Jun 18
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: Trout
This is the premier summer trout fishery in the Rogue watershed. Anglers can escape the heat of the Rogue Valley, enjoy beautiful scenery, and catch fish. Campgrounds and other public access sites along Highway 62 and Highway 230 are stocked with rainbow trout on a weekly basis between Memorial Day and Labor Day.Try casting flies (use a bubble if fishing with spinning gear) or smaller lures like a Panther Martin or rooster tail. Often tipping the lure with bait helps to produce. In slower holes, fishing bait such as a nightcrawler or Pautzke eggs, or even PowerBait will produce.
Several US Forest Service campgrounds along the river will be closed this year, and some will have a late opening. ODFW plans to stock the normal release sites even if the campgrounds are closed, because anglers can walk in behind the gates to fish. All standard release sites were stocked with trout last week, including Minnehaha Creek. Contact the USFS office at (541) 618-2200 for updates on campgrounds.
The Rogue and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir are open to fishing year-round, with a daily retention limit of 5 trout (no limit on brook trout). Anglers are encouraged to harvest brook trout regardless of size.
The south and middle forks of the Rogue are not stocked, are generally more difficult to access, and provide fishing opportunity away from crowds. Naturally produced rainbow and cutthroat trout are available, but anglers may choose to practice catch and release on the rainbow and cutthroat of these forks. Last updated 6/11/25.
Jun 18
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, upper: Steelhead, spring chinook, trout
The release from Lost Creek is 3,000 cfs, and the flow at Gold Ray is 3,000 cfs. River temperature out of the reservoir is 52F. Hatchery spring chinook are available, and summer steelhead continue to migrate into the upper Rogue. Fishing continues to be very good for rainbow and cutthroat trout, but only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout over 8 inches may be harvestedother trout must be released immediately unharmed.
Cole Rivers Hatchery returns as of 6/12/25:
Species/RunNew fishSeason totalSpring Chinook11535220Summer Steelhead2354
Anglers, please use proper catch-and-release techniques, such as keeping fish in the water as much as possible and releasing them quickly. If fish are getting injured with the technique you are using, please change techniques. Remember that smaller rainbow are usually the steelhead that will return in future years.
For up-to-date river levels, check all the USGS Rogue gauges here. Last updated 6/18/25
Jun 18
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, middle: Steelhead, spring chinook
Flow in Grants Pass is about 3,050 cfs on Wednesday morning. The water temperature is averaging 61 F. Summer steelhead and spring chinook are migrating through the middle Rogue. Beginning June 1, anglers fishing downstream of Fishers Ferry Boat Ramp may harvest up to 2 spring chinook per day, hatchery (adipose finclip) or wild (no adipose finclip).
As always, anglers are encouraged to harvest any introduced pikeminnow caught in the middle Rogue, while we encourage the release of native suckers. Harvested pikeminnow can be used in the garden or placed in the trash.
Anglers, please use proper catch-and-release techniques, such as keeping fish in the water as much as possible and releasing them quickly. If fish are getting injured with the technique you are using, please change techniques. Remember that smaller rainbow are usually the steelhead that will return in future years.
Current flow, temp and turbidity conditions for the Rogue can be found at the USGS stream gauges here, or checking the City of Grants Pass water page's river data here. Last updated 6/11/25
Jun 18
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, lower: Steelhead, Chinook
Boat anglers are still picking up spring Chinook in the lower river. Rain and cooler weather later in the week should only improve fishing conditions for Chinook. Anchor fishing is still the best way to catch a Chinook in the lower river.
No reports of summer steelhead, but conditions should be perfect this weekend for catching an early steelhead. Spinners work well, as well as flies. There are Chinook around, so anglers may want to use a little heavier line and hooks, as there is always a possibility of hooking a salmon.
6/11/2025
Jun 05
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: Trout
Jun 05
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, upper: Steelhead, spring chinook
Jun 05
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, middle: Steelhead, spring chinook
Jun 05
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, lower: Steelhead, Chinook
May 29
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir: Trout
Trout stocking began last week on the Rogue River upstream of Lost Creek. Campgrounds and other public access sites along Highway 62 and Highway 230 are stocked with rainbow trout on a weekly basis between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Several US Forest Service campgrounds along the river will be closed this year, and some will have a late opening. ODFW plans to stock the normal release sites even if the camgprounds are closed, because anglers can walk in behind the gates to fish. Last week we were not able to stock Natural Bridge due to a gate problem, and access to Minnehaha Creek was blocked by snow. These sites are not expected to be stocked soon. Contact the USFS office at (541) 618-2200 for updates on campgrounds.
This is the premier summer trout fishery in the Rogue watershed. Anglers can escape the heat of the Rogue Valley, enjoy beautiful scenery, and catch fish. Try casting flies (use a bubble if fishing with spinning gear) or smaller lures like a Panther Martin or rooster tail. Often tipping the lure with bait helps to produce. In slower holes, fishing bait such as a nightcrawler or Pautzke eggs, or even PowerBait will produce.
The Rogue and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir are open to fishing year-round, with a daily retention limit of 5 trout (no limit on brook trout). Anglers are encouraged to harvest brook trout regardless of size.
The south and middle forks of the Rogue are not stocked, are generally more difficult to access, and provide fishing opportunity away from crowds. Naturally produced rainbow and cutthroat trout are available, but anglers may choose to practice catch and release on the rainbow and cutthroat of these forks. Last updated 5/27/25.
May 29
Oregon DWR
Rogue River, upper: Steelhead, spring chinook
The release from Lost Creek increased to 2,750 cfs on May 27th as the Corps deals with snowmelt entering Lost Creek Reservoir. River temperature out of Lost Cr is 51F. The flow at Gold Ray should reach 3,100 cfs this week.
Spring chinook numbers continue to rise in the upper river, and hatchery chinook are broadly distributed, but the catch rate has been dropping recently. The first hatchery summer steelhead of the year entered Cole Rivers last week. Fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout has been good, and the salmonfly hatch is on, but only adipose finclipped rainbow trout over 8 inches may be harvestedother trout must be released immediately unharmed.
Cole Rivers Hatchery returns as of 5/20/25:
Species/RunNew fishSeason totalSpring Chinook13421981Winter Steelhead111528Summer Steelhead55
Anglers, please use proper catch-and-release techniques, such as keeping fish in the water as much as possible and releasing them quickly. If fish are getting injured with the technique you are using, please change techniques. Remember that smaller rainbow are usually the steelhead that will return in future years.
For up-to-date river levels, check all the USGS Rogue gauges here. Last updated 5/27/25