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Over the last 50 years, Crane Prairie Reservoir has produced more
big trout than any other body of water in Central Oregon. At Crane
Prairie, the angler can put a variety of fishing techniques to good
use. And the payoff can be spectacular with rainbow, brook trout,
and abundant largemouth bass measured by the pound, not by the inch.
In 1928 the upper Deschutes River was dammed below a meadow named Crane Prairie, forming a reservoir which currently covers over 5 square miles. Trees, previously bordering the channels of the Deschutes, Cultus, and Quinn rivers, were left standing as LEFT: The calm water and reflected sunlight from silvery, standing snags provide a serene setting at Crane Prairie for this float tuber. RIGHT: Geoff Hill, editor/publisher, with a 20-inch rainbow. Photo by Vicki Hill BELOW LEFT: A fly fisher poses with a Crane Prairie rainbow before releasing it. BELOW RIGHT: Fly casters enjoy a calm day. Photos by Brian O’Keefe |
the reservoir
filled and now occupy about 10% of the water’s surface as silvered
snags. The abundance of deadwood and comparatively shallow water has
created an extremely rich environment for insects and plentiful
cover for the resident rainbow, brook trout, and largemouth bass,
creating an outstanding and unique fishery. One of the largest
species of this bird sanctuary, the sandhill crane, for which the
area was named, continue to nest here. Rainbow trout are stocked in Crane Prairie Reservoir every spring. Rainbow trout here can grow up to 2 inches a month during the summer. ...
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