JOHN DAY RIVER: Steelhead, bass
The river is running high and turbid, making for some very challenging fishing conditions. John Day River Steelhead fishing is often hit or miss in April due to frequent high flows and turbidity, but fish are present and moving through the system. The North Fork John Day is often popular in the late spring as flows and turbidity are often less variable, but this has been an abnormally cold and wet spring with frequent small flood events resulting in high turbidity.
The John Day is largely comprised of wild fish that must be released unharmed. Fall is often one of the better opportunities to harvest a hatchery stray. Please be cognizant of minimizing stress to wild fish by always keeping them in the water and handling them as little as possible before release. The John Day arm below Tumwater Falls to the mainline railroad bridge is now open for fishing. Last updated 1/29/25.