My good friend Chester shared this report with me from the Crooked River and I wanted to share it with you.

Drove out to the Crooked on Sunday, and found a nicely flowing river. It was the color of green tea with a tiny bit of milk mixed in. It was at about 180 or so CFS.

I got there at 11 a.m. and saw no risers. I was well downstream of the dam — between mileposts 13 and 14. The trout were interested in size 16 scuds and size 18 Zebra Midges.

The skies clouded up nicely by 12:30 p.m., and a gentle rain started to fall. A mixed hatch of BWO — size 18 and size 20 — started POURING off the river, and the trout lined up in the bubble lines and all the other usual places.

A size 20 Film Critic was stellar. I love this fly for a mixed hatch, and I think this pattern looks bigger than it is. I also think this pattern works better in small sizes — the smaller the better. 

This was my first really huge dry fly hatch of the year, and it was great. Lots of fat, colorful fish. Note the attached photo: This is, to me, the uber Crooked Redsides, with cutthroatish colors and a slash below the jaw. Such a beautiful fish!

It was easy to see that the river has been really big for a long time, piles of grass and tiny bits of driftwood are lodged in the bankside boulders, and they look like solid ground — but they are not. I was very careful getting in and out of the water. One careless step, and you could break an ankle or leg. Very few anglers on the river, and I didn’t fish upstream of Milepost 16. I have really liked the lower part of the Wild and Scenic section these days.

The hatch started at 12:30 and ended at 2:45, so it was heavy and long. YES.

Tight lines,

Chester

The Crooked River is flowing 191 cfs from the Dam, the Reservoir is 92% full, and there is 1351 cfs coming in to the reservoir. It is going to be interesting to see if they can keep the river levels in fishable condition and hit 100% on the reservoir. Interesting or a Fricken Miracle, but it might happen.
In the mean time, fishing is great and it’s a good week to be out there.

I’m not going to add a bunch of detail from the report I published Sunday, but I will say I’ve heard from a few people coming in the shop that the Metolius is fishing well this week.
The majority of the fishing is on nymphs but there is a mix of BWO’s and Cinygmula’s around 1:30.

Got several good reports from the Fall River too. Lot’s of afternoon risers!

And not listed on the Sunday report, Twin Lakes Resort Facebook Page shows that fishing access to South Twin is now good to go. Ice free.
Should be good stripping leeches and damsels on an intermediate line, or balanced leeches and chironomids under the indicator.
Looks like warmer days are coming back soon so it will be good for that fishery for sure.

Chickahominy (way) out east of Bend is fishing excellent.

Justesen Ranch is also fishing really well and Amanda is finding spots for all of our guests so pick a day and let’s get you out there. Call me or call her, but tell her Jeff sent you.