fishing reports for smallmouth and largemouth bass on the John Day River in central Oregon.

The latest fishing reports and

water information for the areas we fish .............

Fishing Reports and Guest book

This is where we will post information about the action on The John Day river and and current fishing conditions. Over the years we will continue to keep old reports posted so that you can see information all year long and perhaps better plan what may be a better time to plan a future adventure with us. Make it a point to check out our report section on a regular basis and thanks for stopping by often as it's always good to see you. 

   

March 9: Today we fished with friends Captain Manuel Torres, of Island Point Lodge in Petersburg, Alaska, (cell) 907-518-1611, his close friend Bill Hathaway, and writer Scott Staats of Prineville, OR. We had a cold start with 19 degrees in Fossil, 24 at the river at 7:30 AM, 1770 CFS, 4-5 clarity, and slightly overcast morning. All the fishing today was done on a center-pin rod and reel. Scott Staats caught the first fish, steelhead, at 9:15 AM on a Manny's Egg Thing. We had 2 fish at lunch (both steelhead), and ended up the day with 4 steelhead, and one Master Angler 20 1/2' X 13 1/2" smallmouth bass caught by Captain Torres. All the steelhead and bass were caught on specialty flies or jigs that Captain Manuel Torres ties: Manny's Egg Thing, Manny's Jail bird, and Manny's Purple Thing. Captain Torres has a booth at the Redmond Sportsman Show, in Redmond, OR, March 11-14. Go see him there, and he'll show you his best John Day River flies, and pictures of some of his fish. by the way this was Scott Staats first full day of center-pin fishing and he caught two steelhead. Nice going Scott. We are off to a good start this year, and have two openings left for the Two-day Seminar on John Day River smallmouth bass this coming weekend. If interested call (toll free) 1-888-624-9424. See you on the water.......
YOUR BASSIN' BUDDYS,
Steve and Linda Fleming
Mah-Hah Outfitters
PO Box 428
108 W. 1st Street
Fossil, OR 97830
(toll free) 1-888-624-9424
fax: 1-541-763-3579

website: www.johndayriverfishing.com
e-mail: mho.bassinbuddy@yahoo.com  

Fishing Reports
& Newsletter

3-1-2010

HAPPY BASSIN' NEW YEAR!!

First things first! Thanks to all of you for a SUPER 2009. It was a scary year at the beginning with the economy, etc., but we ended up booking over 600 client days before it was over. Thanks! We started the end of February with some tough days and cold water, and ended the first of December with the river icing up and eventually freezing solid. It was a good catching year with over 30 Master Angler Smallmouth Bass (20"+), over 50 Trophy Smallmouth (18"-20"), over 60 fishermen joined the 100+ Club by catching more than 100 smallies in one day, and one fishermen joined the 200+ Club (only 8 fishermen have done that with in the last 20 years).

Biggest Fish honors are shared this year by: Jack Hanselman Jr. on April 2nd caught a monster 23" X 15 1/2"; and Tom Nelson on April 30th caught a 23 1/2" X 15". The Most Fish honors goes to Dike Dame, for his efforts on August 18th with 203 smallies. The first Master Angler fish came March 7th, and the last monster fish came September 24th. The first 100+ day was May 29th, during a heat wave, and the last was September 23rd.
 

March 1, 2010: Every year the first couple of weeks of March are devoted to Research and Development trips. We put together dream teams of gear and fly fishing guides, and pro Bass anglers. We are always looking for new techniques, and hopeful of finding a fly that will work in cold water. Up until this year we have never found a solid fly presentation or fly that would produce. THAT HAS NOW CHANGED! The gear specialist for the next two days would be long time friend and client Robb Norby of Bend, Or, and the fly specialist would be friend and fly fishing guide Jim Berl, 541-822-3183, Adventures in Fishing guide service on the McKenzie River. Robb fishes for two clubs, and is an avid bass man, he and his kids have 21 - 100+ Club pins (individually caught 100 bass in one day) on their Trophy Case at home. Robbs a great Dad and started bring his kids when they were as young as 6 years old. Jim Berl has been a licensed guide in Oregon for over 25 years, FFF casting instructor, had a big rafting company for over 20 years with permits on the North Umpqua, Deschutes River, Grande Ronde, and now guides and lives on the McKenzie River. He is a board member of the McKenzie River Guides Association which will be celebrating their 80 anniversary next year in 2011.
It was 28 degrees in Fossil at 5 AM, 46 at the river at 9 AM, 1260 CFS, with 40 degree water, and almost gin clear. I lucked into the first fish on a crankbait about 10:15 AM (it's been a long time since I can say I caught the first smallmouth of the year for Mah-Hah Outfitters). We are changing our gear constantly, after catching the first fish on one of our normal regular baits. We ended up the day with Robb catching 4, and most of his were on tube baits for Outlaw Baits with 1/4 oz jighead fished right on the bottom, I caught 1, and Jim Berl caught one about 2 PM that was the biggest for the day at 16" on a fly he now calls DJ's John Day River Special. It's a special fly he had tied up, and not an production fly. He cut it off and put on many other flies for the rest of the day, but to no avail. So for March 1, not trying to catch lots of fish, but seeing what they will take in the cold water 6 fish is good on a short day.

March 2: Ooops, I screwed up the schedule and the third fishermen we were waiting for didn't show up. We launched at 10 AM. It was 42 in Fossil at 5 AM, river flowing at 1260 CFS, 50 at the river, and the water was 42 degrees, and still gin clear. Jim put on the fly he caught the only fish with the day before and within 5 minutes on the water caught the first fish of the day. He cut the fly off and started fishing other unual flies. Robb was fishing a variety of lures and tubes. We ate lunch about 1 PM and had 4 fish boated, and were in the middle of a deep cold front. About 3 PM Jim tied back on the only fly to catch any smallmouth bass so far in two days, and ended up boating 3 more with the last one about 5:15 PM and being a Trophy Smallmouth, 18 1/2" with a 13 1/2" girth. She was a toad and had a big tail to prove it. Robb also caught a nice bass in the same hole (a nice spring hole), and we ended up the day with 11 fish. While the numbers may not seem high, you have to remember once we catch a fish we usually cut that bait off and see what else will work. Jim only fished the DJ's John Day River Special for 3 hours in two days and caught 5 fish. So all you fly fishermen that I've turned down over the years because I said I just don't have any proven system for getting big smallmouth at this time of the year. Give us a call!

March 3: Took long time friend and client Dan Hawkey up to the Private Trout Lake today. Dan showed up in Fossil at 9 AM, and we were on the water at the remote Lake by 11 AM. Dan is an avid fishermen and boated two Master Angler Smallmouth in one day last year, but he is a GREAT small water fly fishermen with his float tube system he bought from Denny Richards. The Lake was pristine, 50-52 degrees, 6 for clarity, and there were some trout surfacing. The Lake is 18 acres in an hour-class shape, with depths up to 34 feet, made behind a man-made dam back in the late 50's. Dan landed 29 trout (all native redsides) in 5 hours and we headed back to Fossil.

YOUR BASSIN' BUDDYS,
Steve and Linda Fleming
Mah-Hah Outfitters
PO Box 428
108 W. 1st Street
Fossil, OR 97830
(toll free) 1-888-624-9424
fax: 1-541-763-3579
website: www.johndayriverfishing.com
e-mail: mho.bassinbuddy@yahoo.com 

 
Fishing Reports From Past Seasons

CLICK HERE to see some fishing reports from previous seasons.

 

 


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