Outing Leaders: Peter Maunsell and Bill Gibson

Registration Fee:  $300.00 

Peter Maunsell and Bill Gibson will be co-hosting this multi-day float on Oregon’s John Day River for small mouth bass fishing. Expect to catch dozens of fish a day. This is one of Oregon’s most spectacular rivers.

The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 284 miles long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States.  Undammed along its entire length, the river is the third longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States and the longest undammed river in Oregon.  The river flows through a number of colorful canyons, broad valleys, and breathtaking terrain.  This segment offers warm-water bass fishing with 30-40 fish days the norm.  Calm water boating is punctuated with relatively easy rapids.

You will want bass flies and lots of them: poppers, pretty ones, ugly ones, and even uglier ones.  You will be casting into the foam lines and against the cliff faces.  Forty fish days are going to tear those flies apart. 

The plan is to leave Seattle on Saturday, June 22 and drive to Condon, OR. and stay there that night.  On Sunday, June 23 the group will shuttle to the put-in spot, set up all of the boats and gear and push off once all are ready.  After spending 6 nights on the river the group will take out on Saturday, June 29th.

• You MUST have an acceptable river boat or a spot saved on one to register (check with the hosts to determine if you boat is acceptable).
• You must have an acceptable PFD (check with the hosts to determine if your PFD is acceptable).

What to Bring for Fishing & Rafting

• Oregon state fishing license 
• Plan on needing 4-5 weight rods. Everyone uses floating lines with 3X and 4X leaders.
• Lots of Bass Flies, especially poppers
• Water bottle with liquid
• An Acceptable PFD
• An Acceptable boat

What to Bring for Camping:

• Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad
• Bring clothes for warmish daytime temperatures and chilly nights.
• Rain gear
• Sun screen, hat, and dark glasses
• Flashlight(s)
• Folding Chair
• Camera

Food & Beverages

• The outing fee covers all of the meals on the river
• Bring your own wine, beer, or hard stuff
• You do not need to bring any cook gear or eating utensils.   

Put-in & Take-out Logistics & Fees

Put in: The group will meed in Condon, OR on 6/22 at 5:00 at the Condon Motel parking lot to discuss the shuttle and put-in logistics.  Lodging on 6/22 is available at the Condon Motel or the Hotel Condon.  You need to make your own reservations.  Camping is also available in the area.

Take out: The take-out on June 30 will be at the Cottonwood Campground.  All of the equipment and boats, including the gear boats, will need to be cleaned and packed before anyone departs. Plan on being on the road ~4:30 pm and getting back to Seattle ~10:00 pm.

FEES: The fee will cover shuttles and food while on the river.  it will not cover meals while driving to and from Oregon nor dinner while in Condon.  

Getting There 

• I-90 east to Ellensberg
• US-97 South, I-82 E to Yakima
• US-97 South to Goldendale, WA. & Bend, OR.
• US-97 to Biggs, OR. & Bend, OR.
• A few miles south of Biggs, near Wasco go E on OR-206 to Condon

 Cancellation Deadline:  Deadline for cancellation is 8:00 p.m. June 8; 2 weeks before the outing.  If you need to cancel, please contact the Outing Host(s). There will be no refunds after the cancellation deadline.

Here are pictures from a previous outing.