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Fall for Crane Prairie

© Louis Bignami

On October 14th a year or so back three fishermen took at 10 pound, 7 pound, 6 ½ pound and five 12 to 15 inch rainbows trolling Rapalas in Crane Prairie that, while one of the ugliest sagebrush and mud bank reservoirs in Oregon, when drawn down to low fall pool, can be one of the most productive. It's awkwardly located about 46 miles from Bend near Davis and other good trout, kokanee and bass lakes. Visitors should either plan to camp in the primitive sites near the two north side boat ramps, or at Cow Camp. Crane Prairie Resort is good so long as it's open and there's a huge camp ground with two boat ramps here too. Otherwise stay in nearby towns for several, or try other nearby trout and bass waters on a single trip. Bird shooting isn't a bad choice either.

Fishing Crane Prairie, a big relatively shallow irrigation impoundment on thDeschuteses anCultusus Rivers eases when the weather and waters cool and big rainbows chase bait near the surface. The usual method is trolling either flies or big rainbow trout finisRapalasas or Rebels on four to six pound test. Usinsteelheadad sticks to move plugs out of the wake seems to improve results. Once the water drops below 60 fishing is pretty much an all day activity - we fish from dawn to nine and from five to dark with bird shooting during the day.

The other solid trolling option is with trolling flies behWiggleFineFin® scoops to improve the action. Most of the usual trolling patterns work, but the resort shop, like those in Bend, sells special patterns.

Side finders are a major advantage here for casters and trollerhaven'taven't much surface action after the midge hatches of September and October slow. These help spot fish for accurate casting, at least they do away from the jumble of stickups here.

Bait's always good and the key as the water levels drop is fishing near the deeper channels. Bait fishing mostly done with floats offers good tkokaneed kokanee chances for shore anglers. The best baits are insect larvae such as damselflies, or the usual Power Baits®, corn or salmon eggs. Worms work well too and, when the water cools down below 50 degrees meal worms or maggots on size 14 hooks produce.

Bass fishing is another option with the stickups on the east shore and the rocky dam the choice. The usual trout finish plugs work well for the typically three to five pound fish. Crayfish tails handle the bait fisher's needs.