Kayak fishing camping ideas

Hello All,

I have been wanting to plan a 3-day kayak fishing and camping trip for when i return to Oregon.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a river that would allow me to float most of the way without having to get out and walk the kayak around rapids.  Or is there a chunk of river that could sustain me for 3 days.  I was thinking maybe the John Day river but am open to many ideas, even a lake if the fishing is good enough .  I will be in the portland area but am open to driving to far locations.  Thanks for your help!

I have been wanting to plan a 3-day kayak fishing and camping trip for when i return to Oregon.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a river that would allow me to float most of the way without having to get out and walk the kayak around rapids.  Or is there a chunk of river that could sustain me for 3 days.  I was thinking maybe the John Day river but am open to many ideas, even a lake if the fishing is good enough .  I will be in the portland area but am open to driving to far locations.  Thanks for your help!

Members of the forum have recently done multi-day fishing trips on the John Day, and will probably provide information about floating that river.  Another option is sections of the Grande Ronde river at moderate to low levels, which is a very scenic multi-day float.  There are a couple of rapids which are rambunctious at higher levels, but are pretty trivial at lower levels.  Check the descriptions of different sections of the river in guidebooks to choose sections of the river with a level of difficulty which you're comfortable with.  Here are some pictures from a trip I took on the Grande Ronde a couple of years ago.











This is one of the bigger rapids on the river at high levels, but is a Class II riffle at lower water.

Hello All,

I have been wanting to plan a 3-day kayak fishing and camping trip for when i return to Oregon.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a river that would allow me to float most of the way without having to get out and walk the kayak around rapids.  Or is there a chunk of river that could sustain me for 3 days.  I was thinking maybe the John Day river but am open to many ideas, even a lake if the fishing is good enough .  I will be in the portland area but am open to driving to far locations.  Thanks for your help!

I believe KayakShed puts on a yearly camping float on the John Day.....others may chime in as I do not remember the specifics but as I recall it sounded like a blast!

The Willamette is a multi-day kayakable river.  Lots of books about camping and all the details.  That could be many days depending on what stretch you wanted to float.  I saw the books at Next Adventure detailing the entire river.  I fish a few sections of it at different times of the year, very easy kayaking.

The Willamette is a multi-day kayakable river.  Lots of books about camping and all the details.  That could be many days depending on what stretch you wanted to float.  I saw the books at Next Adventure detailing the entire river.  I fish a few sections of it at different times of the year, very easy kayaking.

All you ever wanted to know right here.

Wow!! Thanks for all the replies. Nyg at off you attached of the willamete is awesome!!  I will look for future trips that people may put together. For now I am going to study that off and stop by next adventure and pick up a book. That way I can feel really prepared. Thanks for your help!!!!

Be nice to post that link as a "sticky" somewhere on the forum

John

Be nice to post that link as a "sticky" somewhere on the forum

John

Agreed, what a great resource. I was looking at it and it would be fun to drop in Salem and finish in downtown Portland area.

The Willamette is a multi-day kayakable river.  Lots of books about camping and all the details.  That could be many days depending on what stretch you wanted to float.  I saw the books at Next Adventure detailing the entire river.  I fish a few sections of it at different times of the year, very easy kayaking.

All you ever wanted to know right here.

See also: http://willamettewatertrail.org/

Thanks captain redbeard!!  That seems to be another great resource!  I like the link about itinerary inspirations. Does the website have a sticky for kayak camping? These would be great resources!

Thanks captain redbeard!!  That seems to be another great resource!  I like the link about itinerary inspirations. Does the website have a sticky for kayak camping? These would be great resources!

Paging admin Spot, you're wanted in the Oregon Kayak Fishing thread...

Gotcha covered Mark.  Now lets go fishing!

Bushy

There's a group (can't remember the details) that does a kayak version of Cycle Oregon on the Willy, think it takes 4 or 5 days. Seems to be more the SINK crowd.

I've done a week long trip down the Willy water trail with my daughter and DTS and his daughter.

We started just above the Mckenzie confluence down to Corvalis over the course of a week, camping on islands along the way. DTS and his daughter continued on for another week without us down to Independence, as we had to get off the water due to a family emergency.

Must say it was a blast!  Will do again with my son soon.

There's a group (can't remember the details) that does a kayak version of Cycle Oregon on the Willy, think it takes 4 or 5 days. Seems to be more the SINK crowd.

That is Paddle Oregon in August by the Willamette Riverkeepers.