Crooked RIver Reports?

Joss · 11-10-2009, 07:16 AM

A buddy and I will be going through Prineville tomorrow. Was wondering if there are any reports. We were thinking of stopping and fishing for a few hours.

Two Fister · 11-10-2009, 09:08 AM

My boys and I camped at Big Bend this weekend. When it was overcast there were lots of small fish rising. Looks like the populations may be making a bit of a come back, but I'd guess that the overwhelming majority of fish rising were sub 6". Early in the AM on Saturday they were taking very small black midges (22s) and they switched to BWOs (18s) as it got closer to noon. It was perfect overcast BWO fishing weather. We were getting lots of rises but not too many hookups. They rose the water level on Sunday, and the sun came out, and the fishing was much slower. There were still fish rising, but not nearly as many. Didn't go subsurface as I was fishing with my sons and didn't want to add split shot or weighted flies as a variable.

My 9 year old hooked his first fish without any assistance from me (roll cast, hook up, and fight), but it got off before he could land it. If he knew more salty language I would have heard it at that time. I had tied on a size 22 black midge for him so he was doing better than I was as I couldn't get one to stick at all on those little flies. I can barely see them anymore...sucks getting old.

The best part was when he walked up to his soon to be 7 year old brother and proclaimed "You know, bait fishing is really boring compared to fly fishing". This from the kid that I couldn't get to fish in our backyard earlier this summer (before his bday where he got his flyrod) because bait is not allowed on the Middle D. Three fish hooked and he's a fly snob...

TF

Joss · 11-10-2009, 10:18 AM

Thats great TF........ My son is 13 and hooked his first fish on fly about two years ago on the upper Malhuer...... Great story...Thanks for the update......I will check the levels before we leave and make the determination.

mcslider1 · 11-10-2009, 02:42 PM

The Crooked will probably be running between 80-100 cfs. Fish only the deeper swifter runs. BWOs are alway a good flavor as well as the midge. If you need a some garunteed production for the little one, set him up on a smallish copper john and/or pheasant tail and he'll catch whitefish all day. If you can, fish a 3 wt on the smallest line you can see. Park at cobble rock. Don't forget a sandwich. Its cold, bring you long johns.