Upper Rogue River Fishing Report: 04/28/24 (Bottom of page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone/tailwater
Species
Rainbow Trout (Wild)
Brook Trout (Wild)
Cutthroat Trout (Native)
Steelhead
Salmon
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Southwestern Oregon
Nearest Towns
Prospect
Season
Last Sat. of April through Oct. 31
Year-round on the Holly Water.
There can be special closings.
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Oregon
Weather
National Weather Service
USGS Real-Time Stream Report:
Rogue river at Cole M. Fish Hatchery
Season:
The season is open year-round above Lost Creek Res.
Spring:
Fly fishing Rouge River after the runoff which normally ends by mid June can be very good.
Summer:
Summertime is the best time for fly fishing the Upper Rogue River.
Fall:
Early Fall is a good time for fly fishing the upper Rogue River.
Winter:
The tailwater section and can be fished all Winter long.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Upper and Middle Rogue River Oregon
Fly fishing the Rogue River provides a highly diversified fishing experience. You can catch about every species of Pacific Coast anadromous fish as well as all the major species of trout in the Rogue River. For that reason, we have broken the river down into the two parts. This section covers the headwaters of the Rogue River and the tailwater called the “Holly Water” section below Lost Creek Dam. Fly fishing the lower river is covered in this separate Stream section.
The headwaters above Lost Creek Reservoir come together near the little town of Prospect The North Fork, which is the main stem of the Rogue River, originates in the northwest corner of Carter Lake National Park. State Route 230 follows along the river all the way to Prospect. The stream is stocked in this section but also has plenty of wild trout. Getting off the highway to the less fished areas is the key to fishing the North Fork.
Muir Creek, Copeland Creek, Mill Creek, Crater Creek, Bybee Creek and National Creek are all beautiful tributaries of the North Fork of the Rogue River. Most of these are accessible from logging roads. The trout are small but wild and includes both brook trout and rainbow trout. National and Copeland Creeks require some hiking to reach their waters.
The Middle and South Forks of the Rogue River come together just south of Prospect. Both of these forks provide good fishing opportunities for small rainbow and brook trout.; The three forks, which make up the main stem, flow into the Rogue River arm of Lost Creek Reservoir. Forest Route #37 and County Road # 992 both cross the Middle and South Forks provide access in addition to trails that exist in some areas..
The “Holy Water” section of the Rogue is open year- round for fly fishing only. It’s small section of water that’s about a half a mile long between the Lost Creek Dam and the salmon hatchery diversion dam. The trout are stocked in the tailwater as fingerlings. They are protected by the catch and release regulations and protected from the large anadromous fish. Most of the rainbows are between 12 and 20 inches but they grow even larger. Fishing is limited to the banks due to the depth.
The tailwater has a very good aquatic insect population with caddisflies, mayflies and stoneflies, including the large salmonflies. Blue-winged Olives hatch about all year long and even in the middle of the winter. The water temperature doesn’t vary that much since it’s a bottom discharge tailwater.
Access to the Holly Water section is good. There’s a county park on the bank of the stream.
Fishing Report:
04/19/21 Winter steelhead are being caught in the middle and upper rogue river. We are getting some good reports from customers. Trout fishing is closed until May 22.
Fishing Reports:
04/25/21 Trout season is closed but reopens on May 22. There are still a few winter steelhead being caught.
05/20/21 The season opens in two more days. Call or send us an email for a recommended fly and gear list. Conditions are looking good right now.
05/28/21 The season is getting off to a good start. We received two good reports from customers. There are good hatches taking place. Call or write us for a recommended fly list.
06/06/21 We received more good reports on trout. There are some okay salmonfly hatches taking place among other hatches.
06/17/21 Conditions remain good with good reports coming in from our customers on trout. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
07/02/21 The stream is turning out some Spring Chinook, good numbers of trout and some summer run steelhead. We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches are taking place.
07/14/21 The stream is in good shape with good numbers of trout being caught by our customers as well as some Spring Chinook and summer steelhead. Send us an email (sales@perfectflystore.com) or call us 800 594 4726 for recommended fly and gear list.
07/20/21 More good reports came in from customers fishing for summer runs. It should continue to be good this coming week.
07/28/21 The river is turning out good catches of trout for our customers in both the upper and lower sections. There are good hatches, including the big Hexs.
98/05/21 The upper Rogue is turning out some good catches of summer steelhead and trout. Trout are also being caught above the lake in good numbers.
08/15/21 The section above the lake is turning out good numbers of trout as well as the middle. Both trout and summer runs are being caught by our customers in good numbers in the middle section.
08/23/21 The middle section and the section above the lake are turning out good catches of both trout and summer steelhead for our customers. Good hatches are taking place.
08/31/21 Our customers are sending in good reports on Summer steelhead and trout fishing the upper river. Good hatches continue to take place.
