Fly Fish at John Day River, Condon, Oregon

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In 1971 75 Smallmouth Bass were released in the John Day River in Central Oregon, USA. That small colony has given rise to what some folks call the best Smallmouth Bass fishery in the Western United States. The John Day River is a 452 kilometer long, undammed, tributary of the mighty Columbia River flows from the Strawberry Mountains in Eastern Oregon to its mouth at Lake Umatilla on the border between the States of Washington and Oregon. In addition to the significant amount of Smallmouth Bass, the John Day has also sees significant runs of Wild Steelhead Salmon. Steelhead fishing in the John Day is done by wading with Spey Rods while the Smallmouth Bass are best hooked from the deck of a boat. The town of Condon, Oregon, provides some of the best access to the river and is home to a number of local operations providing every type of provisioning along with accomplished guides. Condon is reached by car from Portland after a 2 ½ mile ride. The Portland International Airport connects with airports the world over. The John Day, the second longest free-flowing river in the continental USA, is protected in Oregon as a “wild and scenic” river. The countryside reflects the natural beauty of the region with juniper and sagebrush prevalent over the hilly landscape along with old homesteads and petroglyphs carved into the basalt canyon walls. Good fishing for Steelhead is available from October through February (as longs as the river stays thawed) with November and December being prime season. Prime Smallmouth Bass season is June through August with some fishermen hooking scores of fish every day. Your dream to Fly Fish in some of the best spots spread around the globe can be enhanced by adding the trip to Fly Fish at John Day River to your list. Start working on the plan for spending some time in Oregon in the midst of the natural beauty so much a part of this region and hone your Fly Casting technique to get the most out of your opportunity.

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