Fishing The Crooked River

Central Oregon Flyfishers March 15, 2017

Frank Turek

Purpose of Presentation • Show you how I fish the Crooked River

– Others may use different techniques • Goal is to help you have a good time and catch some fish

Presentation Outline • 1. Chuck and Duck setup and what I use • 2. Fishing the Chuck and Duck • 3. My favorite flies • 4. Crooked River Flows • 5. My favorite fishing locations • 6. Version on COF website – fly patterns

Presentation • Different than many presentations • Not a bunch of photos of fish

– You all know what rainbows and whitefish look like

• Not a bunch of photos of scenery – Crooked River is only 45 minutes from Bend

and you will see it yourselves

Only Fish Picture

Only Scenery Picture

Lees Ferry on the Colorado River

1. Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line

Leader and tippet 5X

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line

Leader and tippet 5X

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Fly Line • I use floating weight forward line • My preference is Orvis Power Taper

– ½ weight heavier; so 4wt is really 4.5 – Helps load the rod for short to medium casts

• I mainly roll cast and this makes it much easier and efficient

• You have seen others with level or double taper line whipping and struggling

Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Leader and tippet 5X

Leader and Tippet • I use 5x fluorocarbon

– No need to go finer or heavier – This is 5 lb test and is more than

adequate for Crooked River fish • 5X will fit through #22 eye • Has a refractive index closer to water

– More difficult for fish to see • I want any advantage I can get

Fluorocarbon Material • Some people say it costs too much

– Add up the cost of your equipment – Then add the cost of gas – You have to buy leaders and tippet anyway so

you are looking at the differential cost and this is what I call Chump Change

• Some say it sinks dry flies – More on this later

Leader and Tippet • I start with 9 ft tapered leader • Try to keep length fly line to lead fly about

8 ft or so

Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line Leader 5X

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Strike Indicator • My favorite is corky • Easy to adjust and I adjust often

Strike Indicator • Deep pools I set strike indicator about 5

feet above lead fly • Shallow areas I set strike indicator about

18 inches above lead fly • I change depth rather than flies

– Deep pools change 12 inches – Shallows change 6 inches

• Should touch bottom about half the time

Strike Indicator • Remember: IT IS AN INDICATOR NOT A BOBBER • If it moves or pauses or stops or does anything

different than a normal drift

STRIKE • Lift the rod tip to make sure it is not the

bottom – don’t jerk – You can continue your drift if it was the bottom

• You don’t have to rip the lips off the fish

Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line Leader 5X

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Split Shot • I mainly use two sizes

– bb size in irrigation season – #1 or smaller shot in non irrigation season

• Goal is to get into fish zone quickly • Put it about 12 to 15 inches above lead fly

Split Shot • It should be called Slip Shot

– Tends to slip down when casting • I found that if the shot gets within 4 inches

of lead fly - hits stop • Check position of shot often • Tempting to really crimp down hard to

keep shot in place – This puts a crimp in line and you reduce the

test of 5X to 6 or 7X so say goodbye to any big fish

Chuck and Duck Rig

Fly line Leader 5X

Strike indicator

Split shot

Lead fly weighted

First dropper

Second dropper

Fly Setup • I don’t use fancy knots • Improved clinch knot

– Tie fly to tippet at eye – Tie droppers to bend of hook

2. Fishing Chuck and Duck • Because of road most folks fish with flow

from left to right

Fishing Chuck and Duck Deep Pools and Runs

3

1

12

9

2 10

11 Set up and sink zone

Drift zone

Drag and fly rise zone

Fishing Chuck and Duck • Cast into Set Up and Sink Zone

– Do all your mending in this zone – The goal is to get the flies down to the fish

• Fish alertly in the Drift Zone – Watch the strike indicator – Try not to do mending in the Drift Zone

because mending changes the depth of flies – Rather move your rod to follow strike indicator

at the same speed.

