Weekly Fishing Reports

---

They’re here…. The colder nights and shorter days have finally got the fish in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River moving into Grants Pass. Since the beginning of September numerous fish have been taken on skaters, bombers, and wakers. Water temps are ranging between 55F and 65F so dry lines and light polyleaders are the name of the game. Fish are on the move and super aggressive right now so just about any pattern will work. Fish your favorite fly with confidence and hold on! 

River Conditions at Grants Pass (USGS)

Flow Rate = 1,300 cfs

Temp = 60 deg F

It’s on…  Salmon flies are starting to come off between Casey State Park and Shady Cove.  Fish are looking up but Cole Rivers has been bumping the outflow, so most fish are keyed in on nymphs.  Fish large stone fly patterns close to the bank or under foam lines and current seams.  For surface flies use a Chubby Chernobyl in natural or purple.  Cole River’s is reporting 13 summer steelhead in the holding pen as of May-25th .  Early summer fish are lightning bolts so rig up the floating head, run a skater through choppy riffles or tail outs and hold on!

River Conditions at Cole Rivers (USGS) 

Flow Rate = 2,400 cfs 

Temp = 52 deg F  

River Conditions at Dodge Bridge (USGS) 

Flow Rate = 3,250 cfs 

Temp = 52 deg F  

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (5/25/22) 

Winter Steelhead = 1,140 

Spring Chinook = 989 

Summer Steelhead = 13 

Weather and water conditions have been cold, low, and clear, and cold for the past three weeks so fishing has been pretty slow.  Fortunately, the afternoon air temps are now hitting the 60s-70s and the warmer water has jump started an evening bite.  We’ve been fishing the runs between Whitehorse and Robertson Bridge and have been finding good numbers of half-pounders and a few adult fish.  Small, natural colored patterns tied in olive or brown have been the best producers.  With the low water conditions, T8 tips or 5-7ips poly leaders are more the enough to put your fly in the zone.  Don’t be afraid to fish a floating line or even a skated fly.  Yes, winter fish will eat surface flies.  Every winter we watch adult steelhead eat blue wing olives.  Look for holding structure and fish the medium to slow water.  The grabs have been very subtle so be alert.  

River Conditions at Grants Pass (USGS) 

Flow Rate = 1,300 cfs 

Temp = 45 deg F  

River Conditions at Agness (USGS) 

Flow Rate = 2,150 cfs 

Temp = 43 deg F 

Winter fish have arrived in the Merlin Galice area. We spent last week doing recon at Ennis Riffle, Rand, and Argo. We connected with some very nice fish in all three locations. Patterns resembling shrimp or prawns, Hobo speys, and Glasso style flies tied in, brown, olive, black, light pink/peach worked best. After the recent rains, the Applegate and big feeder creeks are still flowing nicely so the flowrate below Hog Creek is at a great level but up enough to justify Skagit heads and T8 to T14 tips

River Conditions at Grants Pass (USGS)

Flow Rate = 1,600 cfs

Temp = 41 deg F

River Conditions at Agness (USGS)

Flow Rate = 3,800 cfs

Temp = 44 deg F

We had a few good rain storms and warm weather and the river shot up to 14,000 CFS on Jan-4th. We hit Cole Rivers again on Friday and found fish holding in just about every access spot. The outflow from the dam was dropped to 450 CFS and the warm weather added some color to the discharge from Lost Creek. This created great conditions to pull fish into the pools above McGregor park. Once again we found success fishing Scandi lines and light poly leaders. Larger Glasso style Spey flies (size 3)  tied in natural and orange did the trick.

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (1/5/21)

Summer Steelhead = 2,979

Coho = 2,495

River Conditions at Cole Rivers (USGS)

Flow Rate = 499 cfs

Temp = 42 deg F

The river finally fell back into shape just after Christmas and we managed to swing up a few summer stragglers in Grants Pass and at Cole Rivers. The river color in GP is still a tinge of brown so large profile flies fished on tips have been the ticket. Black and purple leeches, hobo speys, and intruders will get the job done. Fish the slower holding water with good cover and depth. Both sides of the river below the pedestrian bridge at All Sports have been good this week.  In the river above Trail Creek flows are low and clear so scandi lines and summer flies are still producing. The run on the river-left side of McGregor Park and river-right side at Casey also produced this week.

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (12/21/21)

Summer Steelhead = 2,687

Coho = 2,476

River Conditions at Grants Pass (USGS)

Flow Rate = 1,970 cfs

Temp = 39 deg F

River Conditions at Cole Rivers (USGS)

Flow Rate = 570 cfs

Temp = 43 deg F

The river is still blown out so once again the only game in town will be the mile of water at Cole River Fish Hatchery between the boat ramp and Casey Park. About 250 summer steelhead and another 150 coho entered the hatchery since the last count. 

Outflow is still very low so sink tips and heavy flies aren’t needed. Focus your efforts on walking speed water adjacent to the ramp, in the river-right riffle below the hatchery hole tailout, on river-left below the rip-rap wall, in the run on the outside of the island next to the spawning channel, and on the  river-left side of McGregor.  

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (12/21/21)

Summer Steelhead = 2,687

Coho = 2,476

River Conditions at Cole Rivers (USGS)

Flow Rate = 560 cfs

Temp = 44 deg F

We finally got some decent rain this week and the river blew out on Dec 13th.  That means the only game in town is the mile of water at Cole River Fish Hatchery between the boat ramp and Casey Park.

Outflow is super low so sink tips and heavy flies aren’t really needed. Focus your efforts on walking speed water adjacent to the ramp, in the river-right riffle below the hatchery hole tailout, on river-left below the rip-rap wall, in the run on the outside of the island next to the spawning channel, and on the river-left side of McGregor.

We only hooked one fish at Cole Rivers this week so I suspect a good number of the 2021 summers took advantage of the high flows and found their way home. Keep an eye on the USGS gauge and watch for a bump in the outflow. This should move fish into the hatchery water

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/14335072/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D 

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (12/17/21)

Summer Steelhead = 2,400

Coho = 2,320

River Conditions at Cole Rivers (USGS)

Flow Rate = 570 cfs

Temp = 45 deg F

Good numbers of summer fish between Gold Hill and Grave Creek can still be found. We’re big fans of Scandi lines and even though the water temps are cooling off, afternoons are producing well using traditional patterns fished on floating lines and light poly leaders.

The river is low and clear so focus your efforts in the slower water near cover such as submerged rocks and ledges. Natural, buggy patterns such as Brindle bugs, Silent Assassins, or a Lady Caroline in sizes 3-7 will do the trick. Swing your fly through the run as slow as possible and be alert for a very subtle take.

We caught fish this week at Ennis Riffle, Lathrop boat landing, and below Robertson bridge.

Fish Count at Cole Rivers Hatchery (12/12/21)

Summer Steelhead = 2,400

Coho = 2,320

River Conditions at Grants Pass (USGS)

Flow Rate = 1,200 cfs

Temp = 45 deg F