Prime summer flows are upon us now, and the Crooked has been sitting pretty steady around 200-250cfs. These water levels provide excellent structure throughout the first 10 miles below Bowman Dam. There are abundant riffles, gravel bars, and pocket water that all produce fish consistently and can be fished effectively with a variety of techniques. We are seeing good numbers of Caddis and decent PMD hatches on the right days, but the fish aren’t necessarily keying in on the adult insects very consistently at the moment. As a result, we’ve primarily been fishing nymph rigs with the standard Crooked assortment of Midges, Mayflies, Caddis, and Scuds. There is still plenty of opportunity to find fish on dries, but the number of rising fish can be pretty spotty. Those looking for the best times to fish dries should focus on the low light hours of the evening.
Suggested Dries: Black Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, Black Foam Caddis #16-18, Peacock Caddis #16-18, Purple Haze #16-18, Parachute PMD #16-18, Tilt Wing PMD #16-18, Parachute Adams #16-18
Suggested Nymphs: Black or Red Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Olive or Brown Micro Mayfly #16-20, Hare’s Ear Anato-May #16-18, Peacock Soft Hackle #16-18, Soft Hackle PT #16-18, Black or Purple Zebra Midge #16-20, Black Beadwing Midge #18-20, Black Winker’s Midge #18-20, Black or Olive Tailwater Tiny #18-20