The river is still holding good action heading into fall, and midges are absolutely commanding the bite right now. You’ll want to lean on small, dark patterns — black, red, and purple Zebra Midges (size 16–20) are getting eats subsurface, especially in seams, runs, and around deeper structure. Tailwater Tinies (in olive) are still a dependable match too, and soft hackles drifted through riffles have been picking off fish when the water softens.
Dry flies are still worth watching — smaller “Stillborn” midges, tiny Chubbies, and subtle attractors like Purple Haze are drawing looks in the softer light of morning and evening. As the hatch thins, don’t hesitate to fish tight-dropper rigs, or ask us in the shop about jig-style droppers if you want to throw something with a little kick below your dry.
We guide Crooked daily and see how quickly the bite shifts — stay mobile, watch for rises, and don’t be afraid to ground your fly right next to structure. Today’s setup is all about finesse, darkness, and subtle presentation.