I do my best to keep thing relatively up to date here. But I admit I am not the best. When fishing is good, I find it hard to prioritize a few paragraphs at the screen.
Summer steelhead have been in greater abundance early this year. Usually good fishing is a month or so later. Now, I have a theory as to why Summer fish seem to be arriving a few weeks earlier each of the last five years, but I have no proof. Just my guiding and fishing observations.
Five years ago, Gold Ray dam near gold hill was removed. It was a major obstacle, with poor fish passage and which also created a thermal barrier down stream. With the dam removed, there is no thermal barrier allowing early summer steelhead to quickly ascend to the upper most river and mill around.
Personal fishing and other reports have the River producing good fishing and good fish. I have been fishing a variety of techniques and all have gotten attention. More grabs than gook ups over all, but a few to the dry as well.
Early Rogue Steelheading consists of warm weather, pleasant evenings and mornings where we employ all methods of Spey and swing angling. There is a place for a popped skater to a dredged dumbbell eye fly in each day. July only gets better.
