Steelhead season officially started yesterday as the lockout has ended after three months of intense negotiating.

Went out early yesterday morning for a half day float with my good friend Chuck D Gehr. We expected to fish some nice water. We were sure to be amongst the gear slingin salmon fisherman. As steelheaders, we always fish with confidence and hope. What we didn't expect though, was that we'd go 4 for 4 on early Rogue summer steelhead.

Charles hooked the first one, a large, bright wild half pounder about 18". His came on a full floating line and small traditional fly.

I followed up with a sink-tip and a black Deuce Wigalow. It was another wild fish about 22".

Charles hooked another on a floating line and Tiger Paw. It was all he could do to land this beauty on his 5wt spey. This was bigger yet as it went 26". Each fish was bigger than the last. We liked this trend.

We could have ended the day right then and there. But, why not hook another?

I followed up again with the sink-tip and larger fly and hooked and landed a 28" fish that totally destroyed me.

Needless to say, we were mega stoked!

The Rogue is sort of a mystery river this year. Like many rivers, we have high water. We had a dam, Gold Ray, come out last fall. Gold Ray used to have a fish counting station. Typically, we would know exactly how many fish have come over the dam. Usually by the end of July we'd have about 2,000 steelhead in the upper Rogue. Now, without the dam, we only know if we go. Reports from the middle Rogue suggest that there are LOTS of fish moving up. Our results from yesterday certainly support that theory. High water and no dams should  give our fish  lots of freedom and ease to blast up river. I am predicting a great season with some good fishing early. 

Bust out those steelhead rods and come fishing. Gino, Dax and I are available and ready to put you on fish.