John Day River

John Day River fishing guides fish for Bass, Steelhead, Salmon, Trout and other popular species.

John Day River has fantastic fishing opportunities. Fishing is very good on the John Day River all year long. People catch bass, small mouth bass, large mouth bass and steelhead on the John Day River. The John Day Riverview is home to some of the best bass fishing anywhere in the United States. And the best thing about this is that they are often very easy to catch. Spend a day or two with a John Day River fishing guide and learn the basics. And you will be able to come back again and again and catch bass. Over 18 to 20 inches long, and during the best months of the summer. You can catch over 100 bass a day. John Day River Bass fishing is just out of this world. Bring your bass fishing tackle, your best bass lures and fresh bass fishing bait and catch smallmouth bass off the John Day or all day long.

The John Day River is home to Bass Smallmouth Bass Largemouth Bass and many other popular fish. Catch Steelhead all year long on the John Day River.

The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 281 miles (452 km) long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. One of two rivers in Oregon to bear this name, it is by far the longer and more well-known. The other John Day River is a small tributary of the Columbia in Clatsop County.
The river was named for a member of the Astor Expedition that was funded in part by John Jacob Astor, John Day, who wandered lost through this part of Oregon in the winter of 1811–12. Through its tributaries it drains much of the western side of the Blue Mountains, flowing across the sparsely populated arid part of the state east of the Cascade Range in a northwest zigzag, then entering the Columbia upstream from the Columbia River Gorge. It flows through exceptionally scenic canyons in its upper course.

The John Day River passing by Sheep Rock in the John Day Fossil Beds National MonumentThe main branch of the John Day River rises in the Strawberry Mountains in eastern Grant County, and the four main forks each have their heads in different parts of the Malheur National Forest. The main fork flows initially north, then west through the John Day Valley and through the city of John Day. At Dayville in western Grant County it is joined from the south by the South Fork John Day River, then flows north through Picture Gorge and past the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. At Kimberly in northwestern Grant County it is joined from the east by the North Fork John Day River (which had already joined with the Middle Fork of the John Day River above Monument, Grant County, Oregon). The river then flows west across Wheeler County. At the county line with Jefferson County it flows north, past the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. As it approaches the Columbia River in north-central Oregon it flows in an increasingly meandering course, forming the boundary between Sherman County to the west and Gilliam County to the east. It joins the Columbia from the southeast approximately 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Biggs. The mouth of the river is on the narrow Lake Umatilla reservoir, formed on the Columbia by the John Day Dam, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream from the mouth of the John Day.
 

John Day River Fishing

Mouth of the John Day River on the Columbia, spanned by a railroad bridge. The John Day is navigable by rafts and other small river craft. Its lower course is used for irrigation of cropland and ranching. In 1988, the United States Congress designated 147.5 miles (237.4 km) of the river from Service Creek to Tumwater Falls as the John Day Wild and Scenic River, as part of the National Wild and Scenic River program. The segment of the river is a popular destination for anadromous steelhead and warm water bass fishing, as well as whitewater rafting.

In addition to wild spring chinook salmon and bass, the river furnishes habitat for redband trout, bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout. There are no hatchery salmon or steelhead released in the John Day River.

Yamhill Vineyards Bed & Breakfast A peaceful area to watch a sunset, listen to the birds and enjoy the country quiet. The Great Room has spectacular views, a spiral staircase, vaulted ceilings, a rock alcove which hosts a wood stove, reclining chairs, TV and VCR. On our hot summer days, you will enjoy our air conditioned home.

Service Creek Stage Stop is located 20 miles east of Fossil, Oregon, on Highway 19 at Junction 207 on the John Day River. The area is rich in history in the center of Wheeler County, located 60 miles south of the Columbia River Gorge and 185 miles from Portland, Oregon. Service Creek Stage Stop is situated near John Day Fossil Beds National Monument on 26 acres with