East Lake was pretty hot this week, but all over the board on flies. Some days it’s callibaetis dries, and it can change from spinners, emergers or duns. Some days it can be all 3 which is great.
Winddrifting an intermediate line with 10′ of straight 5x tied to an Olive Flashback PT on the point and running a dropper of a Poxyback Callibaetis on the leader about 4 to 5 feet above the point fly. Also, both of those flies are great in shallow water stripping over the weed beds during the hatch.
This has been my best week of Chironomid fishing so far in 2018. I have often seen an uptick on the Chironomid action near and during August in years past. So this is consistent with what I’ve seen going on.
Ants have been good, as well as Beetles along the bank.
In the morning, we’ve been getting fish up on Midge Dries/Emergers.

Hosmer was a little off for us this week. Not bad, but not what it usually is.
What we are seeing is spotty callibaetis action mostly in the afternoon, good damsel action especially on nymphs, good black caddis in the evening, some traveling caddis  and Caenis mayflies at dark.
My Black Butte Callibaetis dry is a good searching fly as you move around the channel.

Crane was better this week, which was good to see. I had some friends and a co-worker up there and they were getting fish on Damsels, Balanced Leeches and Chironomids and caught some fat fish.

East Lake is good to very good. Expecting an East Wind the next 48 hours so that sucks. I moved my guide trips around to avoid it because I believe the East Wind is such a negative impact on the bite.
We’ve been seeing good callibaetis action all around the edges of the lake. Any side is good but I’m finding the best action from the Hot Springs down the east bank to the Cinder Hill corner. White Slide and East Lake CG areas have been strong too.
Good callibaetis nymph action under an indicator in 4 to 10 feet of water kind of any time of the day.
Seeing the most hatch activity around 11 AM to 1 PM. I haven’t been staying past 5, but I’ve heard in the evening about 7 or 8 it’s also good.
Chironomid action is on but not super strong. Be patient. July and August are great months for Chironomids. Look for them to be really good in 14 to 18′ of water.
We are getting plenty of Kokanee wind drifting on a type 3 with an Olive Flashback PT (no bead). They are chunky this year and fighting awesome.

Steve was at Lava Lake a couple of days ago and it was good. Callibaetis, Chironomids, Balanced Leeches, Hale Bopp Leech and Damsels are working up there.

Hosmer is good except for all the damn kayakers. Plenty of Callibaetis, some Big Traveling Sedges, Ants, Beetles, Damsels galore.
We are also catching fish static under an indicator with Balanced Leech, Balanced Damsel (HOT FLY!) and Red Chironomids.

I’m sorry I don’t have a current update for Crane. I haven’t been able to make it and haven’t had any friends going either.

East Lake was a touch slower for me last week. Not bad, just not on fire like it was a couple of weeks ago. Still a lot of Callibaetis and all stages from nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners have been productive.
Chironomid action has been ok. Some days good for an hour or so in the afternoon and other days barely any action with my best flies. Maybe its the moon cycle as we close in on Full?
One thing that has been consistent is the wind drift on a type 3 full sink with a Flashback PT. Lot’s of Kokanee on this rig.
Water temp hit 60 this week. That’s good.
Algae bloom last Friday & Saturday but much clearer on Monday.

Crane is having a significant Algae Bloom. Best fishing is in the Deschutes Channel with Chironomids and Balanced Leeches. Damsels are good too.

Hosmer is good. To avoid the kayak crowd, go early at 5 AM and stay to 10 or 11 and head back on the water at 3-7 PM and stay until dark. Callibaetis both times, but expect good damsel fishing in the late afternoon.
We’ve been getting fish on beetles and ants, balanced leeches and balanced & regular (shank) damsel nymphs and red chironomids.

