Crane Prairie fishing has been good. The fish have definitely been affected by the heat wave. They are moving into the deeper channels and they typically aren’t extremely active during the afternoon. Dry fly action isn’t amazing but terrestrials and callibaetis can get some bites. Spent damsels can work as a searching pattern and could produce a fish or two. Chironomids and callibaetis are tried and true on Crane. Dark assassins work to imitate a large variety of aquatic insects, a couple of these belong in everyone's lake box. Balanced leeches and damsels can produce amazing results. Damsels on a slow retrieve can also be amazing. The algae is still a hindrance but it has started to lighten up in certain areas. Make sure you’re fishing in deep water, shallow areas are more than likely way too warm for proper catch and release fishing. Fish should be landed and released as fast as possible so that they can return to cooler waters. The long range forecast shows that we may see some average temperatures by the end of this week. Let’s hope we can all have some relief from the lingering heat. 

 

Recommended Dries: Parachute Callibaetis #14 - 16, Hackle Stacker Callibaetis #14 - 16, 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