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 have been popping on and off depending on where you are on the river, and golden stoneflies will soon follow. The flows have been going up, which can put the trout bite off for a day or two after large increases.

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 or tuna wrapped Mag Lips or Kwikfish, or back bounding roe.

Wild winter steelhead retention is closed. Hatchery steelhead retention is open year-round. There are still winter steelhead around, with the best bets for these fish from Shady Cove upstream to the McGregor Fishing access near highway 62 crossing.  But most of the winter fish is winding down, and anglers may actually end up finding themselves an early summer Steelhead.

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 floating conditions are much improved with over 2,000 cfs currently coming out of the dam. Due to more winter steelhead spawning in the mainstem this year with low tributary flows, 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.  

As of May 25, 413 new spring Chinook entered the hatchery bringing the year’s total to 989 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. This past week, 29 winter steelhead entered the hatchery with 1,140 fish for the year to date. Seven more summer steelhead also entered the hatchery with 13 fish for the year to date.

The Dodge Bridge gauge was 1,500 cfs. Temperatures are reaching 60 degrees for the daily high. The McCloud guage was reading 1,210 on Wednesday with temps between 52 and 55 degrees. Flows out of the dam are 1011 cfs and 51 degrees. You can check all the USGS Rogue gauges here.