Today
55°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 5 mph · 2% precip
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Today’s verdict
Current River Conditions
As of (12 days ago)
This intel is a couple of weeks old — conditions may have shifted.
As of ~2 weeks ago, conditions were fair.
The upper Rogue is in solid shape right now, with summer runs still being caught and customers sending in good reports as recently as mid-October. It's not a banner year for steelhead numbers — the run has been noticeably lighter than what anglers enjoyed a decade ago — but fish are definitely there and worth chasing. Trout fishing has also been consistent through the fall, with late-season hatches keeping things interesting on both the freestone sections and the Holy Water tailwater.
On the swing side, traditional summer steelhead patterns and skaters on a dry line are the go-to early morning and late evening, while bigger flies on sink tips tend to produce better during midday. As nights cool down this time of year, the afternoon window becomes the most productive as water temps climb. Nymphing with stoneflies and smaller droppers like copper johns or similar attractor patterns is also a reliable option.
The Holy Water has been fishing well with nymphing and swinging streamers leading the way, and evening caddis and other hatches give dry-fly anglers a legitimate shot.
1,060 CFS is on the low side for October — this stretch typically runs 1,080–1,320 CFS.
With flows lower than usual, wading is generally easier and more forgiving — but beds still shift and cold water saps strength fast, so read the water, stay within your limits, and check conditions on-site. You remain responsible for your own safety.
At 45°F, the water is in the prime range for trout — cold enough to fish and to handle fish safely.
Weather
55°FClear
Wind NNW 5 mph
Sunrise 7:42 AM · Sunset 6:06 PM
Observed (1 hour ago)
NWS / weather.gov · fetched 14:01
Today
55°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 5 mph · 2% precip
Tonight
33°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 3 mph · 0% precip
Tomorrow
54°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
WNW 5 mph · 53% precip
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Size #8-#12
Conditions are estimates from USGS data. Always assess on-site conditions and use your own judgment.
The gauge near McLeod reads the upper Rogue below Lost Creek Lake — the tailwater-fed trout and half-pounder steelhead water anglers fish around Shady Cove and Trail. It carries both flow and water temperature, the full read on a river whose dam-controlled flows set the fishing day to day.
Location
© OpenStreetMap contributors · © Geoapify
Helpful Links
Oregon fishing resources
Other Oregon rivers with live conditions
Diverse southern Oregon river supporting trout in upper reaches and major steelhead and salmon runs downstream. Target species include Rainbow and cutthroat trout, summer and winter steelhead, and salmon. Road, trail and boat access varies greatly by reach; lower canyon water is commonly floated. Productive timing is Trout from spring through fall; steelhead timing varies between summer and winter runs. Major hatches and foods include Salmonflies, golden stones, caddis, mayflies and aquatic insects supporting swung flies. Common approaches are Nymphs and dries for trout; swung traditional flies, indicators and streamers for steelhead. Regulations, access rules and water conditions vary by reach, so anglers should review current agency information and the linked local reports before fishing.
Hatches
Tactics
1,060 CFSFlow
45°FWater temp
55° / 33°WeatherSize #8-#12
Size #8-#12
limited recent reports — best signal we have within 60 days