Idaho Fish Report

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.

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. 

As of March 29, 106 new winter steelhead entered the hatchery with 293 fish for the year to date. Another late trickle of 10 haggard summer steelhead brought this year’s run to 3,416 fish. Updated counts were not yet available at the writing of this report.

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 also fishing well.  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 1190 and dropping after a peak of 1,570 cfs on April 5. The temperature was a 46 degrees on Wednesday morning, but expected to jump back up to close to 54 over the next 2 days with the warmer weather. Flows out of the dam are 763 cfs and nearly 48 degrees. You can check all the USGS Rogue gauges here.