Crooked River
Our backyard playground. Calm flows, a high fish count, big hatches and easy access, all year long.
Our backyard playground.
The Crooked River begins high in the Ochoco Mountains and flows west for 125 miles to join the Deschutes at Lake Billy Chinook.
Along the way it’s impounded by Arthur A. Bowman Dam, forming Prineville Reservoir about 20 miles south of Prineville and 30 miles east of Bend. The water below Bowman Dam has a balanced ecosystem thanks to its stable, nutrient-rich flows and consistently cool temperatures. That supports a large population of fish and makes this one of the best fisheries in Central Oregon.
With calm flows, high fish counts, big hatches and easy access, the Crooked is a great fishing environment for anglers of all skill levels. It’s a great place for beginners, families with kids, experienced anglers who like lots of action, or anyone who wants to get out for a half day and still make an afternoon tee time.
Native redbands, and lots of them.
The Crooked River is home to native Columbia Basin Redband Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri), a subspecies adapted to the arid Columbia River basin, as well as Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni). In any given year the Crooked holds 2,000 to 5,000 fish per river mile.
Both species share the same water and diet and provide great sport on a fly rod, but our primary target is the redband. They fight hard, they’re fast and acrobatic, and they’re beautiful. Crooked River redbands regularly feed on the surface during a decent hatch, which happens most days, sometimes even in the dead of winter.
We fish the Crooked all year.
Winter pools
The river runs low and fish tend to hold in slow, deep pools, feeding on midges, BWOs and scuds. A great time to stretch your legs and test your skills on wary trout.
Mother’s Day caddis
Water levels and temperatures rise, kicking off the Mother’s Day caddis hatch. Every fish in the river feeds heavily, and it can be some of the best dry-fly fishing of the year.
Summer prime
Warm, long days and stable summer flows, with consistent hatches of PMDs, BWOs, midges and caddis every day. Nymph through midday or throw dries in the evening shade. Trout usually feed from sunup to sundown.
See what’s fishing right now on the Fishing Calendar.
Walk, wade and learn.
Half Day Walk & Wade
- $75 per additional angler
- Up to 4 anglers per guide
Full Day Walk & Wade
- $100 per additional angler
- Up to 4 anglers per guide
101 Class
- Knots, rigging, casting and reading water
- About our 101 classes
Casting Class
- Up to 6 guests
- Single-hand and two-handed rods
Fun for every angler.
Half a day, a full day, or your first cast.
The Crooked is the easiest way to get on the water with us, any month of the year.