Upper Rogue River Fishing Report

Rogue River- Upper - Medford, OR (Jackson County)

Photo Credit: Courtesy of ODFW

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-2-2019
Website

Above Hog Creek, Chinook fishing is now closed.

Summer steelhead and trout remain open in the upper Rogue, and summer steelhead fishing has been good. Bait restrictions are in effect in some areas so be aware of the regulations where you are fishing. From Fishers Ferry to Shady Cove anglers cannot use bait. A simple setup of bouncing bait, or using lures such a spinner, a plug or a bead can be very effective in steelhead fishing.

This has been a great run of summer steelhead with not only many fish available, but larger fish as well. Cold, low water has been keeping steelhead from moving around much right now, so if you can figure out where they are holding it can still be good fishing. Hopefully the current storm will encourage fish to move around if it brings a reasonable amount of precipitation.  

Twenty-six new summer steelhead entered the trap at Cole Rivers last week, for a total of 2,946 steelhead to date. Excess hatchery adult summer steelhead from Cole River Hatchery are being recycled back into the fishery and anglers are reporting success in catching these fish. Cole Rivers is starting to see coho back at the hatchery and 22 swam in last week for a total of 46 so far this season. 

Some summer steelhead have red, blue or green tags extending from the top of the fish near the dorsal fin. ODFW encourages anglers that catch these fish to call the upper Rogue office at 541-826-8774.

The McLeod gage is currently reading 1190 cfs. The Dodge Bridge gage is at 1270 cfs. The river temperature at release is 43oF. 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:

Plenty of naturally produced trout are always present in the upper Rogue, however water has cooled significantly and these fish will be very slow to bite.   

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 nightcrawler, Pautzke eggs or even PowerBait will produce.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Monday, December 2nd, 2019
Applegate River: Applegate River Fishing Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: Ben Irving Reservoir Fishing Report
Chetco River: Chetco River Fishing Report
Coos River: Coos River Basin Report
Coquille River: Coquille River Fishing Report
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake Fishing Report
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Reservoir Fishing Report
Empire Lake Upper: Empire Lake Fishing Report
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Fishing Report
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Fishing Report
Garrison Lake: Garrison Lake Fishing Report
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Fishing Report
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt Lake Fishing Report
Illinois River: Illinois River Fishing Report
Lake Marie: Lake Marie Fishing Report
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Fishing Report
Loon Lake: Loon Lake Fishing Report
Lost Creek Lake: Lost Creek Reservoir Fishing Report
Rogue River- Lower: Lower Rogue River Fishing Report
Rogue River - Middle: Middle Rogue River Fishing Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, November 27th, 2019
Ana Reservoir: Ana Reservoir Fishing Report
Ana River: Ana River Fishing Report
Blitzen River: Blitzen River Fishing Report
Campbell Reservoir: Campbell Reservoir Fishing Report
Dog Lake: Dog Lake Fishing Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Report
Gerber Reservoir: Reservoir Near Freezing
Heart Lake: Heart Lake Fishing Report
John C Boyle Reservoir: J.C Boyle Fishing Report
Upper Klamath Lake: Upper Klamath & Agency Lakes
Murray Reservoir : Murray Reservoir Fishing Report
Owyhee Reservoir: Owyhee Reservoir Fishing Report
Sprague River: Sprague River Fishing Report
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir Update
Warm Springs Reservoir: Warm Springs Reservoir Fishing Report