The John Day is recognized as one of the west's best small mouth bass river's. This river offers over 150 miles of prime bass habitat and huge populations of bass. Managed as a trophy fishery, small mouth up to 20 inches are consistently caught here. Most fish run between 8 and 12 inches, but rise readily to surface flies all day long. 30 to 50 fish days are very common here during the summer months. The ...

John Day is off the beaten path, and has little to no fishing pressure throughout much of the season. This is high desert, big canyon country. Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, Upland Birds, and water fowl thrive in this river canyon. Towering rim rock cliffs 1000 feet above the river, sage brush, and Juniper trees dot the landscape. Other species of fish in this river include channel catfish, carp, and steelhead. All will readily attack a fly.