Crane Prairie Reservoir

Bass were illegally introduced into this Central Oregon Reservoir and has created quite a controversy. Standing timber is all over and provides most of the angling targets, but a few secrets are left for less pressured fish. Big rainbow trout were always the draw to Crane until the word started getting out about the size of bass seen here. Fish numbers have decreased overall belived to be caused by a topeworm inside the increasing numbers of sticklebacks in the lake. Bass and trout can not digest the tape worm left behind after eating the sticklebacks. Pelicans, Cormrants, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles also consume high numbers of fish here so the fish have to adapt quickly and stay out of the clear shallow water as much as possilbe or they end up bird food. Bass tournament anglers and trout anglers still flock to Crane every year to catch a trophy fish because they are still surviving and growing large despite the enviromental issues.