Rogue River Fishing Guide

Thanks to Erik's World Class Fishing
Adventures for the photo above

ROGUE RIVER FISHING GUIDE

There are several types of fish you can catch on the Rogue River. Pacific Salmon include Chinook, Coho, Sockeye (Kokanee), Pink and Chum Salmon. Native Trout stocks are also classified with the Pacific Salmon, and include Rainbow, Redband, Westslope Cutthroat, Coastal Cutthroat, and Lahontan Cutthroat.

Native Char include Dolly Varden and Bull Trout. (Many stocks are federally or state listed as Threatened or Endangered Species, so be sure to check State Regulations before planning a fishing trip!). Stocked trout include these species plus several other imported species like Eastern Brook, Brown and Lake Trout.

Other common native game-fish on the Rogue River include Northern Whitefish, White Sturgeon, and Northern Pike-minnow (squawfish). Common warmwater species include Walleye, Large- and Small-mouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Bluegill and Channel Catfish.

Shad were introduced to the Rogue River region in the 1800's, and now return in the millions to the Columbia River. Some less common fish, such as Tiger Muskellunge and Striped Bass, are available.

Much of the area is in private ownership. Big Creek (located south of Yachats approx. 8 miles on HWY 101) can be good fishing as fish move into the river at high tide. A good road borders the stream and most areas are owned by the forest service. Cape Creek (located at Heceta Head off HWY 101) is a small tributary that offers wild winter steelhead. Southwest Zone South Coast The Oregon South Coast offers the winter steelhead fisherman a diverse group of rivers to fish for steelhead. Anglers can fish tiny Brush Creek, battling steelhead and willows, or sit in the comfort of a jet boat running plugs on the mighty lower Rogue River. Steelhead start showing up in fishable numbers in the Rogue River by Thanksgiving. By mid-December, fish arrive in the Chetco River. All rivers are provide good steelhead fishing in early January. The peak of the runs on all non-Rogue River rivers is January thru February, and most of the fish are spawned-out by mid-to-late March. Many rivers open to steelhead angling in the Coos-Coquille-Tenmile basins are open through April 30. Winchuck River The Winchuck is slow to muddy and clears quickly after rains. The upper river is primarily Forest Service with good access for bank anglers. Anglers can float the river, but fishing from a boat is prohibited. Chetco River The Chetco is slow to muddy and clears quickly after a rain event. It is the only non-Rogue River stream with a hatchery program. ODFW has maintained a wild broodstock collection program on the Chetco River for more than 12 years, releasing 50,000 steelhead smolts annually.