09/10/21 More good reports came in this past week. Conditions are good.
09/18/21 We continue to get good reports on trout and summer runs. Now is a good time to be here.
09/27/21 Conditions remain very good. Good catches of both trout and summer steelhead are coming in. Good hatches continue to occur.
10/10/21 Trout and summer steelhead are still being caught in good numbers by our customers. Good October caddis and Blue-winged olive hatches as well as other insects are taking place. Trout fishing is good in the upper river and above the lake.
10/20/21 The stream is still in good conditions turning out good numbers of trout and summer steelhead for our customers.
10/31/21 The stream is a little low but still turning out trout, summer steelhead and some chinook. There are good hatches taking place and our customers are sending in some good reports.
11/07/21 The Holy water section is open for fly fishing only. We are getting good reports from customers. There are good hatches still taking place.
11/15/21 There are still summer steelhead, some coho and trout being caught. We are still getting a few good reports.
11/23/21 We received five good reports from customers catching steelhead, coho and trout. It is good in the middle and upper rivers.
12/01//21 More good reports from customers came in this past week with decent catches of mostly steelhead and trout.
12/10/21 We are still getting good reports from customers catching summer steelhead and coho salmon.
12/18/21 The river is still turning out good summer steelhead and trout catches for our customers. Coho are about done for the season. We received three good reports from customers this past week.
12/26/21 We received three more good reports from customers catching steelhead.
01/03/22 The upper rogue is turning out good numbers of trout. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.
01/11/22 We received two more good reports from anglers catching trout. Get ready for winter steelhead. They will start arriving anytime now.
01/19/22 Still no reports of winter steelhead being caught but we did get one report of more summer run or dropback fish.
01/27/22 A few summer steelhead are being caught on a regular basis. We still don’t have any winter steelhead reports.
02/04/22 More reports of summer steelhead and one of winter steelhead came in this past week.
02/12/22 The “catching” has slowed down to a few. Most are dropbacks but a few are still being caught.
02/20/22 We received two good reports from customers catching steelhead and one angler catching trout. Low water has the catch rather low. Fish the deeper pools.
02/28/22 The stream is still turning out good catches of steelhead. We received two more this past week.
03/08/22 The steelhead fishing seems to be slowing down. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing for them. We did receive a good report from a customer fishing for trout.
03/16/22 The river is still a good bit below normal level but in good shape. We continue to get a few good reports from customers – one for trout and one for steelhead.
03/24/22 Winter steelhead are being caught by our customers in good numbers. Swinging and nymphing methods are both working.
04/01/22 More good reports on steelhead have come in. The stream levels are a good bit below normal.
04/09/22 We didn’t receive any catch reports. Steelhead are in the river but the stream levels are low.
04/18/22 We are getting good reports from customers. Good numbers of winter steelhead are being caught in spite of low water levels. Be careful to not wade through or damage redds.
04/26/22 We received two more good reports on steelhead from customers fishing this past week.
05/04/22 There are still some winter steelhead being caught. Spring Chinook are in the river and being caught as well.
05/12/22 There are some Chinook in the river but that is about it for now. Trout season is still closed.
05/20/22 The trout season opens in two days. Conditions are good and we expect some good catches to be reported. There are lots of insects hatching.
05/28/22 The stream is flowing at a normal level in good shape. Trout are being caught in good numbers thanks to some good hatches taking place.
06/11/22 The stream levels are up a good bit above normal level. We were getting good reports prior to the higher levels. Give it a couple of days to drop.
05/17/22 Stream levels are just a little above normal level and the river in better shape. We received two good reports from customers fishing yesterday.
05/25/22 The stream is turning out good catches of trout and summer steelhead in the middle and upper sections. Good hatches are taking place.
07/02/22 The stream is still in okay shape and producing some good catches of summer runs for our customers.
07/09/22 The stream is a little above normal level but okay. We are still getting some good reports for summer steelhead.
07/16/22 Chinook are being caught in good numbers. Summer steelhead fishing is very good. We continue to get good reports on both species.
07/23/22 Hatchery winter steelhead, Chinook and trout are being caught in the middle and upper river. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.
07/30/22 Chinook are being caught in good numbers in the upper Rogue. Trout fishing is staying good with some new hatches taking place.
08/06/22 The river is turning out some good trout catches for our customers in the upper section. There are some hatchery steelhead being caught.
08/13/22 The stream is still producing some hatchery steelhead and trout fishing continues to be good in the upper section.
08/20/22 We receive some more good reports of hatchery steelhead and some trout being caught.
08/27/22 Hatchery steelhead and trout are being caught in good numbers.
09/04/22 We are still getting some good catch reports from customers for hatchery steelhead and trout. Good late season hatches are taking place.
