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. 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 Saturday but should start clearing by Sunday or early Monday.

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. No Chinook have yet entered the hatchery but a few “scouts” are probably on their way into the upper River. No wild Chinook retention is allowed at this time, only hatchery fish may be harvested. 

As of April 6, 120 new winter steelhead entered the hatchery with 413 fish for the year to date. Another late trickle of 12 summer steelhead brought this year’s run to 3,428 fish.  With low river levels, fish have been slowly making their way up to the hatchery.  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 1210 cfs and on a slow rise with 2 small crests expected through the week. The temperature was a 44 degrees on Wednesday morning and will remain chilly through the week. Flows out of the dam are 763 cfs and nearly 48 degrees. You can check all the USGS Rogue gauges here.