Crane Prairie

DukAddict · 02-21-2005, 03:46 PM

When does Crane usually start to thaw out? Thanks

Brett Neffendorf

BuKuBass · 02-21-2005, 05:00 PM

It's usually clear by Opening weekend. Can't fish it before then anyway and it's too late to hunt there.

Notice that regs have been changed to allow only ONE rainbow over 16 inches.

DukAddict · 02-21-2005, 06:41 PM

Im searching for bass anyways not rainbows... WHen is opening weekend? I havent even managed to get my regs!

BuKuBass · 02-21-2005, 07:07 PM

"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was!" (Sorry, had a Talking Heads flashback.) The fourth Sat. of April, altho I seem to recall that once upon a time, CP was considered to be a "high lake" and that season usta open in late May.

DukAddict · 02-21-2005, 07:32 PM

Hows the fishing around the first few weeks?

Thanks for the info.

baltz526 · 02-21-2005, 08:04 PM

the guys that still fish it say it is very slow for trout and the bass start up pretty late. opens april 23 closes oct31. 1 trout over 16" in other words the bass have killed the trout fishery and it is a waste of time.

BuKuBass · 02-21-2005, 09:21 PM

The bassin' usually doesn't turn on until late May, early June when the pre-spawn kicks in.

DukAddict · 02-22-2005, 07:49 PM

What kinda things are the best to use in may and june?

BuKuBass · 02-22-2005, 08:42 PM

Use slower presentations: T-rigged Power worms, horizontally drop-shotted (is there such a term?) senkos, jig'n'pigs, suspending crankbaits.

bucketmouth · 02-23-2005, 08:16 AM

Spinner baits slow rolled along the length of lay downs can be a dynomite pattern.

MacFish · 02-23-2005, 08:54 AM

My son and I caught 14 4-6 pounders in 2 days last June on white spinner baits off wood in coves on the east shoreline. We didn't fish any plastic but I suspect it would have produced also.

jaybee · 02-23-2005, 09:35 AM

June can be a great month there. We've caught plenty over four pounds. Senkos and sluggos are pretty easy to fish. Many folks do well on the white s/b's just as others said. There are some big tourneys there in June, so if you go then, check the schedules.

lost_sailor · 02-23-2005, 12:18 PM

Formerly a premier trophy rainbow fishery.

I trust there's a special place in hell for the person who illegally introduced bass. Now the whole river is threatened, yippee.

baltz526 · 02-23-2005, 05:59 PM

wickiup reservoir now is a bass lake and catfish/ bullhead lake. i don't know if the channel cats are surviving but the last time i fished wickiup i saw a channel cat about 16". the larger bass are in wickiup according to my neighbor. he catches them trolling a large black jig with a silver blade.

jaybee · 02-24-2005, 10:19 AM

Hi, Baltz. I've thought about fishing Wickiup before, but didn't see I ramp that I felt comfortable launching from (I found one in a C/G that was full of trailers parked in circle with no place for me to move or park). I was also nervous about depths and possible bouncing my skeg on the bottom since the lake looked so low. But... I've heard great things about the bass fishery!!! So, any tips on where to launch and where not to navigate?

baltz526 · 02-24-2005, 05:41 PM

people waterski wickiup reservoir so it is very navigable. the only good boat ramp is on the east side of the campground at gull point.there is another boat launch at the dam but if the wind comes up it is very hard to take your boat out there.if you are going to fish it, remember to fish the flats for the large rainbows.i let the wind drift the boat accross the flats and cast rapallas or simular sinking lures and the very large rainbows and browns are there.browns early and late. rainbows midmorning to early afternoon.the bass are where bass always are and they hit what they always hit. catfish on nightcrawlers,kokanee on jigs, trolling, and wickiup sandwitch white corn piece, worm piece, crawdad tail or marshmellow.drop to bottom then reelup 3'while anchored off a point where you see the other boats anchored.