The Crooked River is more often than not starting to really slow down in late December and January do to icing and really cold water. Not this winter…. So far so good on that and fishing conditions remain solid with generally mild weather in the region.
Midges are the top food item this time of year, but baetis nymphs like a micro mayfly or 2 bit hooker or skinny nelson are great year round nymphs on the Crooked. Scud populations have made a good comeback with the good water levels and an olive or orange scud is a great nymph to use too. Sometimes it is awesome to find a pool and strip your scuds. They swim well and trout are used to ambushing that food source as the scuds travel around the river.
As long as we stay mild look for black midges to hatch late afternoon and fish should respond to the hatch by rising to the emergers or adults.