Salmon & Steelhead

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing
ROE Outfitters is happy to offer gear fishing for both of these species for fisherman wanting to get out on the water and perhaps take home a hatchery fish for the barbecue.   We supply all of the terminal tackle for gear trips and are happy to teach you the techniques of either side drifting, pulling plugs or bouncing roe for an opportunity at a salmon or steelhead. 
Steelhead and Salmon fishing are fantastic in the Pacific Northwest. The Rogue and Umpqua Rivers are southern Oregon rivers with healthy runs of both salmon and steelhead. 
 

This is great sport fishing and a day on the river is sure to be fun, challenging and beautiful. We hope you’ll join us for a trip soon.

The Legendary Rogue River is where the action unfolds for Chinook Salmon fishing with Roe Outfitters. Made famous by well known adventurer and author Zane Grey, the Rogue River inspired the writer to build a cabin along its banks where he visited often. 
Now it is your turn to enjoy the mystery, beauty and wildness of this river from the front of your guides drift boat.  So sit back, enjoy the scenery, listen to your guides instruction and catch some fish.  

Spring Salmon     May - July 30
Spring salmon or "springers" are considered by most to be the finest tablefare of the of the Rogue River Salmon runs.  These spring fish average 15 to 25 pounds.

Fall Salmon        August  -  September
The days are long and warm. Fall salmon tend to be more aggressive than their spring cousins and bigger.  Fall salmon average 20 to 35 pounds with a few reaching that 50 pound mark.  The biggest risk of fishing the fall salmon run is allowing the warm sun to lure you into falling asleep with your rod in your hand.

Coho Salmon     November - December
Also know as silvers these 6 - 14 pound salmonids arrive in the Rogue River in late fall.  Casting spinners, wobbling spoons, medium size diving plugs and even flies will take these fish consistently.

Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua and Rogue Rivers is some of the finest steelhead fishing found in the Nation.  In both summer and winter a steelhead fisherman can find an opportunity to pursue this fierce fighting fish here in Oregon. 

We have some excellent runs of native fish that one can fish for on a catch and release basis.  Some of these natives can get quite large with fish in the 20 pound or larger class.  There are also hatchery steelhead programs designed to allow fisherman to catch and keep some of these fine eating fish. The hatchery fish don't usually get as large as the natives but they still weigh in from 5 to 18 pounds depending on the time of year. 

Winter Steelhead - January through April
Gear Fishing
During the winter season, our experienced guides will lead you down these pristine rivers and you can expect your prize to be Winter Steelhead averaging 6 to 20+ pounds in weight. All fishing is from the drift boat using a side drifting technique.  

Fly fishing for winter steelhead is available too.  Get down and dirty with nymphs and egg patterns for winter steelhead.  Casting can be a challenge in the winter weather but a challenge can be fun!   Our fly fishing trips are also from the drift boat in winter. The Rogue and especially the North Umpqua are extremely ledgey rivers and currents are very swift in winter.  Again, casting can be challenging so we recommend spey rods and/or accomplished casters for fly fishing in the winter season.

Summer Steelhead - July through November
Imagine your visit during the summer steelhead season. You are sitting in a comfortable drift boat, sipping your favorite beverage and twitching a fly down stream. Suddenly, the rod is nearly ripped from your hand as 8 pounds of Steelhead comes cartwheeling out of the river! And the scenery is excellent too. These silver bullets weigh in from 3 to 15 pounds. 

Fly fishing for steelhead in September and October is very "friendly". The river is low.  Spring and Fall Chinook Salmon are spawning on each riffle. The steelhead lay behind them picking up single eggs.  As you may have guessed, egg patterns work very well at this time.  Fly fisherman can expect to use a variety of techniques in summer including sub-surface streamers, nymphing and the delicate presentation of a dry fly. 

In summer we use traditional methods from the boat for those who do not fly fish.  We realize that not everyone has learned to fly fish and there are other successful ways to fish even using a fly without mastering the fly cast.  All gear is provided for traditional gear fishing.