Drift without Mending Fishie

Current

Line & Leader

Flies

Rod movement same speed as indicator

Rod

Indicator

Why Does This Work Fishie

Current

Result is force of strike is downstream

Result = Good hook set

Direction of strike

Fishing the Chuck and Duck • At the end of Drift Zone you enter the Drag

and Rise Zone – Line and flies straighten out – Drag causes flies to rise away from bottom

• Good time to do another roll cast – River puts pressure and loads rod for an easy

cast

Fishing the Chuck and Duck • I found most rainbows hit at the start and

middle of the Drift Zone • Whitefish are not as fussy, they hit

anywhere in Drift and Rise Zones • Trick for whitefish

– Raise your rod to jerk flies off bottom – Make sure you have no slack – Movement gets whitefish to strike almost

immediately

Fishing Chuck and Duck Shallow Riffles and Small Pools

3

1

12

9

2 10

11 Set up and sink zone

Drift zone

Drag and fly rise zone

Shallow Riffles and Small Pools

• Set Up Zone is much smaller • As soon as flies hit water, lift your rod tip

– Keeps the flies from getting stuck on bottom – Take out slack line

• Get ready for a hit

3. My Favorite Flies • Happy Pulik

– Regular – Beadhead – Emerger

• Kodi’s Emerger • Midge Nymph

• Beadhead Scud • Peeking Cadis • Egg pattern • Zebra Nymph • Lights Out

What is a Happy Pulik

Puli is a Hungarian Sheep Dog Plural is Pulik

Happy Pulik

Happy Pulik Variations

Happy Pulik Beadhead #18

Happy Pulik Emerger #20

Favorite Flies

Kodi’s Emerger #22

Midge Nymph #22

Favorite Flies

Peeking Cadis #16

Beadhead Olive Scud #16

Favorite Flies

EGG Pattern #18

Zebra Nymph #16 or #20

Favorite Flies

Lights Out #16

Favorite Flies • Sometimes rainbows hit the strike

indicator • Frustrating so I use a fly I bought in

New Jersey in 1970

Spun Deer Hair Egg

My Favorite Dry Fly • I use a #18 or #20 Blue Wing Olive

Parachute • Fish seem to like it and I can see it

Dry Fly Fishing • Fluorocarbon leader

– Yes the leader sinks – You need to dress flies more often – Most dry fly drifts are not too long

• When the leader sinks it is less visible to the fish

Dry Fly Fishing • I use two materials

• Silicon first to coat fly • Then Frog’s Fanny

– Silicon makes it stick much better

Dry Fly Fishing • Optional casting techniques to try • You do everything right and a rainbow hits

and you hook it • Fly is wet

– I squeeze the thorax against my shirt to dry – Then redress with silicon and frog’s fanny

Dry Fly Fishing • Sometimes the rainbow goes to the

bottom and you get Gunk on your fly • My fingers are too big to clean gunk off

a # 18 or #20 dry fly hackle • I use a small brush from an electric razor

to clean the fly

Dry Fly Fishing

• The bristles are stiff enough to remove gunk but soft enough not to damage fly

4. Crooked River Flows • Two main seasons of flow

– Non irrigation season 60 to 80 cfs – Irrigation season 230 to 260 cfs

• Check out river in low flow – Learn pools, riffles, pockets and seams – Learn where fish lie – Learn where to wade and cross – Apply that in high flows

Crooked River Flows • Remember cfs is a volume • Velocity varies with depth and width of

channel • Deeper or wider sections flow slower to

pass the volume of water • Narrows and shallows flow faster • Rule of Thumb

– When the velocity doubles the force against you quadruples SO BE CAREFUL

5. Favorite Fishing Spots • Big Bend to Lower Palisades • I catch enough fish in the section to make

me happy so I don’t go farther downstream

Big Bend Area

Big Bend Area

Area I normally fish

Big Bend Area

Shallows and riffles

Big Bend Area

Nice pools

Big Bend Area

Areas of deep runs/pools

Big Bend Area

Road Crossing

Big Bend Area • Irrigation district trucks smoothed the

crossing path • Things to check out

– Old gaging cable car – Kingfisher uses the cable – Great Blue Herons – Brown fuzzy things Mink? – Deer crossing – Eagles

