Upper Rogue River Report

Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek) - Prospect, OR (Josephine County)


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-17-2021
Website

Expect winter weather for the weekend. Temperatures have been relatively mild for the fall, but this should be coming to an end this week. All summer the Rogue above Lost Creek received 3,500 rainbow trout weekly. Stocking is over for the year, but there should still be rainbow trout available to target from Prospect to Minnehaha Creek.

The Rogue and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir remain open year-round, with a retention limit of 5 trout. Stocked trout in this reach are not fin-clipped. There are also residential cutthroat and brown trout that are periodically hooked by anglers.

Great techniques up here include throwing small Panther Martin spinners or small hooks with a single Pautske fire egg under a bobber. You also can’t go wrong fishing nymphs up here, or nightcrawlers under a bobber. With very cold water, be looking for areas where fish are holding.

Flows above Prospect are at 356 cfs. The guage below Prospect is reading 649 cfs and a chilly 40 degrees. Many reaches in this section of river have bed rock crevices and wading can be tough. However, there are great trails and openings along the river throughout the stocked reach, which provide good access. The river gradient lessens above Farewell Bend toward Minnehaha Creek.

ODOT trip check maintains a camera at Union Creek (OR62), where you can get an idea of weather and road conditions.

More information on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest lands can be found on their website or calling the RRSNF office.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, December 17th, 2021
Blitzen River: Recent precipitation has increased flows and river levels are near average conditions
Delintment Lake: Ice fishing may be good at Dealignment early this winter
Fourmile Lake: Snow will block access
John C Boyle Reservoir: Fishing is slow due to very cold-water temperatures and turbid water
Klamath River - Middle: Klamath River Report
Krumbo Reservoir: Malheur Wildlife Refuge does not allow ice fishing on this Krumbo Reservoir
Lake Of The Woods: Lake should start freezing soon if not already doing so
Malheur Reservoir: Quite low but fishing has been great for rainbow trout
Miller Lake: Fishing is slow for rainbow trout as effort has been high
Owyhee Reservoir: Anglers may have some success targeting redband trout and crappie this winter
Owyhee River: Fly fishing has been good recently, trout are biting on small midge patterns
Yellowjacket Lake: Ice is now forming on Yellowjacket Reservoir
Ben Irving Reservoir: Reservoir is likely murky and may inhibit certain methods
Chetco River: There are good numbers of Chinook spread throughout the lower river
Coquille River: There are a few steelhead in the tidal portion of the Coquille River
Diamond Lake: The lake should start to freeze over
Elk River: A good number of Chinook have had a chance to distribute throughout the river
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville may finally start to fill again with lots of rain
Lemolo Lake: The reservoir has been drawn down for the season and is quite low
Pistol River: Fish have had a chance to move into the river system
Rogue River- Lower: The river flow is currently swift and muddy from recent winter storms
Rogue River - Middle: Rogue River Middle Fishing Report
Rogue River- Upper: Expect winter weather for the weekend
Sixes River: Sixes River Fishing Report
Umpqua River: Steelhead season is now open on the main
Winchuck River: Chinook have been seen distributed throughout the watershed

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, December 16th, 2021
: ODFW Recreation Report
Columbia River: Sturgeon retention fishery in The Dalles Pool modified to three days a week when season begins Jan. 1