The Rogue is the all-rounder of Oregon steelheading — big, varied, historic, and fishable across more of the year than most. Summer steelhead push in from July; then comes the thing the Rogue is famous for, the half-pounder run from September, immature steelhead back from a short ocean stay that come to the swung fly with reckless enthusiasm and teach a generation of anglers how it's done. Winter fish follow from late December into spring. The upper river below Lost Creek Dam runs cold and clear and carries hatchery influence; the lower river down toward Agness is coastal, rain-driven, and moves fresh fish on every freshet. The catch is that the Rogue's rules are a moving target — they change by reach, by run, and by year — and the wild winter fish are now strictly catch-and-release after a run of bad returns. Swing a fly for the half-pounders to learn the rhythm, read the gauge that matches your reach, and check the regulations the morning you go.

• Mixed

• Aquatic life: Impaired
• Fish consumption: Impaired