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock

Area I usually fish

Chimney Rock

Shallows and riffles

Chimney Rock

Area of runs and pools

Chimney Rock

Rock and platform

Chimney Rock

Wood platform

The rocks

Chimney Rock

Shallows and riffles

Pocket pools

Chimney Rock

Pools and holes

Chimney Rock

Nice run Short run

Fishing Chimney Rock Big Rocks

• Backwater behind rocks and rainbows gather here for an easy meal

• Fast current in short run chute that rapidly drags you fly line downstream

• Carefully wade out to edge of chute – Hold rod high to minimize line in water – You can get a good drift before current drags

line downstream

Lower Palisades

Lower Palisades

Wheel chair structures

Area I usually fish

Lower Palisades

Shallows and riffles

Shallow but limited fish

Lower Palisades

Nice deep pool

Lower Palisades

Good crossing area

Lower Palisades Crossing • Wide and shallow so water velocity is not

too great • Allows you to cross the river to fish the

canyon area between Lower Palisades and downstream part of Chimney Rock aka Upper Palisades

Palisades Canyon Area Upper Palisades

Lower Palisades

Area I usually fish

Palisades Canyon Area Upper Palisades

Lower Palisades

Deep slow pool

Palisades Canyon Area Upper Palisades

Lower Palisades

Riffles and pools

Whew I’m Done !

6. Fly Patterns • Happy Pulik • TCM 100 #20 • Thread Olive VEVUS

10/0 • Tail Lemon Wood Duck • Thorax Stripped Peacock

Quill • Abdomen Ice Dub Olive • Wing Case Lemon Wood

Duck

• Happy Pulik Beadhead • TCM 100 #18 • Thread Olive VEVUS 10/0 • Tail Lemon Wood Duck • Thorax Stripped Peacock

Quill • Abdomen Ice Dub Olive • Wing Case Lemon Wood

Duck • Bead 3/32 black tungsten

Fly Patterns • Happy Pulik Emerger • Hook TCM 100 #20 • Thread Olive VEVUS

10/0 • Tail Lemon Wood Duck • Thorax Stripped Peacock

Quill • Abdomen Ice Dub Olive • Wing Case NONE • Wing Gray CDC

• Kodi’s Emerger • Hook TCM 100 #22 • Thread Black VEVUS

10/0 • Tail None • Thorax Stripped Peacock

Quill • Abdomen Black tying

thread • Wing Case Few strands

white Antron

Fly Patterns • Midge Nymph • Hook TCM 100 #22 • Thread Black VEVUS

10/0 • Tail None • Thorax Stripped Peacock

Quill • Abdomen Black dubbing • Wing Case None

• Beadhead Olive Scud • Hook TCM 200 # 16

Curved Scud • Thread Olive VEVUS

10/0 • Shellback Midge Flex or

other translucent olive material

• Body Olive Ostrich herl • Rib Gold wire fine • Bead 3/32 gold

Fly Patterns • Peeking Cadis • TCM 100 #16 Thread

Black VEVUS 10/0 • Weight 0.15 lead about

15 turns • Rib Medium gold wire • Thorax Streamside hare’s

ear plus dark dubbin hare’s ear

• Thorax Lime green dubbing

• Legs Brown partridge • Head Black ostrich

• Egg • TCM 2487 #16 • Thread White VEVUS

10/0 • Egg D’s Flyes Super Egg • Size 16-18 • Color I use both Orange

or Cheese

Fly Patterns • Zebra Nymph • TCM 2487 #16 and #20 • Thread Black VEVUS

10/0 • Rib Fine gold wire • Body tapered tying thread • Bead 3/32 gold for #16 or

1/8 for #20 • I also use red thread with

copper bead and wire

• Lights Out • TCM 100 #16 • Thread Orange VEVUS

10/0 • Tail Black Krystal Flash • Body UV Ice Dub black • Rib Hot orange wire • Head Orange thread