Trip brief · John Day River
How to go fish the John Day River
The months we list for the John Day River are June, July, September, October, November. August is outside that window, so this brief is written for September, the next month we list.
September
No USGS gauge is mapped to this river.
Flies to tie — September
Steelhead — Wets#4-6
Purple Peril
Blue-winged Olive#18-20
Parachute BWO
Access
Service Creek (Wild & Scenic Put-In)
44.829, -120.027parking
Clarno Unit (John Day Fossil Beds)
44.904, -120.435parking
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
44.924, -120.279parking
McDonald Ferry (Lower Canyon)
45.184, -120.475parking
Regs — check current rules before you go
All wild steelhead must be released. No hatchery steelhead are stocked in the John Day. Wild rainbow trout must be released. Open for hatchery steelhead (when available) Jan 1-Apr 30 and Sep 1-Dec 31. BLM river use permits required year-round for the Wild and Scenic corridor (Service Creek to Tumwater Falls) — obtain via recreation.gov. Check current ODFW regulations for seasonal closures and retention rules.
Pack list
- A current state fishing licence
- Waders and boots you have already leak-tested
- Net, nippers, forceps
- Floatant and desiccant
- Tippet in the sizes the chart asks for
- Water, sun cover, polarised glasses
Generic gear. Anything specific to this water is above.
Full hatch chart, access map and live gauge on the John Day River page →