One of the better known rivers in Southern Oregon, the Rogue River boasts healthy numbers of wild and hatchery steelhead, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Chinook salmon run in both spring and fall.
The Rogue River is about 215 miles long from its headwaters near Crater Lake National Park to its mouth which meets the sea in Gold Beach Oregon. The Rogue River has long lazy stretches mixed with heart pounding stretches of up to class IV whitewater. Most of the fishing offered by ROE takes place in what we consider the Upper Section of the Rogue River about 2.5 hours from the ocean and an hour from Crater Lake National Park. All trips are day trips and most fishing is done from a drift boat or fly fishing raft. Some wading is available. Your ROE guide will let you know what the best opportunities are along the way.
Salmon Fishing
Salmon season runs from late May through September. Spring chinook (Springers) will arrive in Late May and are available through July when the season closes. Springers are referred to as the finest eating fish in the PNW! most fish are in the 10-30lb range. While the Rogue boasts strong returns these fish are notorious for their “off & on” bite.
Fall Chinook season will be directly after Springer season in August through September. Fall fish run larger than their springtime cousins with the occasional 50+ pound fish caught on the Rogue! They are also known to be more consistent biters.
Coho Salmon are less targeted than Chinook but are aggressive, acrobatic and make for great fun! Coho are available in November and December. We primarily backbounce eggs and pull plugs to trick these brutes but coho can be a willing participant for fly anglers.
Trout Fishing
Dry fly fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout on the Upper stretches is very rewarding. Trout range from 10 – 26 inches and in general you can catch fish all day long… if you can manage not to pull your fly away when you see these hungry fish come to take your fly. Peak season is Late May and early June when the Salmonfies are popping. These giant stoneflies really get the fish going and are a blast to fish! For spin fisherman Casting and retrieving spinners is downright deadly. If you’re looking to put your kids on some fish, a small spinner on the Rogue River is sure to make you a hero!
Steelhead Fishing
Summer steelhead fishing on the Rogue River is pretty consistent from late July through November. Summer steelhead range from 3 to 8 pounds and occasionally we land a whopper weighing up to 12 pounds. Nymphing and swinging flies are common methods for fly anglers, while drifting beads and eggs are the ticket for conventional fishermen. Steelhead are of course known as the fish of a thousand casts. Don’t be discouraged. Steelhead are the prize of the PNW!
All guests need a Rogue South Coast Steelhead endorsement to fish the Rogue regardless of species.