Divers for hot shots/wiggle warts

Fishing freak · 11-15-2001, 06:12 AM

Making a trip down to the Rogue for T-giving weekend. I am a little inexperienced with pulling plugs in my drift boat. Is it advisable to use divers with plugs or use straight line to plug? ( looking for steelhead) If diver is reccommended- What type? What is a good color wiggle wart for steelhead in "semi clear" water conditions? Thanks in advance.

RichH · 11-15-2001, 06:26 AM

Flat line em'. When using Ambassador 5500 reels I typically put them out 5-7 times across the reel. By that I mean watch the level wind run back and forth. 1 time across is just that, 1 time across. Distance depends on water clarity and depth, length of slot. Good luck. By the way, copcar size 30 and 40 seem to work well down there.

Straydog · 11-15-2001, 06:35 AM

Rick is right...... no diver needed. Especially this year and for the Steelhead.

Also, the amount of line out and plug size will vary with where you are fishing.

Fish just below the riffles. A crawdad imitation can be deadly this time of year.

PLEASE be careful with your boat and oars. The river is EXTREMELY low and full of salmon and their redds.

One oar dragged through a Redd, or on person wading through a Redd has the potential to kill more fish than you or I will by fishing in a lifetime.

Fishing freak · 11-15-2001, 06:57 AM

Thanks Straydog/RichH,

Have always flatlined them on northern coastal streams (thought divers might get me down in some of the deeper Rogue holes). Will be fishing both the upper Rogue(below cole river fish hatchery and Agness areas)Will watch for Redds. The water is running at 834 in upper river( extremely low). Should make for interesting and/or challenging drift.

Straydog · 11-15-2001, 07:11 AM

Yes, extremly low water although not much to worry about until you get below Casy Park, then watch your step.

Agnes is truly god's land. I hope to one day own a cabin there.

You should find fresh Steelhead, Coho and even a Chinook or two down there.

Have a great trip!

Fishing freak · 11-15-2001, 07:24 AM

Thought about dropping in at Rogue elk park. I have drifted the upper strech hundreds of times but I have never liked going through that narrow channel (below the island were the two streams converge, about 1/2 mile below the guard hole)at higher water levels, let alone 834 ft.

RichH · 11-15-2001, 08:09 AM

My personal favorite has always been Shady Cove down. Last year we floated from Dodge bridge to below Touvelle and had a great day landing 23 fish. We had 5 doubles and landed both fish on 4 of them. Too bad about the bait closure cuz that won't be going on anymore. :whazzup:

Straydog · 11-15-2001, 08:17 AM

Take at least a pair of hip waders.
I haven't drifted that section this year but have talked to lots of guys and there are spots where you will want to be prepared to drag over the gravel bars I am told.

Also, be aware, we are seeing BIG fish for the
Rogue. I talked to a credible guy in Medford yesterday that caught a 34 1/2 inch summer steelhead below Gold Rey Dam on a watermellon Cleo on Tuesday! That is a huge Summer for our river. Heck, that is a huge winter for our river!

Fishing freak · 11-15-2001, 08:39 AM

Rich,

Thats an awesome day! I like that strech as well. Not sure how driftable it is with the low water.I guess you can still use bait above Rogue Elk park. I was disappointed to see that they left the hatchery hole open.

Straydog,

That is a nice fish, hope to get into something like that. Im not sure if there is a bad strech to fish on the Rogue. Might be prejudiced being born and raised in Medford, but I don't think there is a better salmon/steelhead river on the lower 48. My son has a ball cathing nice rainbow and cutties every June during our 2 week vacation.