Seeing a Surprising Amount of Calibaetis on Crane Prairie

Crane Prairie Reservoir - Sunriver, OR (Deschutes County)


by The Fly Fishers Place
5-28-2021
Website

I’m seeing a surprising amount of Callibaetis on Crane Prairie. I started fishing Crane in the 80’s and my college fishing buddy and I used to fish it every thursday morning with a crew of old guys from the fly club. Chester and I were in float tubes and Clyde, Dick and Warren were in prams. They drank Screwdrivers and we drank chocolate milk and ate Hostess mini chocolate doughnuts. And we were all there for one true reason: Callibaetis. 
It was epic. 
For many years the Callibaetis were in huge declines there. Since the 90’s I never counted on Crane being a good callibaetis lake. At least consistently. But these last couple of seasons I have seen more and more, so I am hopeful for a true comeback. When my friends Milt and Otto were in the boat this week we saw a lot of Callibaetis hatching, and pumped one fish that showed it was all she was eating. My friend “Blue Anchor Bob” said he found the same thing this week. Good news. 
Fishing is pretty good as long as the weather is stable. And it will be now. 
Balanced Leeches (black, brown and olive), Chironomids and Callibaetis plus now is the time to really start fishing the damsel nymph too.





The Fly Fishers Place Reports
for Saturday, May 22nd, 2021

Metolius River: The Metolius is Fishing Really Well
Deschutes River- Lower: The Salmonfly and Golden Stone hatch is in full swing
Deschutes River: The Upper Deschutes opened this morning
Fall River: Fall River is Fishing Well
Crooked River: Crooked River is Fishing Good
McKenzie River: McKenzie is Fishing Well
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Crane is Fishing Okay
Hosmer Lake: Hosmer Should Be Opening This Week
East Lake: East Lake Fishing Report