Fall Chinook Salmon and Fall King Salmon are the same species of Pacific Salmon, different states or areas refer to these great Oregon Salmon in one or the other of these terms. The Pacific Northwest and Oregon is the home to hundreds of thousands of mighty Fall King Salmon. Fishing Fall King Salmon in Southern Oregon and Northern California is a Northwest tradition going back 150 years for settlers and a thousand years for Native Americans.

The River's of Rogue River Country - Oregon all have large returns of Fall King / Chinook Salmon. Nowhere in an area of 180 miles of coastline are so many Fall King / Chinook Salmon found as in Southern Oregon which is the reason Southern Oregon Fishing opportunities for Fall King Salmon and Rogue River Spring Chinook Salmon are readily available in Southern Oregon.

Southern Oregon river's have annual in-river returns, not counting ocean harvest (of 20% plus) of over 650,000 returning Fall King / Chinook Salmon. Making Southern Oregon fishing for Fall King / Chinook Salmon a Salmon Fishing paradise.

Fall King Salmon Fishing on the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Oregon:
July 1st begins fishing for Rogue River Fall King Salmon. The returning 250,000 Fall King Salmon will average 20 to 40 pounds each. In August 2002 a 66-pound Fall King Salmon was landed while fishing in the estuary area of the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Oregon. This Fall King Salmon was the largest King Salmon landed in Oregon in nearly 20 years. This catch of a 66-pound King Salmon was soon eclipsed by a true Rogue River monster size Oregon King Salmon.

In October 2002 a 71.5-pound Rogue River Fall King Salmon was caught fly fishing at Clay Banks on the Lower Rogue Rivernear Gold Beach, Oregon by Grant Martinsen. This fish set a new all line class world record caught fly fishing, breaking the old world record for King / Chinook Salmon caught Fly Fishing by nearly 9 pounds, which was also landed in Oregon a 62 pound Fall Chinook Salmon from Northern Oregon's Tillamook Bay region.

Nearly all of the Rogue River Fall King Salmon are wild fish stocks, very few hatchery Fall Kings are found in Oregon's Rogue River. Fall Kings are fishable here until mid to late October. The Lower Rogue River near Gold Beach, Oregon area is the best bet for Fall King Salmon fishing until water temperatures start to cool in September. Cooler weather in September brings river water temperatures down encouraging stacked up Fall King Salmon to begin to move upriver toward their spawning grounds up to 150 miles away.

The Rogue River was Federally Designated by the U.S. Congress as one of the original Wild and Scenic River in 1968. Insuring quality outdoor experiences on the Rogue River would always be available to us and our children and grandchildren to come.

The Klamath River near Klamath, California:
August 15th will begin the Klamath River Fall King Salmon run returning 250,000 to 300,000 Fall King Salmon averaging 12 to 25 pounds. These are aggressive biting King Salmon which allows good fishing success.

Coquille River at Bandon, Oregon:
September 1st will begin the Coquille River run of Fall King Salmon returning 30,000 Fall King Salmon, averaging 25 to 50 pounds. All of these fish are caught in tidewater areas of the Lower Coquille River near Bandon. These Fall King Salmon are big and mean with very good quality. Coquille River Fall King Salmon fishing remains good September through October. To find more information on Fall King Salmon go to Oregon Fishing River Guides page for best local fishing times and seasons.

Chetco River at Brookings, Oregon:
October 1st will begin the Chetco River run of Fall King Salmon returning 20,000 Fall King Salmon averaging 25 to 50 pounds. Chetco Fall King Salmon begin their run by milling in and out of tidewater or holding in upper tidewater pools like Morris Hole and Tide-rock. Hundreds of Fall Kings Salmon will stack up awaiting fall rains to raise this river which is only 50 miles long. While stacked in these Lower Chetco River pools Fall King Salmon are available for Flyfishing opportunities. Trolling for Fall King Salmon is also good in the Chetco River estuary in October. The Chetco River is a Federally Designated Wild and Scenic River and fishing for Fall King Salmon can be spectacular when the fall rains raise the Chetco and the Fall Kings Salmon move upriver. Fall King Salmon fishing remains good from October to January. For more local information on Chetco River Fall King / Chinook Salmon fishing go to link. The Chetco River is primarily a drift boat river with some bank access. Jetboats can only fish the small estuary in the summer and fall. To find more information on Fall King Salmon or Steelhead fishing go to Oregon Fishing River Guides page for best local fishing times and seasons.
Chetco River Flow Gage

Smith River near Crescent City, California:
October 1st to January 1st. The Smith River is California's best Fall King Salmon fishing river. The Smith River is a Federally Designated Wild and Scenic River set aside for its beauty and water quality. The Smith River has no dams and its banks are lined with majestic old growth redwood forests. Some of the Smith River flows within the Redwood National Forest. Breath taking beauty with world class Fall King Salmon fishing. Fall King Salmon run 25 to 50 pounds on the Smith River. Early season flyfishing is a popular method for Fall King Salmon. As the river receives fall rains holding Fall King Salmon move upriver to be met by drift boat anglers using big plugs and bouncing roe. We recommend a professional guide on the Smith River, as river and fishing conditions change rapidly. To find more information on Fall King Salmon go to River Fishing Guides page for best local fishing times and seasons.

