Crooked River Fly Fishing Report — June 14, 2026: Steady Tailwater, Active Caddis & PMDs
Elk Hair Caddis, Zebra Midge, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Woolly Bugger, Chubby Chernobyl
Crooked River — Below Bowman Dam (Terrebonne / Crooked River Ranch Area) | June 14, 2026
Current Conditions
The Crooked River below Bowman Dam is fishing well this week. Dam outflows are holding steady at approximately 183 CFS — a bit on the low side for mid-June (Prineville Reservoir sits at just 57% capacity, so don't expect big bumps), but perfectly fishable. The tailwater character of this stretch means water clarity is crystal clear as always, with water temperatures in the comfortable mid-to-upper 50s. This is one of Central Oregon's most reliable summer fisheries precisely because the dam buffers against the heat waves hitting the region.
Confluence Fly Shop's most recent report (June 12) describes active Caddis and PMD hatches, with midges filling in the gaps throughout the day. Fishing has been solid — 8–12 inch redband rainbows are plentiful, with the occasional larger fish holding in deeper runs and slots.
⚠️ Important Notice: ODFW Electrofishing Survey
ODFW will be conducting their annual fish population monitoring survey below Bowman Dam from June 15–18. Anglers are asked to step out of the water to the bank when the electrofishing boat approaches to ensure safety for ODFW staff and the public. Plan accordingly if you're heading out this coming week.
What's Hatching
- Caddis #16–18 — ACTIVE: The main surface hatch right now, with warm weather expected to keep caddis popping all week. Fish are keying on dries in the afternoons and evenings. Tan and olive bodies are both producing.
- Pale Morning Dun (PMD) #18–20 — EMERGING: PMDs have started showing up as of this week per the latest reports — a welcome transition. Look for rises in the slower, smoother stretches mid-morning.
- Midges #20–22 — CONSISTENT: The Crooked's bread-and-butter year-round. Fish rising to midges can be found throughout the day, especially in calmer pools and slicks.
Top Flies (Available at Bugs 'n Jugs)
- Elk Hair Caddis #16–18 — The premier dry fly right now. Fish it in tan or peacock body versions to match the active caddis hatch. Ideal from mid-afternoon through evening.
- Parachute Adams #18–20 — A versatile match for both PMDs and as a general searching dry. The high-vis parachute post makes it easy to track on the Crooked's clear, flat water.
- Zebra Midge #20–22 — Never leave home without these on the Crooked. Red or black/silver body with a tungsten bead, fished on a short dropper or as a point fly under an indicator. A fish-every-day pattern on this river.
- Pheasant Tail Nymph #16–20 — An excellent PMD nymph imitation as the hatch gets going. Small sizes in the 18–20 range are particularly effective on these educated tailwater fish.
- Woolly Bugger #10–12 (olive or black) — Don't overlook streamers on the Crooked. Swinging or stripping a small Woolly Bugger through deeper runs and pools produces some of the largest fish in the river. Great searching technique when hatches are slow.
- Chubby Chernobyl #14–16 — Run it as your attractor-dropper indicator with a Zebra Midge or Pheasant Tail off the back. The Chubby floats high in faster pocket water and gives you excellent line control while the dropper does the work.
Fishing Strategy
Mornings: Start with a Zebra Midge or Pheasant Tail Nymph under an indicator or tight-line rig in riffles and runs. As the sun gets on the water, watch for PMD risers in the softer seams.
Afternoons & Evenings: Switch to dries when caddis activity picks up. An Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams in calm, slick sections will produce aggressive surface takes. Watch for any remaining midge risers in pools.
All day: A dry-dropper with a Chubby Chernobyl over a Zebra Midge is a deadly, low-effort setup that covers all the bases on this river.
Access Points
The primary fishing corridor runs from Bowman Dam downstream through the Wild and Scenic reach near Terrebonne and Crooked River Ranch. The Lower Crooked River Recreation Area (BLM) provides walk-in access at several points along Hwy 27. Crooked River Ranch offers additional access. Note: Avoid fishing and wading in the upper section of Big Bend Campground — ODFW has flagged active trout redds in this zone. Please protect the fishery's future.
Regulations Reminder
- Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam
- Fly fishing only with barbless hooks in this section
- Catch-and-release for trout
- Bull trout may be encountered (volitional passage now at Opal Springs) — release immediately and report to crookedbulltrout@fws.gov
- ODFW electrofishing survey June 15–18 — please yield to survey crew