The Crooked has been outstanding this year and nothing indicates the winter will be any different. Compared to say the Fall, the Crooked supports a healthy number of aquatic insects that stay active all year in its cold nutritious water, the fish stay active as well and will work hard throughout the cold months to get their share of food. The trout will back into some slower water in order to conserve energy, fish back eddies, pools and deep turns.
The Fish are still keyed into the baetis hatch and are looking up for food, fish a BWO pattern in a size 20 with an unweighted dropper or wet fly behind it. Another great option on the crooked is European nymphing, or tight line nymphing, this method features heavy and slim flies designed to get down in the water column quickly in order to maximize time in the fishy zone. Perdigons and anything black has been quite effective as of late. The weather is nasty out there so drive safe if you plan on fishing the next couple of days, bring chains, a shovel, extra layers and first aid in the car always especially with this winter weather!
Suggested Dries: Purple Haze #18-20, Tilt Wing BWO #18-20, Hackle Stacker Baetis #18-22, BWO Sparkle Dun #18-22, Extended Body BWO #18-20, Griffiths Gnat #18-22, Winkers Midge #20-24.
Suggested Nymphs: Tail-water Tiny Olive #18-22, Rainbow Warrior #18-20, Mighty May Baetis #18-20, Juju Baetis #18-22, Micro Mayfly Olive #18-20, Glo Bugs #12-16.