The Crooked River tailwater below Bowman Dam is fishing very well heading into the July 4th weekend. Water flows have dropped and stabilized, producing solid action on both trout and whitefish—as confirmed by recent ODFW surveys showing consistent catches in the 10–14″ range and a few larger fish mixed in Nymphing remains the tool of choice through most of the day. Zebra Midges (olive, red, or black), small Fire Starters, and size‑16 mini jig leeches are all getting consistent attention in seams, slot pockets, and tailouts. Euro rigs and tight‑line or indicator setups all work well—get your flies right in front of their noses.
Dry‑dropper combinations continue to shine—try a chubby dry fished with a jig underneath. This covers water efficiently and entices actively feeding fish. Summer caddis hatches are starting to build, adding another layer of dry fly opportunity in the shadows under pine-lined banks during mid and late afternoon.
Evening offers the best chances for trico-sized emergers, Bead-head soft hackles, and caddis adults—especially with stable sunny–cloudy mix conditions. Small streamers remain a good bet as fish move into deeper, shaded corners; slow-stripped sculpzilla or leech patterns occasionally draw aggressive takes from bigger trout.