Crooked River was under 500 yesterday and is just over 500 cfs today. It is fishable now at this level. Would I try to wade across it? No, I would not.
Would I wade the edges carefully and work the fish that have been inevitably pushed towards the banks during months of high water? Yes indeed.
Would I fish some various perdigons with various bead colors and bead sizes? Absolutely. I would recommend the Fire Starter, Jig Napoleon, Jig Rainbow Warrior, and FOR SURE Caddis Pupa because I anticipate the Mothers Day Caddis Hatch to hit in the next day or two. When it does, I also think you can expect a session of good dry fly action on Missing Link, Elk Hair, X and Corn Fed Caddis all about a #16.
With the water being about 500 cfs, that is twice the normal summer flow of 250 cfs. This provides opportunities to swing streamers and leeches.

I messaged the Lava Lake Resort yesterday to see how the progress on getting back there from Century Drive is and he was working on the snow removal as you can see here:

I don’t know what this means exactly, but slow progress is being made to get in to Big Lava.
Little Lava requires the snow to just melt off the road naturally, so that is likely a couple of weeks away now pending more good weather like this.
As far as I know, Paulina Lake is still slated to open on May 14th. I do not know if the lake is ice free yet. Has anyone here flown over it?

Salmonflies are hitting well on the Middle Deschutes! Also seeing them below Maupin in better numbers, so with good weather I think we will see them in the Trout Creek area next week.

I am on my way to the Metolius! See you on the water or in the shop.
Jeff