Hello,
I will be camping at cottonwood canyon state park near the cottonwood bridge on the john day for labor day. I have read the smallmouth are a gimme, but I was wondering if anyone has tips or areas to focus on for quality bass. My son and my nephew also want to catch channel cats and I was wondering if anyone can offer up some help. I’ve caught them in the snake but never fished for them in the John Day. Thanks for any help!
I've only fished the John Day River below the narrows for catfish. So I can't offer any meaningful help unless you want general channel catfish tips. I seldom actually target bass.
Not to try and hijack your thread, but I would like some general information about that area of the river.
First and foremost, I'd like to know how navigable that river is. I have a 16' jon boat with a 25 hp. that I'd want to be able to use as my mobility tends to limit my walking much to fish. So does the river generally keep a three foot or deeper channel?
Second, is there reasonable crappie fishing there?
And third, just how good is the channel catfishing in that area?
I found the lower river to be quite productive for cats when I fished it.