East Lake

East Lake has been good for me this week and last week. One of the days I was up there was quite possibly the best callibaetis hatch day I’ve ever seen. We’ve also been getting fish on Red/Black and Olive/Red and Black/Gold Chironomids in about 16′ under an indicator. I haven’t seen any flying ants yet. Maybe not warm enough up at 6400 feet. But we’ve had some good beetle action along the banks. On breezy days fishing a Type 3 full sink with a Flashback PT, Black Bugger, and a tiny Red Thread Midge has been productive with a wind drift.

Hosmer Lake

Hosmer Lake has been good all thru the lakes and the channel. Good afternoon callibaetis hatches and good action with Balanced Damsels and Balanced Leeches under a bobber with a red chironomid or flashback PT as a dropper.

Crane Prairie Reservoir

Crane Prairie is good in the Deschutes Channel with Damsels and balanced leeches mostly, but a lot of days we are seeing good callibaetis hatches too. Of course the Chironomid under an indicator is a staple on Crane.

East Lake is coming on now, water temps are mid 50’s and callibaetis are hatching near the hot springs area mid afternoon. Plenty of good indicator/chironomid fishing in about 10 to 12 feet now. We’ve been getting most on an Olive Chironomid.

Lava lake is fishing great with Callibaetis. Damsel nymphs, Leeches and Chironomids are all good too.

Hosmer is good, with CB’s and Damsels and some good terrestrial fishing.

Crane Prairie is also good in the Deschutes Channel with Leeches. There have been some decent to good callibaetis hatches and since this is CP we are talking about never forget your damsels and dragon fly nymphs .

Crane Prairie has been good in the Deschutes Channel and at Rock Creek. It has been very good with Black Leeches and Callibaetis Nymphs, with game on Chironomids, Dragon Fly Nymphs, Damsel Nymphs and possible Flying Ants.

East Lake so far has been experiencing a turn over and the lake is cold at the surface. The fish that are hugging the banks are spawning so I’d recommend giving those fish a break for a couple of weeks and let them do their thing. The thing is, the spawn is likely 90% or more unsuccessful, but the fish are stressed, skinny and weak during this time, and by leaving them alone they will be healthier and better fish in a few weeks with a great survival record when not being fished over.
It’s not all bad, certainly (non spawner) fish are being caught near the Hot Springs Ramp on Leeches and Chironomids.

Wickiup has been productive in the Deschutes Channel from Gull Point up to Sheeps Bridge. There have been some really good days on terrestrials. Callibaetis are starting up pretty good too.
In some of the coves up there, a bobber with a chironomid and balance leech is really good, or stripping buggers and rufus patterns is another good bet. I’d go with the Intermediate line usually, but be ready with a type 3 if the fish are deeper in the channels or side coves.

Lava Lake has been fishing well, maybe the best of all the lakes the last week to 10 days. It’s been best with leeches and brown chironomids and callibaetis nymphs.

Hosmer started off strong right after the gate opened but it appears it had a turnover last week and is a little off now. I’d guess by the weekend it will be clear and good to go with the settling of turnover combined with this great warm weather we are seeing.

3 Creeks was still frozen as of last week.

East Lake is open and I heard good reports yesterday from Day 1 with fish working the shorelines and shoals.  Leeches, PT’s, Chironomids and look for those tricky little March Flies on the surface again now. You may recall last spring the fish were on them hot and heavy.

Crane is getting better mostly in the Deschutes Channel with leeches and damsel nymphs and the beginnings of some callibaetis action. For sure the nymphs, but prepare to hit the hatch with the nice weather coming this week.

Lava is fishing well near the boat ramp and resort side and down the west sand shoal with leeches and chironomids.

We hear Hosmer is open as of yesterday but can’t confirm that nor have we had any reports yet.

I was at Crane yesterday and it was awful. No fish for us. A friend got 2 fish all day. That made me jealous (Ha!). Troy, one of our guides was up there Monday and it was awesome on leeches. So I think what happened in just a few days is the weather just got hot and bright suddenly and in the last few days there was a MASSIVE midge hatch that I would guess has the trout quite full. I’d give Crane a few days to a week to turn and try it again.

