A treasure chest of trout waters, Oregon boasts legendary fly-fishing streams that include the lush, emerald-green Rogue, the sparkling McKenzie and the mysterious, back-of-beyond Owyhee. The rough-and-tumble Deschutes has its fans, too, especially among the steelhead crowd. But seldom do you hear much about the Deschutes’ ugly cousin, the Crooked River. It’s my personal favorite of the Beaver State’s trout streams, and it sits atop the list in part because the hordes are understandably put off by its outward appearance. The Crooked is a tributary of the storied Deschutes, sharing its volcanic origins and stark desert context, with some runs through canyon country.
This prototypical desert trout stream offers a different sensory experience
