Don Fischer

Well yesterday evening I finally got them to hit down at Clarno. Been a long MTY spring for them. First one was 22" and weighed 4 lbs, nice eating size. Second I think I set the hook to soon and missed. Third I didn't know I had till I started reeling in. Must have picked up the bait the same time I started reeling. Got it up on the bank and it spit the hook. Then snicker tried to help me get it and it got back in the water. Snicker meant well! Boy had this drought been bad. Really look forward to spring but been a bad one this year. No rain and res I go to for crappie I can't get my boat into, really low water! Gonna take some driving to find fish this year it looks like! Oh well, my crappie res is 70 mi one way!

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Don, What city and state you located in. Don't know where the drought is

Don Fischer

Antelope, Oregon 30 mi NE of Madras, Ore

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Thanks Don.

Jeremy Loc: America

Don. That is my favorite Sm Mouth Bass and Channel Cat fishery. Buddies and I have been going to JD River for decades. We will be 5 miles above Service Creek ( BLM) spot in August. I don’t know the exact dates yet but it’s my favorite place for Sm Mouth and Channel Cats. We have floated from Service Creek to Twickenham many times. Buddies go from Service Creek to Cottonwood Canyon. Thanks for info.

Don Fischer

I was wondering about up by service creek. Long drive but I'd do that for some good cats. usually only get two or three an evening at Clarno. Checked out a new place BLM recently opened over near Condon. Last six miles kind of slow going, they recommend 4 WD on it. Really nice down there though so gonna give it a try. Down off 30 mi creek. Where do you live at you fish Service Creek? Just got into channels last year and been a hoot! About all I use is chicken breast in strawberry kool aide and garlic. My son use's night crawlers! Will let you know when I get down on 30mi creek how it goes. I figured closer to the falls might be better. Have tried at LaPage Park up to the falls but all I've ever got there was bull heads. Gonna give Irrigon a try this year. Walleye guide took me in years ago and said we were on a clam bed. Saw a video recently that said clam beds were a good spot, find out!

Not a whole lot of catfish fishermen around Oregon!

One more question. Down at Clarno they all seem to come in at about 20" average. Smallest we got was 14" and only one. Rest were 18" to 26" and ave maybe 20". Nice size fish! Ya know, I've lived here in Antelope over 30 yrs now and never realized the cats were down at Clarno!

Don Fischer

That spot on 30 mi creek is getting close to Cottonwood canyon.

Jeremy Loc: America

Not a lot of cats at Service Creek. More below the falls. But your late for the year. The spawn is at the falls in spring. They are throughout the river but hit and miss. Some years I can’t catch one. Night time helps. Chicken livers help. The place your talking about with 4wd might be pretty crazy getting in and out.

Don Fischer

I've been down by Twickingham several times. Go in normally from Young Life compound past Horse Heaven. Few really nice looking spots over there but access is a bit short. Parked at the bridge in Twickingham last time there and that access looked really short. Went home through Fossil.

pulliampap Loc: yakima washington

i think that if you would use fresh cut bait that you would ketch more cats.. pike minnow are great for cut bait here in washington

Don Fischer

Been thinking about that just haven't tried it yet. I have had really good luck with chicken breast for some reason I don't understand!

RuffplayOR57 Loc: Klamath Falls, OR

Wish I lived a little closer Don, I’d go with ya. Not many spots down here to catch a Cat anymore. Glad you caught a few.

Don Fischer

Let me know if you can make it up and your welcome to come along.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

We catch decent cats on the John Day year round. Anywhere from LaPage to the falls with fresh cut bait or night crawlers and usually late evening. In July and August we catch some real hogs right below the John Day dam with Mormon crickets. Several over 10 pounds. You’ll find Mormon crickets up Blalock canyon but wear gloves to catch em. They bite and will draw blood. Go up there at night and shake the bushes and the crickets will fall all over the ground and are pretty dormant. I fish the Columbia and Snake from May through September every year and lived in Oregon for 25 years prior to moving to Idaho.

Don Fischer

I've fished out of LaPage park a number of time's but all I ever caught was bull heads up near the falls. Went inn
there last spring and the water was full of junk and so shallow up past the boat park I turned around. last spring had an over abundance of wind too. Used to love LaPage park. Used to park there and go up the river bird hunting several times a year.

Those Morman Crickets are really popular over at Huntington! My son got some one time and ya buy them frozen! But great bait for cats! Like to get in below the dam over on the Washington side and fish where the water comes out. But My boat isn't really big enough to fool around crossing the river! Little 15' Jon Boat. Gonna take it to Irrigon and try it. Just out a ways from the launch is supposed to be clam beds, read where that should be a good place. Went down to Clarno again this evening but didn't do any good. have heard shrimp are supposed to be good bait so got some to try. Nothing hitting on anything this evening and the shrimp don't stay on the hook to well. Went a little early to try out an UL level wind casting rig I set up. small Daiwa reel with 6# line on an 6' ugky Stick i picked up today. rated mediun but for 6-12# line. Casting a 1 1/4" round cork slip float with a 1/8 oz jig and augar tail. Didn't catch anything but the rod and reel handled really well. Tried that rod last year for crappie and couldn't cast it with less than a 1/4oz jig on it. Don't reall care for the low profile level winds but this set up was really nice! Got a small Kastking on the way and an Ocuma 7' Kokanee Pro rod for it. Rated UL for 2-8# line. Got a spool of 4# for it when it get's here. I simply like casting rod and reels and only spinning I have are all UL.

last fall was my first time targeting channel's. Best bait For me was chicken breast in strawberry kool aide and garlic. My son used worms and did well too. Haven't tried cut bait yet. Not sure what your allowed to use in Oregon. Probably pike minnow. Thinking I try that I'd just filet it and use the filet's. Son got a pike minnow at Clarno last year and gutted it. then got a cat on the guts!