Oregon Fishing Reports ยท Central Region
Below Bowman Dam south of Prineville, the Crooked River is a tailwater with lots of redband trout, always a little off-color, and fishable all winter.
Looking for the latest Crooked River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Crooked River โ Below Bowman Dam.
Current flows
There is no live gauge on this stretch. Check nearby gauges on the Oregon fishing reports page.
Wind forecast
Crooked River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
There is no live gauge on this stretch. Winter releases from Bowman Dam are low and steady.
Midges and small nymphs under an indicator, and BWOs on cloudy afternoons.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Bowman Dam, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, JuJu Baetis #18-20, Kaufmann', s Scud #14-16, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Crooked River details
| Access | BLM campgrounds and pullouts along State Highway 27 below the dam. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 3,000 ft |
| Nearest town | Prineville, Oregon |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Redband rainbow trout and whitefish |
| Regulations | Check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations and in-season changes before you go. An Oregon angling license is required for anglers 12 and older, plus a combined tag for steelhead and salmon. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | BLM campgrounds below Bowman Dam |
| Kids | Yes. Easy roadside access. |
| Good to know | The water is always tinted. Don't let it fool you. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges.
Spring
BWOs.
Summer
Caddis and PMDs.
Fall
BWOs.
How to get there
From Prineville, take State Highway 27 south toward Bowman Dam.