Rogue River, middle REPORTWinter steelhead are still being caught on the Middle Rogue. While most all neighboring streams are closing for st

Rogue River - Middle - Grants Pass, OR (Josephine County)


by ODFW
4-16-2021
Website

Winter steelhead are still being caught on the Middle Rogue. While most all neighboring streams are closing for steelhead on March 31, the Rogue remains open all year. However, retention of wild steelhead closes April 30. To retain a wild fish, it must be a minimum of 24 inches long. Only 1 wild fish per day, and 3 per year zone wide in aggregate may be kept.  

Trout fishing on the Rogue is closed and reopens on May 22. This includes catch-and-release fishing. Any angler on the Rogue at this time will need to have in possession a valid combined angling tag, in addition to their fishing license, and not be targeting trout or half-pounder steelhead. Young smolt are outmigrating currently and this regulation is designed to protect them.

Anglers are picking up winter steelhead, but it has been a tough year. There are some larger fish in the mix, which has been nice to see. If targeting water below the Applegate River, you’ll get the chance to target both Rogue and Applegate hatchery fish. Running plugs from a drift boat or drifting nightcrawlers or eggs, eggs/shrimp, soft beads, or yarn balls are all good bets. 

There have been reports of hatchery fish sighted off of Baker boat ramp and Chinook County Park vicinity. There are winter steelhead acclimation facilities in Skunk Creek and Greens Creek, and there should be returning adults in the vicinity.

Locally-owned and operated tackle and fly shops in Grants Pass have excellent gear and very fresh bait, local flies and knowledge that is specific to the Rogue and to your particular technique. Go check them out and offer them support during this time. 

It is illegal to snag and keep a snagged fish, whether it’s wild or hatchery! Report violations to Oregon State Police by calling *OSP.

Wednesday morning the flow was 1,180 cfs and dropping and conditions clear with turbidity was 3 NTU and water temps starting the day in the high 40s and reaching mid 50s at the Grants Pass guage station. Flows are below normal for this time of year, so some riffles/rapids may be a bit bonier than usual.  

For those interested in checking conditions before getting on the river, the City of Grants Pass Water Division’s website offers information on river conditions at Grants Pass as well as a link to a river camera. Anglers can check all the USGS gaging stations, which have the most current temperatures and river flows hereLast updated 4/14/21.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, April 16th, 2021
: ODFW Recreation Report
: Rogue Valley trout stocking changes
Eel River: The river is clear and the fish will be holding in the deeper slots

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, April 16th, 2021
: Oregon North West Report
: Oregon Willamette Region Report
: Oregon South West Region Report
: Oregon Central Region Report
: Oregon North East Region Report
: Oregon South East Region Report
Ana Reservoir: Ana Reservoir Report
Ana River: Ana River Report
Balm Creek Reservoir: Balm Creek Reservoir Report
Beulah Reservoir: Beulah Res. Fish Report
Blitzen River: Blitzen River Report
Burns Pond: Burns Pond Report
Campbell Reservoir: Campbell Fish Report
Chewaucan River: CHEWAUCAN RIVER Report
Chickahominy Reservoir: CHICKAHOMINY RESERVOIR
Deming Creek: Deming Creek Report
Dog Lake: Dog Lake Report
Duncan Reservoir: Duncan Res. Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Report
Fourmile Lake: Fourmile Fish report
Holbrook Reservoir: Holbrook Res. Report
Upper Klamath Lake: Upper Klamath Lake Report
North Fork Sprague River: NORTH FORK SPRAGUE RIVER AND ALL TRIBUTARIES
Thief Valley Reservoir: THIEF VALLEY RESERVOIR Report
Grande Ronde River: Grande Ronde River Report
Hat Rock Pond: Hat Rock Pond report
Imnaha River: Imnaha River Report
McNary Channel Ponds: McNARY PONDS Report
Umatilla River: UMATILLA RIVER Report
Wallowa River: Wallowa River Report
Applegate River: APPLEGATE RIVER REPORT
Bradley Lake: BRADLEY LAKE REPORT
Cooper Creek Reservoir: COOPER CREEK RESERVOIR REPORT
Coquille River: COQUILLE RIVER BASIN REPORT
Eel Lake: EEL LAKE REPORT
Emigrant Reservoir: EMIGRANT RESERVOIR REPORT
Empire Lake Upper: EMPIRE LAKES REPORT
Fish Lake : FISH LAKE REPORT
Galesville Reservoir: GALESVILLE RESERVOIR REPORT
Garrison Lake: GARRISON LAKE REPORT
Hemlock Lake: HEMLOCK LAKE & LAKE IN THE WOODS report
Lake Selmac: LAKE SELMAC REPORT
Lemolo Lake: LEMOLO RESERVOIR REPORT
Lost Creek Lake: LOST CREEK RESERVOIR REPORT
Medco Pond: MEDCO POND REPORT