Fishing on the Crooked River tailwater remains excellent heading into late August. Recent ODFW monitoring shows solid numbers of trout in the 10–14" range and healthy counts of mountain whitefish, signaling a productive fishery overall. Bull trout are also appearing more frequently, thanks to improved passage at Opal Springs—if you hook one, please release it unharmed as they’re a protected species.
Midges continue to anchor the action, especially early and late in the day. Tailwater Tinies in olive remain a top subsurface match, and we’ve also seen success with soft-hackle patterns drifting through riffles. For added versatility, try our new balanced scud—great in slower runs—and mini jig leeches in deeper water. Dry-dropper rigs, especially with Elk Hair Caddis or small Chubbies, remain a reliable way to cover both surface and subsurface feeding. Streamers haven’t been in heavy rotation yet, but that’s often where the bigger fish separate themselves—keep one tied on for those deeper slots.
Our guides are out daily, so don’t hesitate to ask in the shop about jig-style droppers or specific tactics—observing color, drift, and subsurface transitions can really elevate your day out there.