The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is truly an angler's paradise. The productive Rogue River is the region’s crown jewel of fishery resources, heralded by sport anglers since the late 1800s. This famous river cuts through the heart of southwestern Oregon and supports strong commercial and recreational fisheries. In addition to the Rogue River, more than 2,000 miles of fish-bearing streams are found on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and many of these are open to fishing. Six nationally protected Wild and Scenic Rivers (including the Rogue, Illinois, Chetco, and Elk) are found on the Forest, providing pristine environments and spectacular scenery for anglers to enjoy. In addition the Forest contains two large lakes, several smaller lakes accessible by vehicle, and an abundance of high-elevation hike-in lakes, including many within federally-protected Wilderness Areas.

On the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, anglers can stalk native rainbow and cutthroat trout in numerous streams and lakes. Non-native brook and brown trout have also been introduced into some of the water bodies on the Forest. A few warmwater fisheries for introduced black bass and sunfish exist on the Forest; the largest and most popular is Applegate Lake (PDF document). The most desired and revered fishes of the Rogue basin, however, are native anadromous salmonids including spring and fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and summer and winter steelhead. Other National Forest streams outside the Rogue basin, such as the Chetco, Elk, Winchuck, and South Fork Coquille rivers also possess substantial winter steelhead and/or salmon runs. Rogue River steelhead alone provide an outstanding fishery resource with thousands of fish entering the lower Rogue River canyon every year.

These aggressive Rogue River steelhead will readily take bait and lures, although many anglers come to the Rogue to pursue these fish with traditional fly fishing gear. In 1928, famed Western writer Zane Grey wrote that: "[he] knew enough to realize that the Rogue River steelhead had no equal in fresh water for speed, strength, cunning, and endurance. All trout are beautiful. But this one of sea species seemed more than beautiful. He was all muscle. He looked exactly what he was, a fish-spirit incarnate, fresh run from the sea, with opal and pearl hues of such delicate loveliness that no pen or brush could portray them. He brought the sea with him and had taken on the beauty of the river." In late summer and fall, hordes of immature steelhead known as "half-pounders" return to the lower Rogue River on a false spawning run. Fishing for these fierce-fighting native steelhead in a remote wilderness setting filled with abundant wildlife can be the angling experience of a lifetime.