Idaho Fish Report

All Chinook fishing is closed from Fishers Ferry upstream to Cole Rivers Hatchery. Anglers should be avoiding areas of congregating and spawning Chinook salmon, and avoid casting at them. They are not good eating, let them spawn! Also, please be aware of their gravel nests (redds) and do not step on these.  

As of Sept. 1, the fly-only season is in effect upstream of Fishers Ferry. No bait or added weights or attachments can be on your line. Spin-casters can employ a bubble or similar floating device, and a fly; this can be a very effective set-up when fished with a good presentation. 

All boat ramps are open. 

Trout anglers are especially encouraged to harvest adipose-fin clipped trout in the upper reach of river. Summer steelhead should continue through at least November in the upper Rogue. Black and black/purple flies have been the ticket for some local fly anglers. Copper johns and egg imitations will begin getting hot as fish start keying into spawning salmon. 

For week of Oct. 21, 0 new summer steelhead entered the hatchery, bringing the total to 1,036 fish for the year. The last few weeks have seen numbers trickle into the hatchery, indicating that fish are not moving. So, if you find a pod of fish, they are likely to be in the same vicinity the next day.

The hatchery recycled excess summer steelhead downstream a few weeks ago and these fish are still being caught in the Modoc area as well. Some of these fish are tagged with colored and numbered tags in their backs. Anglers should call 541-826-8774 ext. 226 if they catch these fish. 

If you plan on releasing the fish, leave the tag in it, but please try and get a 4 digit number on the tag (please don’t report the phone number!!). Participants will be entered into a raffle for donated prizes including gift cards to a local sporting goods store and even a box of hand tied flies.   

A few wild fall Chinook trickled into the hatchery as well, bringing that total to 21 for the year.  There is not a fall Chinook hatchery program on the upper Rogue. The collection pond is typically sorted on Tuesdays/Wednesdays, and new numbers are typically available to the public by Thursday or Friday. Call into the Lost Creek Reservoir hotline or check the MyODFW.com fish counts page.

Flows have remained consistent with no precipitation on the immediate horizon, and releases from the damn remaining constant for incubating Chinook eggs in the gravel. 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.