Grande Ronde Fishing

[salish]

Hello, I'll be camping along the Grande Ronde River next week, a few miles upstream from the Snake, near the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. I was there about this time last year and noticed quite a few people fishing the river for smallmouth, and I think a couple for steelhead, also. I was thinking of taking a rod & reel and giving it a go, although I'll be there on other business. Does anyone know the current regs on the Grande Ronde in that area? The regs are confusing to me.

Thanks,
Cliff

[WSU]

Your timing isn't great for steelhead.  The fish should be up at the hatchery, and river will probably be blown out.  I could be wrong though.

[Crunchy]

I drove over the river a few days ago in a few spots and it is blown out.  Need dry weather for about a week straight to get the level and flow down.

[Katmai Guy]

Fish should all be up at Cottonwood Creek and I think it closes the 15th.  Not sure though, been a couple years since I've fished it this time of year.

[KopperBuck]

Unfortunately the river is most likely going to be out of shape. Been nothing but rain and snow melt for a week. Lots of flooding recently here along the GR in the valley. It just got below 20k cfs yesterday at Troy.

Here's a forecast for the next week. Still calling for over 10k by next Friday when it's on its way back up.

https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=pdt&gage=tryo3&type=0&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 

[salish]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. It looks like trying to fish next weekend might be pushing it. I was actually more concerned with the regs, and if the river was even open for fishing. I'll try reading them again. Appreciate it.

Cliff

[Pathfinder101]

Agreed with everything being blown out right now.  Everything coming out of the Blues looks like chocolate milk.  People are worried about bridges over Mill Creek. 

[huntnnw]

steelhead closes the 15th. Not sure if anything is open till June 1. River expected to jump up again later this week to mid 20k's

[salish]

Thanks HuntnNW. Last spring (can't recall if it was late April or early May) there were lots of people fishing the GR upstream from Rogersburg for smallies. I'll bring my gear rod just in case. Thanks.

[theleo]

The mouth of the Snake looks like chocolate milk rite now with all the snow melt and the GR is really contributing to that problem with how much flooding it's causing rite now. If it's open I wouldn't plan on it being good fishing.   

[salish]

Thanks theleo