USDA Forest Service
 

Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National GrasslandHeader Counter

 
 
 

Deschutes National Forest
1001 SW Emkay Drive
Bend, OR   97702

(541) 383-5300

Ochoco National Forest
3160 N.E. 3rd Street
Prineville, OR   97754

(541) 416-6500

Crooked River National Grassland
813 S.W. Hwy. 97
Madras, OR   97741

(541) 475-9272

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Recreational Activities

Rivers and Streams

Crooked River

Crooked River near Smith RockThe Crooked River experience is one of rugged, dramatic canyons, enthusiastic fish, Wild and Scenic tracts, bald eagles and kingfishers, and cool, spring-fed headwaters.  The river maintains a wild feeling, even in the most popular sections. Well-known locally for dependable fishing and routine rattlesnake sightings, this comparatively small river pro­duces and supports excellent populations of trout and whitefish. In 1984, the Crooked River yielded the runner-up state record inland redband trout of 4 pounds, 9 ounces.

The main stem, formed by many tributaries like the South Fork, North Fork, Howard Creek, Wolf Creek, and Beaver Creek, flows over 100 miles northwest to Lake Billy Chinook and is a major tributary to the Deschutes River. In general, you will find a variety of deep pools, shallow riffles, rocky shorelines, and channels full of boulders and cobbles throughout the length of the Crooked River. A few meadow portions are the only exceptions. Water levels fluctuate with spring runoff and the irrigation season.

The North Fork of the Crooked River originates in the Ochoco Mountains 75 miles east of Prineville, and has many smaller tributaries like Deep Creek as inputs to the main river. Angling is fair for wild rainbow trout. The South Fork of the Crooked River begins about 60 miles east of Bend. It has been stocked annually since 1981 with Deschutes red sides and also contains a few Smallmouth bass and brown bullheads. The South Fork is open only to angling with artificial flies and lures and has a reduced (2 trout per day) catch limit for trout. Check the regulations for details. The North and South Fork meet along the Post-Paulina Highway about 25 miles east of Prineville. From this point downstream to Prineville Reservoir, the river is severely affected by overgrazing and irrigation withdrawals and support only skimpy numbers of Smallmouth bass and brown bullheads.

 

Source: “Fishing Central Oregon-Third Edition”, 1998. Geoff Hill, Brooke Snavely, and Raven Wing. Sun Publishing, 716 NE 4th Street, Bend, Oregon. http://www.sun-pub.com


Vehicle Access: From highway 27 south of Prineville and along the Post-Paulina Highway east of Prineville.
Fishing Access: Along State Highway 27
Launch Points:  
Fish Species Present: Inland redband trout and whitefish
Physical Characteristics: Size: Main stem 100 miles; Depth: Level fluctuates; Elevation: 3620'-1940'
When/How to fish: Water at 40°F & the 7 mile stretch below Bowman Dam at Prineville Reservoir.  Get a weekly fishing report from ODFW.
Popular Fishing Methods: Fly Fishing, bait-plunking, drifting
Bait/Lure Fishing Method: Cheese, power bait, single egg, night crawlers, and spinners
Fly Fishing Methods: Over-the-head, line-mending, dead-drifting, down-and-across nymphing
Insect Hatch/Flies to Use: Check the Crooked Rive Major Hatches chart below. Flies to consider are the Beadhead Grammarus-Hyalella Scud.
Camping Information: Poison Butte Campground, Deep Creek Campground, Devil's Post Pile Campground, Cobble Rock Campground, Chimney Rock Campground, Lower Palisades Campground, Lone Pine Campground, Upper Lone Pine Campground, Greenwood Campground, Stillwater Campground, Castle Rock Campground

 


Crooked River Major Hatches

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Midges-Chironomindae











Afternoon, Evening Palamino, Griffith's Gnats, CDC Midge, Suspender Pupa, Brassie, Serendipity, Para Midge #18-26
Blue-winged Olive-Baetis sp  



     


  Afternoon (Duns) Spinner Fall: Morning, Dark Flashback Pheasant Tail, RS2, Captive Dun, Comparadun, Sparkle Dun, H-V12 Parachute, Biot Spinner #16-24
Mahogany Dun-Paraleptophlebia sp              



  Afternoon Beadhead P.T., Featherdusters, Parachute Adams, Comparadun #14-16
Scuds











Morning, Afternoon, Dark Olive, Tan and Orange Scuds #10-18
Grannom/Mother's Day Caddis-Brachycentrus      


            Afternoon, Evening Cased Caddis, Sparkle Pupa, X-Caddis, Henryville #14-16
Green Sedge-Rhyacophlia        




      Afternoon, Evening Green Rock Worm, Soft Hackle, CDC Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, #14-16
Spotted Sedge, Hydropsyche, Little Sister Sedge, Cheumatopsyche        




      Afternoon, Evening Serendipity, Sparkle Pupa, CDC Caddis, X-Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis #12-18
October Caddis-Dicosmoecus                


  Evening Cased Caddis, October Caddis Pupa, Stimulator #6-12

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Source: Hatch Chart Prepared by Jeff Perin, In "Flyfisher's Guide to Oregon" by John Huber, Wilderness Adventures Press, 1998, used with permission.

USDA Forest Service - Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Last Modified: Friday, 02 April 2004 at 16:32:42 EDT


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