Trout fishing is closed on the Rogue between April 1 and May 21. This is to protect out migrating wild steelhead smolts. The Rogue is still open for steelhead and salmon fishing, with a valid Combined Angling Tag in possession.

Wild steelhead can be retained above Hog Creek boat ramp from Feb. 1 through April 30. Wild steelhead must be 24 inches long to harvest, with a limit of 1 per day/3 per year zone wide in aggregate with other SW rivers where wild steelhead are allowed to be harvested (consult regulations). 

Anglers are still catching spawned out “kelt” or down-runners. These fish are much more colored up and have a sunken looking belly or appear skinny. If handled properly, they may return to spawn again.

Wild Chinook salmon may not be retained above Hog Creek boat ramp until June 1. Spring Chinook anglers are picking some up along the Rogue Trail below Graves Creek and even a few have been reportedly caught in the GP area with the recent rains. Anglers are reminded that fishing is closed from Rainie Falls to 400 feet below the falls.

Anglers are still catching steelhead but water is moving fish around and they are making it up some of the larger tributaries in the area. Valley of the Rogue to Baker has been a good float. There still some fish being caught downstream of GP as well. Steelhead from an acclimation project near the Baker Boat ramp should still see some hatchery fish in the area. 

With rain forecast all week, the river is expected to crest on Thursday but likely not as much as forecast. This should get spring Chinook moving into the Galice and Grave Creek area. The Grants Pass the stream gauge is on a slow and steady rise at 1730 cfs and expected to have a crest over 3,000 cfs on Saturday evening. The Wednesday morning turbidity reading was 6 NTUs and 45.2 degrees. Current flow, temp and turbidity conditions for the Rogue can be found at the USGS stream gauges here, or checking the City of Grants Pass water page’s river data here.