Idaho Fish Report

Trout fishing is now open in the Rogue with a daily bag limit of 5 adipose fin-clipped (hatchery) trout. Wild trout must be immediately released unharmed. Salmonflies are present from about Rogue Elk Upstream to the Holy Water. Afternoons are seeing the most activity. There’s still probably a week or so of salmonfly action left, but the trout bite can be very good especially as it starts to wane because the fish are keyed into the surface but aren’t seeing as much activity.

Chinook fishing is in full swing in the upper river. Bank and boat anglers are picking up fish.   Bank anglers are picking up fish around the Casey Park and McGregor fishing access areas and slightly downstream. Drift boat anglers are using sardine, tuna, or ghost shrimp-wrapped Mag Lips or Kwikfish, or back bouncing roe.

Wild steelhead retention is closed. Hatchery steelhead retention is open year-round. The summer steelhead run seems to be off to a very good start with a number of fish being hooked between salmon holes by anglers side drifting, or even trout anglers getting them on salmonfly imitations. 

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.

River flows have leveled out but are up. Plan on rowing hard if you are backbouncing bait for salmon. Winter steelhead have still just recently spawned, and with many more mainstem spawners this year due to lower tributary flow earlier in the season, anglers are still encouraged to be mindful of redds/nests of young fish and eggs that are still in the gravel, especially around tailouts. Please watch your step if wadding or dropping an anchor.  They will likely be along river margins/side channels.

As of June 15, 242 new spring Chinook entered the hatchery bringing the year’s total to 1,647 fish. Anglers can subscribe to the most current fish counts or visit the fish counts website as updated counts are not always available at the writing of the recreation report. Last week, likely the last 4 winter steelhead entered the hatchery with 1170 fish for the year to date. The summer Steelhead return looks to be off to a good start with 83 fish entering the hatchery for the week, and 173 fish to date.

The Dodge Bridge gauge was 3,310 cfs. Temperatures was 59 degrees for Wednesday afternoon with a typical 7-degree temperature swing for the day as the week is heating up. The McCloud guage was reading 3,200 on Wednesday afternoon with temperature at 53 degrees and a few degree swing expected for the day. You can check all the USGS Rogue gauges here.