Crooked River Oregon Hatch Chart | The Fly Fishing Place

Central Oregon, below Bowman Dam near Prineville in Crook County. The Crooked River is one of the most productive and accessible tailwater fisheries in the Pacific Northwest - a cold, clear river flowing through a dramatic basalt canyon in the high desert east of the Cascade Range. Bowman Dam creates ideal year-round trout habitat in an otherwise warm and arid landscape, producing exceptional densities of wild redband rainbow trout in the canyon reach below the reservoir.

Check current Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before you go. The Crooked River below Bowman Dam has special regulations including artificial lures and flies only and catch-and-release requirements on portions of the river. Verify current rules for your target section before fishing.

Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.

The river

The Crooked River below Bowman Dam flows approximately 15 miles through the Crooked River National Grassland before entering Lake Billy Chinook. The canyon reach immediately below the dam - accessible via the Bowman Dam Road and the canyon trail - holds the highest densities of fish and the coldest, clearest water. The river is narrow by tailwater standards, averaging 20-40 feet wide, and wades well throughout the season due to regulated flows from the dam.

Wild redband rainbow trout are the primary species - the same Columbia Plateau native subspecies found in the Spokane and Deschutes systems, well adapted to cold alkaline water and highly responsive to dry flies when hatches are on. Fish average 10-14 inches with larger specimens throughout, and the density of fish per mile in the upper canyon reach is among the highest of any Oregon river.

The Crooked is one of Oregon's premier midge fisheries. Midges hatch year-round in significant numbers and form the backbone of the trout's diet in every month. Even when other hatches are occurring, a midge dropper below a dry fly is almost always worth carrying on the Crooked River. The river also produces outstanding BWO hatches in spring and fall and a reliable caddis hatch from late spring through summer.

Year at a glance

Month	Primary hatches	Also carry	Typical sizes
Jan	Midges	Small nymphs	20-26
Feb	Midges, BWO	Small nymphs	18-24
Mar	BWO, midges	Early caddis	BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Apr	BWO, caddis, midges	March Brown	BWO 16-20, caddis 14-16
May	Caddis, BWO, PMD start	Yellow sally, midges	Caddis 14-16, PMD 16-18
Jun	Caddis, PMD, yellow sally	Hoppers start, midges	Caddis 14-16, PMD 16-18
Jul	Caddis, hoppers, PMD	Ants, yellow sally, midges	Hopper 8-12, caddis 14-16
Aug	Caddis, hoppers, midges	Ants, beetles, trico	Hopper 8-12, caddis 14-16
Sep	BWO, midges, caddis	Mahogany dun, hoppers	BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Oct	BWO, midges	October caddis, mahogany dun	BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Nov	Midges, BWO	Small nymphs	20-24
Dec	Midges	Small nymphs	20-26

January

The Crooked River is one of the finest winter midge fisheries in Oregon. Stable dam-release temperatures keep fish active year-round and January crowds are minimal - the canyon is cold but fishable on any day without ice on the guides. Focus on the slower runs and deeper pools below the dam. Midge larvae and pupae on a tight-line Euro rig is the most consistent winter approach. Look for dimpling fish in the flat tailouts on mild afternoons.

Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small Euro nymphs subsurface. Midge cluster dry in 18-20 when fish are dimpling.
Small nymphs 18-22 on a tight-line rig through the deeper canyon slots.

February

BWO begin on overcast afternoons in February - the Crooked's tailwater character and high-desert canyon location make it an early BWO river. Midges continue throughout. February afternoon rises on the Crooked with virtually no other anglers in the canyon is one of the more rewarding experiences central Oregon fly fishing has to offer.

BWO - 18-22 on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO when fish are rising.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.

March

BWO hatches strengthen significantly in March and become the primary dry-fly event. The basalt canyon walls create shade and overcast conditions that trigger BWO emergence even on partially sunny days. Early caddis begin on warm afternoons by late month. Midges continue as the subsurface anchor. March is an exceptional month on the Crooked - dense BWO hatches, rising fish, and minimal pressure.

BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Late March: first caddis - 14-16 on warm afternoons.

April

Caddis build through April and overlap with continuing BWO. The Crooked does not experience significant runoff due to dam regulation - April is reliably fishable when nearby freestone streams are blown out from Cascade snowmelt. March Browns appear on the broader lower sections. Evening caddis hatches in April can produce rising fish throughout the canyon. One of the best months to visit.

BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO on overcast days.
Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis afternoons and evenings.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
March Brown - 12-14 on the broader lower sections.

May

Prime season opens in May. Caddis hatches peak and PMDs begin on the flatter sections. Yellow sallies start in the riffles. BWO continue on overcast days. The combination of caddis evenings, PMD mornings, and consistent midges makes May one of the most productive months on the Crooked. Lighter pressure than summer and excellent conditions throughout.

Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings.
BWO on overcast days. Parachute BWO.
Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles on warm afternoons.
Midges throughout from nymphs.

June

Peak summer season. Caddis evenings are outstanding - one of the better evening caddis hatches in central Oregon. PMDs continue in the mornings. Yellow sallies in the riffles. Hoppers begin along the canyon margins by late June. The Crooked sees its heaviest pressure of the year in June and July - fish the upper canyon sections below the dam early morning for the best fish-to-angler ratios.

Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings.
Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles.
Late June: first hoppers - hoppers and terrestrials along the canyon margins.
Midges subsurface throughout. Red zebra midge.

July

Hoppers build along the basalt canyon walls and the Crooked fishes well as a terrestrial river in July. Caddis evenings remain strong. PMDs linger on the cooler upper sections near the dam. Ants and beetles midday. The tailwater keeps the upper canyon cooler than the high-desert air temperature suggests - fish the water immediately below the dam in July for the best summer conditions and most active fish.

Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the canyon walls. Hopper-dropper with a midge dropper.
Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
PMD - 16-18 on upper sections near the dam. Pale Morning Dun.
Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles.
Ants and beetles midday from hoppers and terrestrials.

August

Hopper season peaks in August. The high-desert canyon setting concentrates grasshoppers along the basalt walls and the redbands respond well. Caddis evenings continue. Trico spinner falls begin on the flatter lower sections by mid-month - early morning, fine tippet. Monitor water temperatures in the lower canyon in August - the upper sections near the dam fish best through the heat. Midges remain the subsurface anchor throughout.

Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the canyon walls.
Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
Trico - 20-24 early morning on flat lower sections. Fine tippet essential.
Ants and beetles midday. Hoppers and terrestrials.
Midges subsurface throughout. Red zebra midge.

September

September is the finest month on the Crooked River. Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day, BWO return strongly with the cooling temperatures, and the high-desert canyon is at its most dramatic. The fall BWO hatch on the Crooked is exceptional - the canyon shade triggers dense afternoon hatches with selective but catchable fish. Mahogany duns add variety on overcast days. Hoppers through mid-month. Midges throughout.

Hoppers through mid-September. Hoppers and terrestrials.
BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons.
Caddis evenings continuing. Elk hair.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.

October

Fall BWO fishing strengthens through October and the Crooked is at its uncrowded best. Dense afternoon hatches in the canyon with very few other anglers. October caddis add a large dry-fly option on warmer afternoons. Mahogany duns overlap with the olives. Midges reassert themselves as the primary subsurface food source as temperatures drop. One of the most underrated October destinations in Oregon.

BWO - 16-20. The dominant hatch. Parachute BWO.
October caddis - 8-10 on warmer afternoons. See dry flies.
Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast days.
Midges - 20-26 throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.

November

BWO and midges as the season winds toward winter. The Crooked fishes well on mild November days with virtually no competition. The canyon is dramatic in late fall light and the tailwater keeps fish active long after nearby freestone streams have gone cold. November on the Crooked is a genuinely rewarding late-season experience for the angler who makes the drive.

BWO - 16-20 on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO.
Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small nymphs subsurface.
Small nymphs on a tight-line rig through the deeper slots.

December

Back to the winter midge program. The Crooked's tailwater character keeps conditions stable and fish active year-round. December in the canyon offers complete solitude and active fish for the prepared angler. Focus on the slower runs and deep pools below the dam and fish midges slowly on a tight drift.

Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small Euro nymphs subsurface. Midge cluster dry when fish are dimpling.
BWO on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO.

A western dry and nymph assortment covers the core season. Add a dedicated midge selection - the Crooked is a midge river year-round and having a range of sizes from 20 to 26 is essential. The river fishes well in every month and rewards year-round visits. The high-desert canyon setting, wild redband trout, and light angling pressure make the Crooked one of the most underrated tailwaters in the Pacific Northwest.