We’re seeing warmer and warmer water temperatures on Crane and getting to the point of putting a greater focus on fishing the channels. There are still fish throughout the lake, but they’re starting to concentrate in the deeper water, which is a great place to start the day in hopes for a few quick fish. Indicator rigs with Chironomids and Balanced Leeches are the preferred way to fish the channels, as it is important to control depth to get flies within a foot or two of the bottom. Their are Damsels out on Crane, and are seeing decent success fishing the shallow areas of heavy cover and dead timber that the Damsels hatch on. The cooler weather has slowed the hatch a little, but I would expect to see more Damsel activity as the weather warms over the next week. A slow stripped nymph on a floating or intermediate line can produce fish. We also like to fish a dry dropper or light indicator rig to dial in the depth and movement of the nymphs when fish aren’t looking towards the faster presentation of a retrieved fly. Callibaetis are starting to show in good numbers, and there is opportunity to fish dries on certain afternoons. Terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles will also find the occasional fish on top.
Suggested Dries: Parachute Callibaetis #14-16, Hackle Stacker Callibaetis #14-16, Thorax Callibaetis #14-16, D&D Cripple #14-16, Last Chance Cripple #14-16, Parachute Adams #14-16, Purple Haze #14-20, Peacock Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, CDC Flying Ant #14-16
Suggested Nymphs: Black or Purple Zebra Midge #16-18, Black or Red Ice Cream Cone #14, Juju Chironomid #14-16, Hare’s Ear Depth Charge #14-16, Dark Assassin #16-18, Parallel Assassin #16, Bird’s Nest Hare’s Ear #14-16, Two Bit Hooker #16-18, Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-18, Hare’s Ear #14-18, Balanced Leech #10-14