Camp and Fish at Crane Prairie Reservoir

Crane Prairie Reservoir is one of the top-producing rainbow trout fisheries in Central Oregon. The record rainbow to date weighed just over 19 pounds, so there is a good chance of catching some lunkers while visiting here.

The lake is located on the Deschutes National Forest, approximately 30 miles southwest of Bend, OR.

The lake is not very deep (11-20 feet), but the fish have good cover and plenty of insects. It's best to fish from a boat or float tube, stripping small woolly bugger patterns on a clear camo fly line and or nymphing 2 Chronimids under a bobber. These have been the two best ways to fly fish for these lunker trout.

Fish near Crane’s distinctive submerged trees and close to the shoreline when the water is high. In low-water conditions, look for the river channels (best found with a fish finder). If you look up the lake on Google Maps in satellite mode, you will see these channels as they will be darker than the rest of the lake. Fish hold here when the river warms up.

There is a lot of free camping around the lake as well as a lodge, small store, and a place to get fuel.