You should be able to catch trout in decent numbers. Crooked River Hatches and Trout. Something quite different about the river than most others is that it is often best to wade down the center of the river and fish the weed beds and banks on both sides. 10/20/21 Stream levels are still lower than normal but we continue to get a few good reports. The Juan's Tung Slim Shady fits the bill.
The New Zealand will work much better than a Thingamabobber or Air-Lock. We can assist you with obtaining most of these items. Like the Deschutes River, the Crooked River is home to a unique desert rainbow trout, known as the "redside". Best Fly Patterns for Crooked River. I thought, "What the heck", and tied it on as a point fly. Look for Blue Wing Olive hatches from noon to 3pm on most days and have a good assortment of bugs. Fish passage waiver denied at Bowman Dam.
There aren't many stonefly nymphs in the river, but they can fish well in the early spring. Be sure to check Crooked River Water Flow Chart before you decide to go. This is slightly below average for trout and higher than average for whitefish. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options. The water was somewhat deeper than much of the river this time of year. This article is about the first three days of that vacation. Difficulties: Portage. PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Starting next Wednesday, water releases from Prineville Reservoir will be decreased from the current flow rate of about 180 cubic feet per second down to only about 10 cfs as downstream irrigation demands decrease, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation said Friday. Low water levels exist. Is it as good as it was back in 2015 (our last great year out there)? Flows are at around 200 CFS and there is no issues with water temps right below the dam as its under 50 degrees for most of the day. We reduce releases down to 50 cubic per second following the irrigation season. The best fishing is in the Fall and Winter.
The Crooked River is a tailwater river, which means the water released from the bottom of the dam has the lower temperature that trout need. He did pick up a couple while I was nymphing. Dry flies are usually less productive than nymphs; however, you'll rarely catch whitefish on dry flies. We are not recommending fishing the Crooked River at this time. Spring: Spring is a good time to experience the Crooked River's hatches. Only in years of severe drought would water supplies be insufficient, and in these years the shortages could be shared by fish and farms. Imitations of grass hoppers, ants, and beetles all catch trout. This year we also vacationed in Oregon, east of the Cascades in Central Oregon. Nymphers will find success with sparse mayfly nymphs. Management of the river for irrigation forces flows to be 50 cfs or less, compared to summer flows of 200+.
Nymphing will produce of course as it always does on our local tailwater gem. Flows are at 85 CFS and are expected to drop to extremely low levels in August. Naturally, on the second cast and nice whitefish nails the sculpin. I head to smaller waters where I can avoid the masses and often have some water to myself. Highway #27 follows along the river for about a seven mile stretch below Bowman Dam.
When you do find them, catching them is another story.