Some summer steelhead are being caught

Rogue River - Middle - Grants Pass, OR (Josephine County)


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-4-2024
Website

Flow in Grants Pass is 1,880 cfs and dropping on Dec. 3, with a water temperature of around 42F. The river is moderate/low, with turbidity levels around 2 NTUs. The river has dropped and cleared after the last rain event.

Coho salmon are distributed throughout the middle Rogue. Please remember that all unmarked wild coho must be immediately released unharmed, while hatchery fish have an adipose fin clip and may be harvested. Anglers can try casting spoons like Little Cleos or spinners like a Blue Fox. Another common technique is to fish bait or artificials like an egg imitation soft bead below a bobber. For fly-anglers, coho will strike medium to large leech and streamer patterns in pink, orange, purple or black.

Some summer steelhead are being caught. Again, only hatchery summer steelhead may be kept and all wild steelhead must be released unharmed. Focus on deeper runs and pools.

It's still early for winter steelhead in this section of the Rogue. For the 2024/2025 season, there is no wild harvest above the confluence with the Illinois River. The Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the south coast from Dec. 1 to April 30.

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




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, December 4th
: Recreational crabbing now open coastwide
Fall River: Good and consistent fishing in the Fall River
Clackamas River: Winter Steelhead Coming In!
Junction City Pond: Recently Stocked With Large Fish
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek Updates
Sandy River: More Fish Expected in the Coming Months
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Still Some Summer Steelhead
Walter Wirth Lake: Walter Wirth Lake Updates
Waverly Lake: Fair warmwater fishing for bluegill and bass
Kilchis River: Kilchis River Updates
Necanicum River: Boating Hazard on the Necanicum River
Nehalem River- North Fork: Fishing has been fair
Nestucca River: It's slow fishing on the Nestucca
Three Rivers: Not much happening on the Three Rivers
Trask River: Fishing has been fair to good
Wilson River: The Wilson is slow right now
Agency Lake: The lake is mostly frozen
Campbell Reservoir: Ice fishing not recommended
Fourmile Lake: Access is blocked by snow
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is likely frozen
Upper Klamath Lake: Most of the lake is frozen
Klamath River - Middle: Klamath River Updates
Lake Of The Woods: Safe Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods
Lost River: Lost River is mostly frozen
Sky Lakes Wilderness Lakes: Snow is blocking access to all lakes
Sprague River: South Fork Sprague Updates
Willow Valley Reservoir: Not a good ice fishing destination
Applegate Reservoir: Trout fishing should be good
Chetco River: The river is in excellent shape for fishing!
Coos River: Coos River Basin Updates
Coquille River: Winter steelhead should start moving upstream
Emigrant Reservoir: Warmwater fishing success is slowing down
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is slowly filling
Hyatt Lake: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Updates
Lost Creek Reservoir: Very good opportunity for winter trout fishing!
Rogue River- Lower: River conditions are starting to shape up!

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, November 27th

Crescent Lake: Low water levels at Crescent Lake
Crooked River: The Crooked continues to fish well
Hosmer Lake: Hosmer Lake Updates
Lava Lake: Lava Lake is Open to Fishing
North Twin Lake: Access can be limited by snow.
Prinevile Reservoir: Anglers report fair fishing
South Twin Lake: Access can be limited by snow
Alton Baker Canoe Canal: The midpoint of the canal is a good spot
Blue River: Blue River Updates
Blue River Reservoir: Blue River Reservoir Updates
Clear Lake: Clear Lake Updates
Coast Fork Willamette River: Open to fishing all year for trout
Cottage Grove Reservoir: Cottage Grove Reservoir Updates
Dexter Reservoir: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Available
Dorena Reservoir: Trout and warmwater fish are available
Fall Creek Reservoir: Fall Creek Reservoir Updates
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is close to empty but is slowly refilling
Hills Creek Reservoir: Open All Year to Fishing
Leaburg Lake: Leaburg Lake Updates
McKenzie River: McKenzie River R1 and R2 Updates
Row River Pond: Fishing should be productive
Salmon Creek: Salmon Creek Updates
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Winter fishing conditions can be challenging
Walter Wirth Lake: Good Access to Lots of Trout
Waverly Lake: Fair warmwater fishing for bluegill and bass
Willamette River: South Willamette River Updates
Kilchis River: Not Much on the Kilchis
Necanicum River: One of the best opportunities this time of year!
Nehalem River: Not much opportunity on the mainstem
Nehalem River- North Fork: Fishing has been fair
Nestucca River: Slow time of year on the Nestucca
Three Rivers: Not Much Going On
Tillamook Bay: Salmon fishing on Tillamook Bay is slow
Trask River: The Trask should fish well over the holiday weekend
Wilson River: The Wilson is going to be slow
Agency Lake: Overall fishing is slow
Campbell Reservoir: Campbell Reservoir Updates
Chewaucan River: Fishing will slow down
Cottonwood Reservoir: Cottonwood Meadow Lake is Frozen
Dead Horse Lake: Dead Horse Lake is Frozen
Dog Lake: Dog Lake is accessible
Fourmile Lake: Fishing should be slow for trout
Gerber Reservoir: Gerber Reservoir Updates
Heart Lake: Lake is Frozen
Holbrook Reservoir: Holbrook is Frozen
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing has been very slow
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Flows are very good for fishing
Klamath River - Middle: Fishing not recommended in this section
Klamath River - Lower: Turbidity has declined significantly
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is ice free
Link River : Link River Updates
Lofton Reservoir: Lofton Reservoir Updates
Miller Lake: Miller Lake Updates
Sky Lakes Wilderness Lakes: Sky Lakes and Wilderness Lakes Updates
Sprague River: North and South Sprague River Updates
Sycan River: Fishing has been very slow
Thief Valley Reservoir: There are fishing opportunities throughout the winter
Agate Lake: Agate Lake Updates
Applegate Reservoir: Trout fishing should be good
Chetco River: The river conditions are finally improving!
Coos River: Winter Steelhead are Arriving
Coquille River: Coquille River Updates
Elk River: Some Tougher Fishing Conditions
Emigrant Reservoir: Warmwater fishing success is slowing down
Fish Lake : Trout fishing should be good
Garrison Lake: Conditions look good for anglers
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Hyatt Lake: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Lost Creek Lake: Very good opportunity for winter trout fishing
Rogue River - Middle: Middle Rogue River Updates
Rogue River- Upper: River flows are finally rising
Sixes River: Conditions are looking good
Smith River: Smith River Updates
Tenmile Lakes: Coho Season Continues!
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Updates
Winchuck River: Winchuck River Updates