Elk River near Port Orford, Oregon:
October through January. The Elk River is 50 miles long with 10 miles of the best King Salmon fishing water for late season Fall King Salmon to be found anywhere. The Elk River is a wonderful river to fish for Fall King Salmon. A small river with more Fall King Salmon holding holes per mile than any other river in Oregon.

Fall King Salmon on the Elk River average about 30-pounds, with Kings to 50-pounds. The Elk River Fall King Salmon will out fight all other Fall King Salmon hands down. More fish are lost here on the Elk River than are landed due to river conditions and the attitude of these Elk River Kings.
Hooking and battling an Elk River King Salmon is a thrilling experience which sometimes breaks your heart as the King wins. On the average these Kings will win their battle 50% of the time as they are big, mean and aggressive, all qualities we want in a King Salmon.

The Elk River is another one of Rogue River Country's federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. We recommend a professional guide for Elk River King Salmon fishing. Check with our Rogue River Country Oregon Fishing River Guides for Elk River.
Elk River Hatchery River Report 541- 332-7025

Sixes River near Port Orford, Oregon: October through January:
The Sixes River is a sister river to the Elk River, these two rivers enter the Pacific Ocean at Cape Blanco State Park about 2 miles apart. Fall King Salmon run 25 to 50 pounds in the Sixes River. The Sixes River is about 50 miles long and has a gentler gradient than the Elk River. The Sixes is a more laid back river not as intense as the Elk River. There are more total miles of accessible fishing water on the Sixes than the Elk River. To find more information on Fall King Salmon go to River Fishing Guides page for best local fishing times and seasons. Check with our Rogue River Country Oregon Fishing River Guides for Sixes River.

Umpqua River Fall King Salmon Fishing:
The Umpqua River runs between Winchester Bay and Reedsport on the Southern Oregon Coast upstream trough Scottsburg and Elkton and on to Roseburg at Inter State 5. The Umpqua's South Fork meets the North Umpqua a few miles west of Interstate 5. The are between I-5 and the South Umpqua confluence with the North Umpqua is a great area to fish for Umpqua River Fall King Salmon. Check with our Rogue River Country Oregon Fishing River Guides for Umpqua River.

Other Rogue River Country Fall King Salmon Rivers:
Winchuck River near Brookings, Oregon: Seasons and conditions mirror the Chetco River as they are only a few miles apart. Nearly all the Winchuck River is private property with little or no boat access.
Pistol River near Gold Beach, Oregon: Seasons and conditions mirror the Chetco River 15 miles to the South. Nearly all of Pistol River is private property with little or no boat access.

Hunter Creek near Gold Beach, Oregon:
Seasons and conditions mirror the Chetco River. Hunter Creek is small with just 3 miles of fishing area. No boat fishing and limited access.

Lower Rogue River Fall Chinook Salmon Return To Spawn
“Fall Chinook Salmon are returning to the Lower Rogue River near Gold Beach, Oregon to spawn in the main-stream Rogue River in numbers not seen in decades or ever.” Mike Hoefer Gold Beach River Guide

It is not unusual for Fall Chinook to return to the Rogue River, every year over 100,000 Fall Chinook do return. What is unusual this year is a Fall Chinook spawning fest that is occurring on the Lower Rogue River. Thousands of Fall Chinook are spawning in the main-stem of the Lower Rogue, every gravel bar or riffle is covered with spawning Fall Chinook Salmon. Normally a tributary spawner, Lower Rogue River Fall Chinook would nearly all be upstream in feeder streams like Lobster Creek spawning.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife District Biologist Todd Conifer is very aware that something unusual is happening and its positive. Conifer says “we are trying to line up a small plane to survey the extent of Lower Rogue Fall Chinook spawning” he adds “this amount of main-stem spawning is very unusual, we are getting reports of heavy Fall Chinook spawning all the way to Illahee (about 35 miles upriver).” Conifer also states “recent spawning bed counts taken this week (November 17th to 19th) on Lobster Creek show record numbers of redds (spawning beds) with counts of 800 on Lobster Creek (a top Fall Chinook spawning tributary). This shows high numbers in main tributaries and huge numbers of spawners in the main-stem. Peak spawning on the Lower Rogue does not typically occur until after Thanksgiving or 28th of November.”

Most all Fall Chinook spawning normally occurs in the Middle Rogue River from Graves Creek at about 70 river miles upstream from the mouth of the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Oregon, to Just above Medford, Oregon at about river mile 140. Main-stem spawning is normal in this area as winter high water flows are less damaging to Fall Chinook redds. The earlier the arrival of each individual Fall Chinook Salmon to the Rogue the higher in the system they tend to spawn. So early arriving Fall Chinook will spawn high up in the river system while later arrivals will spawn lower in the river system.

Last year in 2002 the Lower Rogue River produced a new World Record Chinook Salmon. Grant Martinsen of Grants Pass, Oregon caught a record breaking Fall Chinook of 71.5-pound, while flyfishing. The Rogue River monster Chinook was landed on 7.5-pound test leader in October of 2002. There have been many signs of huge turnarounds in Chinook Salmon health the Lower Rogue Fall Chinook spawning in 2003 is the most convincing yet.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has reversed a harvest restriction on Late Fall Chinook. Restrictions of one adult Fall Chinook after October 1 is to reopened to full Oregon Salmon bag limits of 2 adult fish and 5 Jack Salmon per day per angler for the entire 2004 Fall Chinook season which begins in early July and runs to December 31st.