December 6, 2022 3:30 a.m.

New steelhead angling regulations begin January 1st in the Rogue and South Coast rivers.

A release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in this area, a winter steelhead season from December 1st through April 30th is now established with the initial season starting at the beginning of 2023. During this season, a new validation is required to fish for steelhead. Anglers who want the opportunity to keep wild winter steelhead must also purchase a harvest tag.

ODFW and public stakeholder teams developed these requirements during the Rogue-South Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan process. The release said the new regulations have broad support from the stakeholders who represented anglers, conservationists, guides and local agencies.

The validation and harvest tags will give ODFW biologists more accurate angling and harvest data and help fund wild winter steelhead monitoring in the Rogue-South Coast area.

Go to: https://myodfw.com/articles/rogue-south-coast-steelhead-validation for full details on the new regulations. Anglers can begin purchasing these products on January 1st through ODFW’s Electronic Licensing System or a point-of sale agent.