The Applegate River is open for winter steelhead fishing. However, only hatchery steelhead may be retained. See 2018 sport fishing regulations for more information. The Applegate is in perfect shape and the winter steelhead fishing has been good. A lot of the fish being caught are wild fish and must be released unharmed. Fishing has been best from Murphy downstream but fish have been caught upstream of Murphy. Cleos, pink rubber worms and fly angling all work well on the Applegate.