Flows on the crooked have remained steady, which means the fish are comfortable and actively feeding in the water we expect to see them in! Fish can be found in riffles, bouldery pocket water, and in deep slow slots and runs. We are in the midst of one of our favorite times of year on the Crooked, and the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch is in full swing. The fish are keyed in on this dark bodied caddis, which translates to the most consistent dry fly fishing in the area. Most afternoons have been producing prolific hatches of both caddis and various mayfly species, and variety of classic surface patterns should consistently produce fish! For those interested in fishing dries, afternoons are typically the best option, with the action typically beginning around 1 or 2 and extending into the evening. If the surface action is not as advertised, nymphing has continued to produce fish consistently. A wide range of small stonefly, mayfly, caddis, and midge nymphs have all been working well. Small streamer and leech patterns have also been a solid option with the low flows of winter giving way to higher spring water levels.
Suggested Dries: Black Foam Caddis #16-18, Peacock Caddis #16-18, Black Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, Purple Haze #16-18, Parachute Adams #16-18
Suggested Nymphs: Olive Microstone #16-18, Olive or Brown Micro Mayfly #16-20 Peacock Soft Hackle #16-18, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #16-18, Red or Black Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Black or Purple Zebra Midge #18-22, Black Winkers Midge #18-22
Suggested Streamers: Olive or Rust Bunny Buster #6, Olive or Black Wooly Bugger #6-10, Black or Tan Sculpzilla #6