Local Waters
John Day River (Service Creek to Kimberly)
Service Creek / Fossil, OR · about 2 hours from Maupin (typical, off-peak)
Smallmouth in a long public canyon.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
Around now
Most likely in this drive this week. Not a guarantee — confirm the official rule.
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Smallmouth bass
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Trout
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Sunfish and crappie
Also worth a thought: Largemouth bass, Salmon.
- Season
- Legal on many waters. West-side streams drop and warm. Fish dawn. Confirm ODFW. Official rule
- License
- Oregon angling license (ODFW)
- Park
- BLM Service Creek, Clarno, and Kimberly accesses.
- Walk in
- Short walk from the public lot.
- Wading
- Warm in summer. Watch rattlesnakes and the push.
- Usual window
- Confirm ODFW for this week.
- Monday conditions
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Skinny water. SW 1 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- ⛅ 77° partly
- Sun and moon
- Rise 9:11 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 10:53
- Wind at dawn
- SW 1 mph · Mostly Sunny · 57°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: SW 1 mph
- 10am: SW 2 mph
- 2pm: SW 8 mph
- dusk: W 6 mph
- Flow
- 26 cfs · skinny · 1.16 ft · 1:30 am · John Day at Service Creek · USGS gauge · wadable band is a sketch, not a safety rating
- Next dawn (Tuesday)
- Skinny water. SW 1 mph around dawn. Fine to go. · SW 1 mph
- A setup that belongs here
- 6-wt, poppers and clousers.
- Notes
- Easy Angling Northeast. Named public BLM. Confirm ODFW.
Overnight plan: Monday evening and Tuesday dawn. Book two nights if you want the morning. Drive time is to the stay, then a few minutes to the water.
Log this trip
Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.
Shops
Stay
Hand-checked, not a hotel scrape. Check dates on their site. Default two nights.
Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site
Campground · 15 min to the water · Seasonal — confirm Oregon State Parks
On the John Day. Legal camp if you want dawn in the canyon.
Dogs: Yes, on leash — confirm park rules
Dreamers Lodge
Motel · 20 min to the water · Year-round — call
Indoor bed in John Day. Service Creek is the morning drive.
Dogs: Ask
Cabins and rentals (you leave Local Waters):
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
No desk pinned yet. Ask the shop above who they trust here.