner and breakfast are up to each individual angler.
The Hotel is the best place to eat and almost the only place to eat in town and certainly the best. We meet each morning across the street at the cafe to get breakfast and prepare to drive in to the river each day. trip.
All flies, leaders and tippet while on trip. We are also happy to include a list of flies and recipes for tying. Also, if equipment doesn't make it, we are happy to provide Simms/Patagonia waders and boots and Winston/Scott/Sage rods and reels for clients.
Season for this trip is from November through early January.