The gate to Lava opened today. I had a friend who rode his bike past the gate with his tube yesterday and he sent me some photos of some really nice rainbows. I can’t wait to get up there. Leeches and Chironomids are the ticket.

Davis is good, with the bass turning on, and the trout bite better. The reeds are starting to come up which is good for the bass. I would expect to see spawning bass very soon.

Wickiup is a good bet for early season up to Sheeps Bridge from Gull Pt.
Leeches, Chironomids, Terrestrials, Sculpins are going to be your best bets for now until Callibaetis are coming out.

North and South Twin are good fishing, especially for you tubers and pontoon boat anglers. Easy access and little wind and plenty of trout coming to wooly bugger patterns on sinking lines.

As far as I know there is no access to Hosmer yet. I flew over it last friday and it was 70% frozen.

East Lake is not open yet.

3 Creeks Lake is not open yet.

Crane Prairie is going to be a good bet for opener on Sunday 4/22/18. The lake has been ice free for several weeks and I was up there today and there is no snow. All boat ramps should be open with the resort and the Quinn River ramps favorites for us. Leeches and Black Chironomids are good bets for early season, with dragonfly nymphs another excellent choice if you are fishing around the trees.

Hosmer is still mostly iced over as of today.

East is 90% iced over and Paulina is 99% iced over.

Not sure if they opened the road to Lava but both Lava and Little Lava are ice free and nearly all snow free on the banks and parking areas.

3 Creeks Lake is still snowed in and 99% iced over. I saw a little ice free zone near where the main creek flows in on the south west side, but it will be at least a month I’d guess before that is opened up at that elevation.

Davis is wide open. Already some reeds coming up. That’ll be good for Bass fishing in about a month. Some trout being caught but not a lot at this time. Leeches are the best bet for sure.

Wickiup will open Sunday 4/22 as well. It looked good when I scouted it today. I’d say anywhere from the Gull Point up to Sheeps Bridge will be good fly fishing along the shorelines and in the coves with leeches and chironomids.

Not a lot of time left on some of the lakes. Many close on October 31st, so here is a rundown on how to hit the last of the lake opportunities and 2 lakes you can keep fishing until the weather really goes to crap.

East is always my favorite. Part of that comes from the fact I started fishing there when I was 3.
I had friends up there last week using streamers along the banks and catching a good number of nice trout.
Docks are out so launching a bigger boat is going to be hard. There was snow on the ground, but the storm over the weekend ended up warm so I would guess a lot of that melted away.
For the next week, the weather looks good and I’d put East high on the list.

Crane is good out in the Rock Creek flat over to Quinn and in the Deschutes Flat thru the Channel. It doesn’t sound like the fish are in the channels much from the reports I am getting. The fish seem to be mostly coming on Leeches.

I was at Hosmer last week and it was pretty good. We got most of out fish on a red chironomid, but also on black leeches and on little brown beetles during the afternoon hatch. It doesn’t close october 31, so if the weather stays warm and dry in November keep fishing Hosmer.

Wickiup I’ve heard is pretty slow. I did hear of some guys getting fish on leeches under an indicator, but I also know a guy who was blanked several trips in a row. I’d go somewhere else.

North Twin is a good late season lake and won’t close Oct 31 so keep fishing up there in November and later as long as it stays warm like it is. Leeches and Scuds are good bets, but I would also fish some blood worms in about 6 to 12′ under an indicator now.

Clear Lake is off the radar for a lot of Central Oregon anglers. It shouldn’t be. Just 40 minutes at the most from our fly shop it is a worthwhile year round fishery as long as the weather is holding and conducive to getting in there.
The fish can run deep so at least a type 3 sinking line, and if you have something heavier like a type 5 or 200 to 300 grain 24′ sink tip it can be useful to get to the fish.