Early season conditions mean the fish up on Crane are still spread out, but we have been seeing increasing success as spring progresses. We’ve had several guides out on Crane recently reporting solid days with quality fish. The preferred strategy continues to focus on covering water to find fish, and staying on them once you find a group that is willing to eat. Retrieving wooly buggers and leech patterns with intermediate lines are the best way to cover water, have a rod with an indicator set-up at the ready for when the fish reveal their location. If you catch a fish or have a couple of hits in one area, getting chironomid and balanced leech patterns under an indicator in the same area should produce some beautiful fish.
Be aware that the Deschutes County Road Department is aiming to open both Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road this coming Thursday, 5/10. This will open access to East and Paulina, as well as provide a little bit of a faster way to access the Cascade Lakes!
Suggested flies: Olive or black wooly bugger #8-10, olive or black hale bopp #8, olive or black BH mini leech #10-12, dark assassin #16-18, red or black ice cream cones #14-16, red or black yankee buzzer #14-16, black or olive balanced leech