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Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Copper John, Woolly Bugger

Crooked River Fishing Report

Date: September 7, 2026  |  Section: Below Bowman Dam – Chimney Rock Tailwater (Terrebonne / Crooked River Ranch Area)

Current Conditions

The Crooked River tailwater below Bowman Dam is absolutely on fire right now — and we mean that in the best possible way. Local guides have been reporting incredible days in this canyon, and today's conditions back that up. Water temperatures are reading a cool and trout-friendly 55°F, recorded at the USGS gauge near Culver (gauge #14087400). The USGS gauge reflects the combined flow including Opal Springs tributary input; flows directly below Bowman Dam in the prime tailwater section are running around 175–200 CFS, putting the Chimney Rock stretch in ideal wading shape.

Clarity is excellent — the Crooked's dam-controlled flows stay gin-clear except during major release events, and right now the water is as fishable as it gets. With overcast skies forecasted through the week, expect extended surface activity well into the afternoon hours.

Hatches & Fly Recommendations

Two words: caddis and PMDs. Both hatches have been coming off strong, and the fish are keyed in. Here's how to fish it:

Mornings: Start subsurface. A Zebra Midge (#18–22) is the Crooked River's bread-and-butter fly — fish it as a dropper under a small indicator in the slower seams and tailouts. Follow it up with a Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14–18) to match the PMD nymphs in the water column. The Copper John (#14–16) also continues to produce as an attractor nymph in riffled pocket water.

Afternoons & Evenings: Switch to dries when the caddis and PMDs get going. An Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16) is the first fly to tie on during the caddis push. During PMD hatches, reach for the Parachute Adams (#16–18) — it covers both PMDs and BWOs (Blue-Winged Olives) that can show up opportunistically on cloudy afternoons. Local guides are also carrying BWO patterns in the box as a secondary option.

For those chasing bigger fish, a Woolly Bugger (#8, olive) swung or stripped through the deeper canyon pools can bring up the river's largest browns.

Best Access Points

• Chimney Rock Trailhead – Hwy 27 south of Terrebonne. Best all-around bank access to the prime tailwater section. Multiple pullouts along the road.
• Crooked River Ranch – Access via Chinook Drive off Hwy 97. BLM public fishing access to the lower canyon reaches.
• BLM Crooked River Backcountry Byway (Hwy 27) – Multiple pullouts provide easy walk-in access along several miles of quality water.
• Smith Rock State Park – Limited fishing access at the park's river corridor; great for a combined hiking/fishing day.

Hazards & Notes

Bowman Dam releases can change without notice and flows can rise rapidly. Always check current USGS gauge #14087400 before wading and never cross the river without confirming stable flows. The canyon terrain involves steep, rocky trail approaches in places — wear ankle-supportive footwear even when wade fishing. A BLM-regulated gate at Telephone Springs limits motorized access seasonally; this section is open for access through December 1. No closures are currently reported for this section of the river.

Flow/temp data: USGS Gauge #14087400, Crooked River below Opal Springs, near Culver, as of 5:00 AM PDT 9/7/2026. Provisional data subject to revision. Upper tailwater flows sourced from local fishing report (Confluence Fly Shop, 9/4/2026).

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