Rogue River
South Fork

Rogue River, lower: Spring Chinook, summer steelhead

Fishing pressure is light. Boat anglers are picking up a few chinook. A couple of boats a day are trolling the estuary, but with river temperatures remaining in the 60s most chinook are moving through the estuary pretty quick and heading upriver. Starting June 1, anglers can retain any chinook for the rest of the year. Flows are expected to remain low, so boat anglers that are not familiar with the river need to pay attention to changing river conditions and changes in tide levels. The one benefit of the low and clear conditions is conditions are perfect for chasing early summer steelhead. 6/03/2026

Rogue River, lower: Spring Chinook, summer steelhead

Starting June 1, anglers can retain any chinook for the rest of the year. Anglers are reporting tough fishing conditions for spring chinook. Although salmon continue to move upriver, the algae in the river has made it hard to run gear. For the best success, anglers will want to continually work their gear keep the terminal tackle as clean as possible. Flows are expected to remain low, so boat anglers that are not familiar with the river need to pay attention to changing river conditions and changes in tide levels. The one benefit of the low and clear conditions is conditions are perfect for chasing early summer steelhead. 5/28/2026

Rogue River, upper: Steelhead, Chinook

The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is around 1,680cfs and 52.0F. Click here for current flow at the Ray Gold gage. For up-to-date river levels, check all the USGS Rogue gauges here. Fishing for trout has closed and will reopen on May 22.

Cole Rivers Hatchery returns as of 5/19/26: New winter steelhead 24, season total 1001. New spring Chinook 923, season total 2115. Folks are still catching a few hatchery and wild winter steelhead, and side-drifting larger beads seems to be the most productive. There are a few spring Chinook being caught, and angling pressure is starting to increase. The hatchery has started rerunning spring Chinook in the upper Rogue. If you don't intend to harvest a fish, please use proper catch-and-release techniques, such as keeping fish in the water as much as possible and releasing wild fish immediately. Last updated 5/20/26

Rogue River, lower: Spring Chinook, summer steelhead, hatchery rainbow trout

The river is low and clear, but the few boat anglers still fishing the river are having fair success catching spring chinook. Bank angling for spring chinook has been slow. Flows are expected to remain low, so boat anglers that are not familiar with the river need to pay attention to changing river conditions and changes in tide levels. Also, with persistent low flows, algae and debris has a tendency to fowl up your gear. Pay close attention and clean off gear regularly for best chances of success. The one benefit of the low and clear conditions is conditions are perfect for chasing early summer steelhead. Hatchery rainbow trout may be retained beginning May 22nd. Wild rainbows and cutthroat must be released. 5/20/2026