Crane Prairie Reservoir

CITY

La Pine

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Callibaetis

Gray drake

Longhorn caddis

Dragonfly

Midge

Scud

Leech

Baitfish

Ant

Midges and leech patterns are the ticket at this time of year, with a few caddis pupa imitations thrown in, and maybe a Callibaetis hatch or spinner fall. When using mide pupa patterns, select size 18-20 flies. The best fishing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If the water is warm, fish will stack up in the Deschutes and Cultus channels and around the Rocky Point area. You might pick up trout by wind drifting Woolly Buggers at the mouths of the channels. Brown, dark olive, or yellow-olive are good colors.

One productive tactic is to slowly retrieve a Blood Midge on a long leader (15 feet minimum, maybe more) with a floating line (no indicator) so the fly creeps near the bottom. You'll need a floating line if you retrieve this slowly because even an intermediate will sink too fast. This tactic can also work with a size 16 Pheasant Tail.

As the lake begins to cool, trout will scatter. Keep moving when this happens. The trout are there; keep hunting, and don't give up.