09/11/22 More reports of hatchery steelhead and trout being caught have come in. Many are being caught on the surface on our BWO duns.
09/18/22 We continue to receive good reports from customers of trout and hatchery steelhead being caught.
10/08/22 Good numbers of steelhead and trout are being caught by our customers. Conditions are very good.
10/27/22 The Condition are slow with few fish being caught.
11/17/22 We are still getting reports of hatchery summer steelhead being caught.
02/08/23 Sorry for the missed reports. We should be able to keep them up to date from now on. We received two good reports from customers catching steelhead and one angler catching trout this past week.
02/23/23 We are still getting a few reports of summer steelhead being caught.
03/14/23 The steelhead fishing is slowing down. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing for them. Trout fishing is fairly good.
03/26/23 We received two good reports on Winter steelhead from the middle section.
04/07/23 More good reports from customers catching Winter Steelhead came in this past week. Swinging, nymphing and egg fishing methods using our Perfect Flies are producing.
04/21/23 There are some winter steelhead being caught but for all practical purposes, it is over for the time being. Spring Chinook are coming into the river and being caught.
04/29/23 Spring Chinook is about it for now.
05/14/23 There are plenty Spring Chinok in the river as well as winter steelhead. We received two good reports from customers. Trout is open season above the reservoir.
05/25/23 The river is turning out good catches of trout as well as a few summer steelhead in the middle and upper sections. Good hatches are taking place.
06/07/23 The stream is turning out good catches of trout and summer steelhead for our customers. Fish the middle and upper sections. Good hatches are taking place.
06/14/23 The stream is turning out some Spring Chinook, good numbers of trout and some summer run steelhead. We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches are taking place.
06/24/23 We are still getting good reports from customers catching trout and summer runs. Steam conditions are good.
07/02/23 The stream is turning out some summer run steelhead and as well as trout.
07/12/23 Two more good reports from customers fishing for summer steelhead came in this past week.
07/20/23 We continue to get a couple of summer steelhead reports. It is okay but could be better.
07/31/23 Two more good reports of summer steelhead catches came in this past week.
08/04/23 The stream is still in good shape and turning out good catches of summer steelhead. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.
08/17/23 We continue to get good reports on the summer runs and trout. Fish both the middle section and/or the freestone above the lake.
08/21/23 Good conditions still exit. Good numbers of trout and summer runs are being caught.
08/28/23 Conditions remain good. We are still getting good reports from customers fishing for summer runs as well as trout.
09/05/23 Conditions remain very good. Good reports on summer runs and trout are still coming in. Good late season hatches are still taking place.
09/12/23 The river is still producing some very good catches of both summer run steelhead and trout. Good hatches continue to come off. It is about as good as it gets.
09/19/23 The stream is in good shape and turning out lots of trout and summer run steelhead.
09/26/23 The upper rogue is still turning out good catches of summer steelhead and trout for our customers.
10/03/23 More good catch reports have come in.
10/12/23 Conditions remain very good. Stream level are just a little below normal with clear water. Good catches of summer runs are still coming in from our customers.
10/27/23 Sorry for missing last weeks report. The upper Rogue is still turning out good numbers of trout and summer steelhead.
11/10/23 Rain has had the water dingy much of the time but should be clearing. Trout and summer steelhead are still being caught when stream conditions are okay.
11/17/23 The water is clear and flowing a little below normal level. We are getting good reports from customers.
11/27/23 We are still getting good catch reports from customers fishing for trout and summer steelhead. The water is cold and you should be using Midges, aquatic worms, winter stoneflies, and little BWOs.
12/09/23 Discharges are high due to recent heavy rain. Summer steelhead and trout are still in the river. Let it drop and clear.
12/26/23 Summer steelhead and trout are being caught in good numbers by our customers.
01/10/24 Summer steelhead and trout are still being caught but it is slow.
01/23/24 There are report of winter steelhead starting to show up but the river is still high and stained badly. It should drop and clear soon and it should be good.
02/19/24 The upper rouge is turning out some summer runs and chrome steelhead. Conditions are good and we are getting good catch reports from customers.
02/26/24 The stream is still producing some good catches fr our customers.
03/08/24 The stream is still turning out chrome winter steelhead. Our steelhead nymphs are working better than swinging our streamers but both methods are producing.
03/14/24 More good steelhead catch reports have come in.
03/21/24 The stream very high with high discharges. Use our steelhead nymphs and get them down in the deeper holes where the fish is holding out of the strong current.
03/28/24 Steelhead are spread throughout the Upper Rogue. The water is still high and stained but some fish are still being caught.
04/04/24 The stream is still flowing at a very high level and stained. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
04/14/24 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. We didn’t receive any catch reports this past week.
04/28/24 The stream, middle and upper section, is in okay shape and turning out good catches of winter steelhead.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.