Crane Prairie is fishing fairly well. Algae is still present and the water is still too warm in many areas of the reservoir. The storms the past week have helped to cool the water a bit. We could use a lot more rain to cool things down. For now, focus on deep areas in the channels. Callibaetis and terrestrials are the main surface flies. Expect the main callibaetis hatches in the morning with a few closer to the evening. Terrestrials can work at any time but fish are most eager to rise during cooler parts of the day. Damsels on the surface can get some attention as well. Chironomids and balanced leeches are working great in the channels. If the chironomids fail you, switch to a dark assassin or a callibaetis. The shallow water where damselfly nymphs are abundant is still too warm for fishing. Fishing a damsel deep is less likely to see success but it could still fool some trout. This week starts cool and then goes back to heat, hopefully, we get storms during the hot days that cool things down. Rain is great but it won’t do much to improve water levels, we live in a snow-dependent watershed, a large snowpack is what we need to beat this drought. Remember that campfires are not allowed right now, one ember can easily become the next record-setting wildfire when conditions are this dry. 

 

Recommended Dries: Parachute Callibaetis #16-18, Hackle Stacker Callibaetis #16-18, Chubby Chernobyl Patriot and Purple #12-14, Para- Cricket #16-12

Recommended Nymphs: Bruised Ballanced Leech #14, Two Bit Hooker #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, Super Sinker #16-18, bead wing midge #18-20, Red Pheasant Tail #14-18, Rainbow Warrior #18-20, Red Ice Cream Cone #12-16, Callabaetis Nymph #16-18, Balanced Damsel #14, Dainty Damsel #14, Scotts Damsel #14