Chetco, Smith, Rogue, Umpqua, Elk, Sixes, Coos and Coquille Rivers at their Best! phone_iphone541.813.1082  /  206.388.8988

Rogue River Fishing Guides
Salmon and Steelhead

Strong salmon runs, abundant steelhead make lower Rogue a year-round favorite

The legendary salmon and steelhead runs on the Rogue River draw anglers from throughout the country. From the trophy salmon in the Rogue Bay to tasty springers to hard-fighting summer and winter steelhead, the Rogue is worthy of its reputation of being one of the West's premier places to fish. Home of the world record fly-caught salmon, a monster 70-plus-pound Chinook, and one of the most plentiful winter steelhead runs in the state, fishing is good on the Rogue year round.

Guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing has been fishing the Rogue his entire life. A native of the area, he learned at an early age how to troll the Rogue Bay, anchor fish for spring salmon, and fish for the famed half-pounder steelhead near Agness.

Rogue Bay's big kings make Gold Beach one of Oregon's top fishing destinations

The Rogue Bay, where big fall Chinook stack up in the cooler water near the river's mouth before heading upstream in late summer and early fall, is one of pro guide Andy Martin's favorite fisheries. Trolling from jet sleds, anglers catch salmon up to 60 pounds, often within sight of the Highway 101 bridge in Gold Beach. Aside from big Chinook salmon, the Rogue also receives a healthy run of coho salmon. Andy targets these fish in September and October, when the fall run is at its peak. This is when the biggest kings of the year are caught.

The fall Chinook run on the Rogue is often around 50,000 fish each year, one of the largest salmon runs on the West Coast. The average size also is impressive. The salmon average over 25 pounds, with lots of 40-pounders caught each year, along with some over 50.

The Rogue also has a reputation for at times producing wide-open bites. When the action is hot, dozens of boats may hook up in a short period of time.

The lower Rogue is home of the extremely effective Rogue Bait Rig, a combination of an anchovy and spinner blade that tricks thousands of king salmon into biting every year.

The Rogue Bay’s salmon are chrome bright and great-tasting, and the action rivals that of peak-season ocean fisheries. But the bay’s waters are calm and protected, so sea sickness is not a problem.

Late in the season, the fish from Indian Creek Hatchery arrive, giving anglers a fresh batch of bright fish

Our Signature Trips

•   Chetco River   •

The Chetco is one of Oregon’s premier salmon and steelhead rivers, and our most popular fishery. It produces more kings over 50 pounds.

•   Smith River   •

The Smith River is known for its large run of giant king salmon, as well as numerous steelhead of over 20 pounds.

•   Rogue River   •

The Rogue River is one of the few rivers in the world that has salmon and steelhead fishing twelve months a year!

•   Coquille Bay   •

The Coquille and Coos Bays have most prolific early fall salmon fishing on Oregon Coast!

•   Elk and Sixes   •

For sheer numbers of king salmon, the Elk River is hard to beat. The Elk and Sixes both have late fall runs, peaking in December.

•   Brookings Ocean Charters   •

Capt. Andy Martin spent 10 years guiding in Alaska but now guides and runs charter boats year round in Brookings, Oregon.

Call Captain Andy Martin   •   541.813.1082 / 206.388.8988 Wild Rivers Fishing, P.O. Box 1646, Brookings, OR 97415