Oregon 143B W. Biggs John Day River float

[Mikedr]

I drew a mule deer tag for 143 B in Oregon. Has anyone tried floating the John Day river in October? I hear it can get pretty shallow and a drift boat will get hung up quite a bit. There’s not a lot of public land and the best access is from the river. Any tips or recommendations on canoe/raft/drift boat would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
-Mike

 

[Sako76]

I used to float the Deschutes River for mulies (Maupin 140), it's a great way to get away from the crowds. Good luck!

 

[Mikedr]

I used to float the Deschutes River for mulies (Maupin 140), it's a great way to get away from the crowds. Good luck!

Would you recommend that float over the John day?

 

[teamvit]

I drew the east side this year. We will be doing a scouting float in 2 weeks to check things out

 

[Tmac]

I‘d rent/borrow/buy a raft and I own DB.

 

[Sako76]

I've never floated the John Day, I hear it's a great trip. On the Deschutes, there is limited public land and it was somewhat crowded when I stopped hunting it. My first trip was in 1987, the only guy we saw was the BLM employee rafting in to supply the outhouses with TP, it's a lot more crowded now. Back in the day, you could hunt both sides of the river, not anymore. Good luck.

 

[Extrapale]

Check the flows. They usually stop irrigating upstream at the start of deer season or just before.

You can float it at 100cfs in a pontoon. 200 probably good for a raft. Not sure on a drift boat.

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[Mikedr]

Thanks. I’ll keep an eye on flow as it gets closer.

 

[trevvamos]

I drew that tag as well. Just wear some good waders, theres a few sections you might have to pull you DB over, but you should be good unless flows are extremely low.

 

[Mikedr]

Good idea. Thanks for the reply. Good luck on your hunt!

 

[Smokeslider]

I'd go in fairly light to keep the dragging of the boat to a minimum. Deschutes will be busier and has very sporadic public access. Deschutes also has some sections requiring river knowledge and some skills. If it were I, I would float the john day, see what I see and have a blast. Considering it's a fairly easy draw, I'd go in with the mindset of scouting and learning the first time. Don't forget to fish occasionally as well.

 

[teamvit]

We got back yesterday from floating it and flows this last weekend would have led to dragging a drift boat. It makes me nervous how low it may be in OCT.

 

[Extrapale]

We got back yesterday from floating it and flows this last weekend would have led to dragging a drift boat. It makes me nervous how low it may be in OCT.

Flows will be low. 200-400cfs during deer season. Check the service creek gauge history.

200 is a piece of cake in a pontoon, kayak, or canoe.

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[Wrench]

My dad lives in Spray and it can get pretty bony. The good news is that you don't need heavy gear and you're not hauling a moose.

 

[Mikedr]

We got back yesterday from floating it and flows this last weekend would have led to dragging a drift boat. It makes me nervous how low it may be in OCT.

Thanks for the report. I think we are going to be using canoes based on what fellas have been saying.

 

[Sako76]

Do you have a doughnut raft? That's what I would use. Good luck.

 

[Mikedr]

Do you have a doughnut raft? That's what I would use. Good luck.

this should work pretty well.