My experience from growing up in GP is that the springers tend to shoot right on by. They have better success catching them further up river. The fall run starts around mid-August, or at least it used to. If you are staying by Robertson, there is a boat ramp right there, and a nice riffle that holds steelhead literally 100 ft down river from the bridge. But that stretch of river around Robertson bridge has lots of fishable spots. You could put in at Whitehorse Park and float down to the bridge. Very easy float and a decent amount of water. Good luck!

 

There is a quick and easy drift from Valley of the Rogue State Park on Interstate 5 to the the bridge at the town of Rogue River. I never fished it for salmon, but it used to be dependable for steelies, especially pulling the little black and gold Hotshot.

 

the rogue is tuff for springers , go with a guide and learn the holes that they fish
call kern griev guide serv. (Try google)
they run 4-5 guides that are all very good. I fish with john snow.
they will fish where the fish are at that week, ( it will be all above gold hill)
not very many trout in the river ( what you will catch are smolts) best to go to one of the lakes for trout. check with the Medford mail tribune they have a good fishing section.

 

I've only been on there for winter steelhead. I went with Jon Geyer and HIGHLY recommend him if you're looking for a guide. He does fish springers. There was no water around Grants Pass that would get you in trouble when I was there.

 

Late June will be a great time on the Rogue for both springers and summer steelhead. All of the action will be above Tou Velle State Park which is just outside of Medford. The river down by Grants Pass isn't really worth fishing until August when the fall salmon start to show up.

The easiest drift, that would also give you the best shot at fish, would be Rogue Elk Park to the town of Shady Cove. It's a very straight forward drift especially at summer time flows. If you go with a guide early in your trip it would also open up more sections. Nothing too hard in the upper river, but it's definitely worth going with someone to see it first. I sent you a PM about a recommendation.

There's plenty of good trout fishing up and down the river as well. We've been seeing a lot of nice cutthroat lately all the way up to 25 inches.

 

Rogue summer steelhead in June, boy have things changed on that river.
In the old days summer steelhead started in late July and peaked the first part of Oct.

 

I did that float with a guide service last June. Two days of killer fishing. We back bounced eggs. I'm not drift boat water savy, but I know what scares me. This seemed like an approachable float. There were a string of boats launching both days. You may be able to follow the regulars. We used fishing the rogue. Wish it was on my agenda this year.

 

I would like to say Thank you to everyone for their thoughtful suggestions. I am really looking forward to this trip. Sounds like there are some fish around up river and maybe not so much down river but that's ok. I will be happy just being back on the water. Couple more questions.

1. Is there any special rules/licensing for DBs in Oregon. Do you need a throwable life preserver, horn etc. They are pretty lax on that in Washington. I carry life preservers and a spare oar.

2. The river I spent a ton of time fishing springers in did not have deep enough holes for jet divers. Maybe one. Old hot n tots painted black and used as a diver worked good in terms of depth there. Is the rogue better for the small jet divers or are hot n tots adequate?

Thanks again! Dave

 

1. Is there any special rules/licensing for DBs in Oregon. Do you need a throwable life preserver, horn etc. They are pretty lax on that in Washington. I carry life preservers and a spare oar.

2. The river I spent a ton of time fishing springers in did not have deep enough holes for jet divers. Maybe one. Old hot n tots painted black and used as a diver worked good in terms of depth there. Is the rogue better for the small jet divers or are hot n tots adequate?

Thanks again! Dave

1. Life jackets, throwable, and a whistle will cover you.

2. You'll be fishing holes anywhere from 6 to 20 feet deep. Size 20 jet divers work perfect in most of the holes, and the hot n tots are perfect for the shallower spots.

Don't forget to pick up some live sand shrimp if Bradburry's in Grants Pass has them available.

 

Welcome to the site Dave!!! :cheers:

 

Wow sandshrimp, when I lived down there ten years ago they weren't stocked anywhere. Drift fishing night crawlers was the deal, or bug n bubble. There will be summers in the rogue river to gold hill stretch. Fish the shaded areas early and late.


MH