Idaho Fish Report

Bait can again be used in the entire Rogue from the mouth upstream to Fishers Ferry. 

Chinook fishing is now closed upstream of Hog Creek boat ramp through the remainder of the year. 

Summer steelhead fishing has been very good and there’s still reports of some fresher late summer fish continuing to show up. Most summer Steelhead in this area should be starting to stage near the mouths of tributaries. There still may be some fish caught in the Galice to Grants Pass section as well. Up to 2 hatchery steelhead as part of the daily combined salmon/steelhead bag limit and 5 hatchery trout may be retained.

Coho salmon are about done, but considering the low flows for the fall, many fish have not made it up to their spawning grounds yet. They will likely be staging in the vicinities of large tributary mouths. Wild fish should be released unharmed and care should be taken to keep them in the water as much as possible. Hatchery fish should be on the move toward the hatchery but most of the run should be to the hatchery by now.

Cole Rivers Hatchery recycled the last group of re-run summer steelhead just before Thanksgiving at the Modoc Access on the Denman Wildlife Area. These fish have a hole punch in their left gill plate. Anglers are reporting catching these fish throughout the upper river and fishing should be good for a few more weeks.

As of Dec. 8, the total summer steelhead for the year is 2,400 fish. Angler reports from last weekend’s rain seemed to get fish moving around.

Another good push of  coho also entered the hatchery ladder, bringing this year’s coho total to 2,320 fish. After a long wait for river levels to rise, many coho are moving into their spawning tributaries

This big return of coho comes despite an overall reduction in coho smolt releases since 2014, showing what can happen when there’s good ocean survival of out-migrating juveniles. Hopefully this trend of increased survival includes other anadromous programs (Chinook and steelhead) when those stocks return as older-age fish.

Locally-owned and operated tackle and fly shops in Medford, Shady Cove, and Ashland 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 your support.

For the latest fish counts, call into the Lost Creek Reservoir hotline or check the MyODFW.com fish counts page.

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.