Expect more fish to move into the upper Rogue throughout the next couple weeks as fishing always gets better the closer to April we get. There is good public access for bank fishing and boat access at Cole Rivers Hatchery, McGregor Park, Casey Park, Rogue Elk, Shady Cove, Takelma, Dodge Bridge, Modoc, Denman Wildlife Area, Touvelle State Park, Gold Ray and Fishers Ferry. Most floats in the upper Rogue have been from the hatchery or Rogue Elk downstream to Shady Cove. Dodge Bridge to Touvelle is an excellent float but anglers should be aware that they will encounter Rattlesnake Rapids. If you are not ready for Rattlesnake, many floats will start at the ODFW Modoc Access Site and float to Touvelle or Fishers Ferry.

The upper Rogue water levels don’t typically fluctuate dramatically upstream of Elk Creek. So while the rest of the river is falling into shape after a storm, this is a great section of river to explore. Try fishing roe, night crawlers, spinners or jigs under bobbers.

Fly anglers that nymph will want to use prince nymphs or copperswans, steelhead brassies, stone flies, ugly bugs, or will want to fish large dark flies if swinging. Don’t be afraid of color such as black and chartreuse, black and blue, black and purple, black and pink, or black and red. If tying your own flies, don’t be afraid to add a little bit of flash dubbing or tinsel in the body of your fly. Also, covering lots of water when working through a run is a good technique when swinging flies. Trying moving 4-5 feet down every cast or two.

As of March 20, 3,594 summer steelhead had entered Cole Rivers Hatchery, with 33 new fish for the week. 44 new winter steelhead were collected for the week, bringing the total to 311 fish for the season. Only around 10 percent of the winter steelhead run is typically into Cole Rivers Hatchery by this time of the year, so there should be plenty of weeks ahead for opportunities to catch Rogue Winter Steelhead.  As of March 20, no Spring Chinook have entered the hatchery yet.

The McLeod gage is currently reading 1,270 cfs and 1.93 feet. TheDodge Bridge gage is at 2,290 cfs and 3.55 feet. For the most current releases of water out of Lost Creek Reservoir, call 1-800-472-2434. For real time streamflow from USGS gauges on the Rogue click here.

Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir

Expect snow and limited parking. Anglers will need to walk into fishing access sites. There are still trout available for the hardy angler. Discharge was 1,630 cfs below Prospect and 1,100 cfs above Prospect. Water temperatures have “warmed” to 40 degrees. With cold water, you’ll want to swing your lure right in front of fish, so work through a hole a bit more slowly.

Anglers can cast flies or smaller lures like a Panther Martin or rooster tail. Often tipping the lure with bait helps to produce. In slower holes, fishing straight bait such as night crawler or Pautzke eggs, even PowerBait will produce.

Trout stocking in the Rogue above Lost Creek Reservoir will not begin until Memorial Day.