Since the 1920s when western novelist Zane Grey helped make it famous in his articles for the sporting magazines of the day, the lower Rogue has been known for its prolific salmon and steelhead runs. Spring and fall chinook, as well as summer and winter steelhead, all make their appearances here; the fall chinook run, which can run as high as 200,000 fish, reaches its apex in September (it was here, a few miles east of Gold Beach, that the world record fly rod-caught chinook—71.5 pounds—was caught by Grants Pass angler Grant Martinsen, fishing from a small pram).

Further up river, in the protected “Wild and Scenic” section, angling focus shifts to steelhead. Skilled oarsman navigate the Class IV rapids in this section, such as Blossom Bar, to lead fishermen to the Rogue’s “half-pounders,” an immature form of steelhead that return to their natal river after just several months in the salt. The scenery on the Rogue is memorable; fall boaters venturing up river early or late in the day have an excellent chance of spying black bear against a vibrant background of gold and orange foliage. Access below Agness is limited to launches in the lowest sections of the river.

Courtesy of "Boating in Oregon" by Oregon State Marine Board

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