LAKE REPORT - 5/22/26

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Lake season is in full swing across Central Oregon and the warm weather outlook heading into the holiday weekend should continue improving fishing by the day. With the Cascade Lakes Highway open and access into East Lake and Paulina fully available, anglers are finally spreading out and seeing more consistent fishing.

Crane Prairie continues to fish really well with indicator and dry-dropper setups producing the most consistent action. Chironomid activity continues to build and fish are keying on them more regularly. Balanced leeches, small buggers, and stripped leech patterns are all producing fish, especially around flooded structure, channels, and emerging weed edges.

Warmer afternoons are starting to push more fish shallow, particularly around flats and transition zones. Damsels and callibaetis still aren’t fully going yet, but both are close and the next stretch of warm weather should accelerate things quickly.

East and Paulina have both produced some solid early season reports over the last week as well. Cooler morning conditions have favored leeches, chironomids, and slow stripped presentations.

Recommended Dries:
Double Chubbies #12-14, Para Cricket #12-16, Callibaetis Cripple #14-16

Recommended Nymphs:
Balanced Leeches, KJ Diawl, Red Ass, Zebra Midges, Fire Starters, Chironomids, Balanced Damsels, Mini Leeches

Join us this Tuesday, May 16th, at the Bend Shop for an evening of snacks, libations and a chat about lake fishing around Central Oregon, featuring F&F Owner Scott Cook!

Event Info.