Grande Ronde River Bass Fishing
Fishing the Grande Ronde River for Smallmouth Bass

During the early spring the Smallmouth Bass will begin staging near the mouth of the Grande Ronde River in the vicinity of Heller Bar on the Snake River.

These fish are in a pre-spawn mode and will lie in the confluence area until the water conditions and temperatures entice them upstream into the Grande Ronde itself. By late May and early June these fish will start their upstream migration that will take them as far upriver as the Oregon line and above. The fish will spawn and then spend the summer months spread throughout the river, returning in the fall to the warmer waters of the Snake.

During the spring and summer the Ronde is one of the better bass fishing areas in the region. Tackle requirements are limited only by experience and personal choice. A light spinning setup is a good basic choice, loaded with a quality line such as Stren, Trilene or one of the new superbraids in 6 to 10 lb. test and a handful of spinners, plastics or small plugs and you have the basics. Cabela’s and   Bass Pro offer some very good combos ideally suited to the task. Fly fisherman will find their favorite trout rod well suited to the Ronde-from a light 3 weight up to 6 or 7 weight gear works great. Fly patterns can be as simple as a Woolly worm or as specific as a “match the hatch” fly tied at streamside. Spin fishers will do well with in line spinners such as Mepp’s, Worden’s Roostertails and Vibrax in the smaller size range as well as any of the plastic worms, grubs and tube baits available anywhere.

The Grande Ronde is a small river and is easily fished from shore or by wading the edges and casting to the numerous pockets and runs. Chest waders or hipboots are advisable in the spring and early summer period but as summer water temps reach into the mid 70s a pair of tennis shoes and shorts work well.
At first and last light you will find the fish cruising the shallow bars and rocky edges that abound along the length of the river. From sunup to late evening the bigger fish will move out into the deeper runs, ripples and behind the numerous large boulders. Smaller fish tend to inhabit the shallows throughout the day, foraging for crayfish and minnows.

Average size bass on the Ronde will be in the 1 ½ to 2 or 3 lb. range with fish to 5 lbs. or larger not uncommon. Most of the larger fish will be caught during the prespawn period in May and June.

A one or two day float trip will provide a casual and pleasant trip through the roadless sections of the river corridor and offers the opportunity to fish the areas with the least pressure. A small 4 to 6 man raft is sufficient, drift boats and the many styles of pontoon type rafts are also very suitable. The rapids during the summer months are small and require only moderate experience; the largest rapid on the river is the Narrows located a short distance upstream from the confluence with Joseph Creek. This can be a challenge and should be carefully scouted prior to running. Many of the recreational rafters will portage this section as it can dump even a good sized raft spilling people and gear into a lengthy stretch of fast, turbulent water.

Seasons and gear restrictions on the Grande Ronde Raiver change from spring to fall, check the regulations carefully and be sure you know the requirements for the time, area and species before fishing. The entire river requires barbless hooks all year and there are additional bait and hook restrictions applied at different times of the year.

If in doubt, contact Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife  for clarifications. 


Nice bass from the Grande Ronde River in Washington
Typical Smallmouth Bass found in the Grande Ronde River