Flows on the John Day River are currently unusually low for this time of year, but will allow for good conditions for those targeting smallmouth bass.

June and July are often the prime month to target bass, and current conditions should make for excellent fishing. Note that river levels have dropped to 125 cfs at the Service Creek gage, making for challenging conditions to boaters using anything larger than single person inflatables. Morning and evening tend to be the best fishing, and anglers are reporting good fishing with both topwater lures and tube jigs.