The fishing on Crane has come into its prime in the past few weeks, and it’s as good a time as any to head to the Cascade Lakes to escape the heat and get into quality fish. The warm weather has continued to make the algae bloom on Crane a factor, but it is fully manageable for those fishing out of a float tube, kayak, or boat. Trying to avoid the murkiest water and areas of the most concentrated algae is ideal, but with fish concentrated in the channels there is opportunity to fish Chironomids, Callibaetis, and other buggy nymphs under an indicator to get below the layer of algae in the upper portions of the water column. There is also good opportunity to fish streamers and leech patterns with intermediate or sink tip lines. Retrieving flies won’t produce the number of fish that nymphing will, but can be a fun way to mix things up throughout the day, while targeting some of the larger Cranebows we’re all after.
Suggested Dries: Thorax Callibaetis #14-16, Almost Dun Callibaetis #14-16, Hi Vis Callibaetis #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, D&D Cripple #14-16, Last Chance Cripple #14-16, Peacock Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, Black or Cinnamon Flying Ant #16, Purple Haze #14-18
Suggested Nymphs: Black or Bird’s Nest Natural Depth Charge #16-18, Dark Assassin #16-18, Parallel Dark Assassin #16-18, Red or Black Ice Cream Cone #16-18, Yankee Buzzer #16, Black Zebra Midge #16-18, Bird’s Nest Hare’s Ear #14-18, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #16-18, Soft Hackle Callibaetis #16, Trigger Callibaetis #16, Olive or Black Balanced Leech #10-14