Anglers are reminded that the Hatchery Hole, which encompasses the blocker dam to 1200 feet below, is closed to ALL fishing from April 1 through July 31. It is also closed year-round to Chinook fishing.

Trout fishing is closed from April 1 through May 21. This is to protect out migrating wild steelhead smolts. This closure includes catch and release fishing for trout at this time as well.

Winter steelhead are being caught in the upper Rogue on a regular basis. Due to drought conditions in the larger spawning tributaries, more mainstem spawning of winter fish is  occurring this year, and anglers are asked to be aware of redds in shallow tailouts and along river margins. Avoid walking or dragging vessels on these. However, the recent rains should be getting more fish into tributaries. The rain forecast this week should really get steelhead moving and conditions should be good for floating and bank angling. Below Little Butte Creek will probably be muddy on Thursday and Friday but should start clearing by the weekend.

Wild winter steelhead can be retained as long as they are a minimum size of 24 inches through April 30. Only 1 wild fish can be harvested per day as part of the daily limit, and 3 wild fish in aggregate for the year in the Rogue and other waterbodies of the SW zone where wild steelhead may be harvested. Consult the 2022 sportfishing regulations and SW zone for more information. 

Chinook anglers may want to start exploring. The first Chinook entered the hatchery this week. No wild Chinook retention is allowed at this time, only hatchery fish may be harvested. There is never wild Chinook retention allowed above Dodge Bridge. 

As of April 19, 113 new winter steelhead entered the hatchery with 624 fish for the year to date. The first spring Chinook of the season also showed up in the ladder.

Best bets for the upper river would be concentrating on the area between Shady Cove and Touvelle as there is more color to the water. Rogue Elk to Shady Cove is fishing well, as is Shady Cove to Takelma. Trout anglers will want to start checking out the Holy Water, as that is the only trout fishing available in the Rogue until May 22. Anglers are reminded that the Holy Water is fly angling only and catch and release. 

The Dodge Bridge gauge is 1,790 cfs and on a slow rise with another crest expected Thursday. The temperature was at 44.5 degrees on Wednesday morning and will remain chilly through the week. Flows out of the dam are 773 cfs and 46 degrees. You can check all the USGS Rogue gauges here.