Lower Rogue Steeliessssss!!

[TheRogue]

Set up with the plunkers yesterday at Lobster bar. Lost 1 fish, hung up my pyramid sinker (don't use pyramids in large gravel rock bottoms!) There was one lost below me, the guy above me landed a 12-13lb chromer with an extra fin. The person above him had about a 17lb steelie right to the bank, it also had an extra fin. Couldn't see the other 15 people around the corner.

Fished from a boat just for 4 hours today, near Hayes Eddy (just above Quosatna Ck. aways). Quite possibly the coldest, windiest day I have ever spent on this river!!! Couldn't keep still with 2 anchors and 2 drift socks, plugs kept popping up because of the wind gusts belly-ing the line. Didn't touch a fish, but the plunkers again got a few, and one of the guides had 6 to the boat, no keepers.

The wild to hatchery ratio, as reported by the local tackle shop and several guides I talked to, is running right about 10:1....that's 10 wild to 1 nate!!! And, for whatever reason, the river does not open for natives until Jan. 1st. Can you say POLITICS!!!

If you've never fished a river with a fantastic, HARVESTABLE population of wild fish, head to the Rogue River. There will be good surges of fish with every water level rise, as well as just a steady stream coming in between. Never known for really large winter fish, could be the year it puts out a 25+ lb fish, if the fall chinook hogs are any indicator at all.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Kyle