Big Bend

Big Bend is a public carry-in (hand-launch) site on North Fork John Day River.

It is owned and managed by Bureau of Land Management.

This is a carry-in access designed for canoes, kayaks and other hand-launched small craft rather than trailered powerboats.

Big Bend is a hand-carry / car-top access.

The site is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

North Fork John Day River is open to public fishing, boating and paddling across the Pacific Northwest. Anglers here target largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, crappie, catfish and panfish.

The rivers are famous for spring and fall runs of chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon.

As moving water, it fishes by current — target seams, eddies, holes, bends and woody cover rather than open flats.

Big Bend is a public access point to North Fork John Day River for hand-carried craft.

This launch sits on North Fork John Day River; look for other public access points, marinas and shoreline fishing spots along the same water, and check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for the full list of access sites nearby.

River current, woody snags, shifting sandbars and changing water levels are the main hazards. Respect the current, scout unfamiliar stretches, give way to any commercial traffic, and never anchor from the stern in a strong flow.

Carry U.S. Coast Guard–required safety gear, wear your life jacket, file a float plan for longer trips, and watch the afternoon heat and storms in summer.

An Oregon angling license is required for anglers 12 and older. Follow the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's seasons, size and creel limits, which vary by water and species.

Clean, Drain and Dry: remove all aquatic plants and animals, drain every compartment, and never move live fish or bait between waters — this is how invasive species like zebra mussels and invasive carp spread.

Observe posted launch rules, no-wake and idle zones near the ramp, and any local watercraft controls.

This is a hand-launch site — bring a cart for longer carries and pack light. It is ideal for kayaks, canoes and small car-top boats rather than big trailered rigs.

Arrive early on summer weekends for parking, and have a plan for wind direction before you launch on open water.