Crane Prairie Tips

The wife and I will be camping at Crane Prairie Memorial day weekend (still a few spots left at rock creek campground if you're looking for a getaway) Does anyone have any tips or tricks? I have searched the forum here and seen some monster fish caught but am curious if my usual methods (trolling spoons, wedding rings, etc) will work or not. For being such a big fish destination I am having trouble finding good info on it.

I am also excited to break out the "bug wand" and try that as well from the kayak also.

If your fly fishing with a strike indicator or casting with a bubble ,a fly like Chironomidae larva (size 6-12,they can be huge or tiny! Match the hatch.) under the surface about 3-5 ft is how lots of fish are taken.fish in the trees.wooly buggers or other minnow imitation will be good also. Casting spoons and rapalas are worth it too. Check the flyshops in bend, sun river and they will point you in the right direction or get you set up with the right flies if you stop in.

The wife and I will be camping at Crane Prairie Memorial day weekend (still a few spots left at rock creek campground if you're looking for a getaway) Does anyone have any tips or tricks? I have searched the forum here and seen some monster fish caught but am curious if my usual methods (trolling spoons, wedding rings, etc) will work or not. For being such a big fish destination I am having trouble finding good info on it.

I am also excited to break out the "bug wand" and try that as well from the kayak also.

(trolling spoons, wedding rings, etc)<<<< these definitely work. I would also add to your arsenal.. Rapalas in a few different sizes, colors that seem to work for me are the sliver/black, gold/black and the trout looking ones both rainbow and brown colors. Thomas spoons in a variety of colors and sizes also work pretty well along with some rooster tails.

The store at the Twin lakes lodge usually will have the go to colors/sizes of the Rapalas and Thomas spoons but you do pay a premium for them, they are also pretty good about sharing what the go to gear is doing best for the area. I have not fished Crane Prairie as much as I have Wickiup and the Deschutes & Davis arms, but have been very successful at all areas with the above mentioned gear. Have not got the opportunity to bug wand them but I imagine you would be very successful with it especially during the hatch.

A little cheese/garlic ball or night crawler of the bank in the evenings never hurts either. Hope you have a great time, we did not get up for opening weekend this year but I heard they slayed them.

Thank you both for the tips! That is very helpful! I will for sure be stopping by Sunriver on the way out there, and also will go by the twin lakes lodge to pick their brains and buy a few things for the help 

I definitely do the rapala thing but have never trolled them with any depth aside from what they naturally dive to, just sort of behind the kayak picking up trout and smallmouth along shorelines. not sure if that will work here or if there's a better way at this lake? from what I read it's fairly shallow for the most part unless you're in the channels.

Thank you both for the tips! That is very helpful! I will for sure be stopping by Sunriver on the way out there, and also will go by the twin lakes lodge to pick their brains and buy a few things for the help 

I definitely do the rapala thing but have never trolled them with any depth aside from what they naturally dive to, just sort of behind the kayak picking up trout and smallmouth along shorelines. not sure if that will work here or if there's a better way at this lake? from what I read it's fairly shallow for the most part unless you're in the channels.

You will be fine, even in the channels. Just long line it a little and give the rod a tug every know an then to give the lure some action. Its called the Rapala Twerk 

Thank you both for the tips! That is very helpful! I will for sure be stopping by Sunriver on the way out there, and also will go by the twin lakes lodge to pick their brains and buy a few things for the help 

I definitely do the rapala thing but have never trolled them with any depth aside from what they naturally dive to, just sort of behind the kayak picking up trout and smallmouth along shorelines. not sure if that will work here or if there's a better way at this lake? from what I read it's fairly shallow for the most part unless you're in the channels.

You will be fine, even in the channels. Just long line it a little and give the rod a tug every know an then to give the lure some action. Its called the Rapala Twerk 

Good deal! Thank you!!

Looking forward to also catching some LMB that I hear get pretty big in there.

I had some good luck in the Cultus Creek channel casting fire tiger Krocadile spoons.

I had some good luck in the Cultus Creek channel casting fire tiger Krocadile spoons.

Thanks for the tip! I have some of those so I will be sure to sling them around as well.