Is Crane Prarie done for the year?

[Whopper Stopper]

I'm taking my 10 year old daughter for a weekend to central Oregon and was thinking of a half day on Crane Prarie. Is the water too cold and the fall bite over or is there a better option in the area?

[Dave Smith]

Was up there last week. the water was around 56 degrees and the bass were doing they're normal routine of hanging around rocky points in the am- and still biting. Might want to try Wickiup- up by the dam and fish around any (few) deep stumps- that all had fish on them. Good luck! Dave

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the info Dave. You provided excellent info on my favorite North Coast lake a couple years ago and helped me have some of my best bass fishing days ever. Due to the elevation, would I be better off stopping by Pine Hollow or Rock Creek on my way over on Thursday instead to trying Crane or Wickiup on Friday????

Thanks!

Jay & Abby

[Dave Smith]

well I would say that you would have a better chance of finding schooled up fish at RC or PH. When I was at crane it was getting down in the 20's at night and I was tent camping- not that much fun but I will probably go back one more time- he he. Good luck whatever you do! Dave

[SeaBeast]

I love Crane Prarie!!! Best of both worlds-trout and bass.
If the bass are off...as they tend to be up there this time of the year; you can get into some of the best trout fishing of the season. Water will be down and you wont have to travel the whole lake looking for the trout bite. Fish the chanels... they go on the feed big time as it gets cooler getting rdy for winter

[Dave Smith]

The trout fishing was at it's worst of the year. The fish aren't concentrated in the channels (brookies, yes, cranebows, no)because the whole lake is cool. They get in the channels in July/August.