Andrew324

Thanks for the input Gavin. I think I will reconsider this trip for a later date.

Maybe Brian can answer these questions: I'm thinking of doing a weekend trip where I secure some boats at Greer Access, then travel to Turners, leaving the vehicle there. Then I would hike the 2-3 mile road back up to the Ozark Trail Trailhead on CO/FS 3152. Taking the Ozark Trail back towards Greer, I would arrive back at the boats and campsite Saturday night. Camp that night, and float the section of the river on sunday from Greer to Turner. Thinking about doing this is late august (hot i know). And just a few questions for anyone who might know: 1. Would the Ozark Trail be horribly overgrown? Especially the bottomland section. I tried to find trail conditions on their website, but its down or something. 2. Is the camping at Greer crazy? (Really busy, nutty partiers, etc) I assume it might be, if its free, but how would you rate it? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Sorry its not too related to fishing.

The only thing I don't like about the TFO Pro is that the ferrules of the rod seem like they don't fit all the way together. In reality they do fit but its just one part of the graphite rod blank isn't finished so it looks weird. Its just a cosmetic thing really, but other than that it rocks. Its also always good to buy local, and I have heard great things about the RDP rods.

Welcome to the sport and forum Aro- I like your profile picture. I majored in philosophy as an undergraduate. I liked Kierkegaard. I own both a TFO pro 8'6" 5wt and a Sage Flight 7' 3wt as well as a dogwood canyon 9' 6wt. I would agree with 3wt about getting a 4wt rod. There are times when I wished I would have bumped up the Sage to the 7'6" 4wt, but my 3 handles large fish just fine, especially with the slick Lamson reel I have on it. I was in your position once when I didn't know "how much" I was going to get into fly fishing, but I would say that it would be better to have a decent TFO than to just sit on the dogwood. You'll notice the difference, and that difference may even make you want to fish more. Also, you buy the rod new usually and you get the benefits of different company warranties. Used rods might still be fixed by the companies, but it might cost you a little more. TFO's warranty is great and so is Sage (even though I keep the warranty cards). I would recommend TFO with a Lamson reel. Solid stuff. You will have it for many seasons.

Fished Mill again yesterday (Sunday, July 3rd) because I had to go back up to Vienna to celebrate our independence with my family. Fished in the heat of the day and did well considering I only had about an hour of time. Ran into a nice older gentleman with his son or grandson with him, they told me that the fish weren't biting, but I didn't find that to be the case. I hooked up with several nice fish in the 10-12 inch range. Below if a photo of one of the nicer ones. I was again using bead head PT nymphs with 7x fluoro. I have the next two days off from work so I might go try to tick Spring Creek and Little Piney off my list. I have a goal like mic, except mine is to hit all the public trout water this year.

I decided to try out Mill Creek this evening, on my way back to Springfield and found myself at Bohigian Conservation Area. I was wet wading completely, swim trunks and sandals and the stream felt so good. I caught trout ranging from 2 to 10 inches, maybe around 25 or 30 all on nymphs. It was fun fishing in the fog of the evening. First time at Mill and really liked this stream. I fish Crane regularly and the fish at Mill were hungrier, less spooky, and packed.

Thanks Brian, that means a lot. I was super inspired by all your videos. I could watch those trout odysseys on repeat! Unfortunately the GoPro belongs to Missouri State, so the only thing I should really use it for is official work stuff. I'm thinking of getting my own because they are awesome!

Made my day Phil!

Thanks to everyone for the positive reviews! I fished the creek tonight *summer solstice* and had great luck on pheasant tails and adams. There is a nice little spark of small white mayflies that comes around 7pm. I could not get any fish on streamers tonight, they really seemed to love those pheasant tails. They were size 12 with brass bead heads and gold wire instead of copper. No video tonight though, its nice to just fish and not worry about getting something on tape.

I don't use a net, but I plan on buying one here someday. I have always liked the Frabill 3407 because it is relatively inexpensive and looks like a perfect catch and release net. Although I suppose if you want to be the ultimate returner of fish unharmed, you could try hookless flies or pegging beads.

The fly that is shown is a #12 caddis larvae thing. I've tried matching the caddis larvae down there to the T, but they seem to like something that looks meaty. The fish that jumped was a good one, I was fishing a 7' 3wt, and it was on a olive wooly buggar. On a side note, the camera is a GoPro. And it really shines when you strap it onto a mountain bike!!!

Made a little promo for my job. Has shots of an evening on Crane. Nothing spectacular but enjoy!

Welcome to the forum and to the Ozarks Wooly Bugger. I could be wrong but I think the park is never closed, I mean I don't think they have a gate. (it could be officially closed at night, but I've never had problems) You may have the local Crane police or Stone County Sheriff ask you what your up to if you come walking out at 2 in the morning. haha. I always park on the ball field side. Lots of lights, usually people there late at night, kids playing b-ball. I have found the night fishing to be mixed right now. There is an increase in rises, and if you pm me I'll tell you where my fave spot is. At night I usually throw a bugger or mohair leech. Since I posted this post last week I have fished the creek three nights since then and usually the fishing picks up right after dusk.

Mic- I seem to get bigger fish on the drift, and smaller guys on the swing. I think this is because the bigger fish remain low and in the prime feeding zones, while the little ones stay back and get the left overs. I can't think of a time when I caught a large McCloud on the swing, it usually happens in the drift. But that is the nutty thing about nighttime. I always read that large fish come out to play, and it is sure true on Crane. Although I don't know many people who would be attracted to fishing that stream at night with all the trees to snag on. I'm going to dedicate a few more hours now when it gets dark, even though its sometimes spooky to be out in the woods like that. I will report on any upcoming nighttime action.

Fished both lower wire and city park tonight. Started a 4pm. Lost a giant that I thought was going to snap my 3wt. I was kicking myself, but the rest of the night made up for it. Landed 3 adults ranging from 13-16" all throughout lower wire and the park, as well as numerous dinks. Night time was when it really started to pick up, I mean really, rises to a massive mayfly hatch everywhere. Didn't have many dries with me, so I stayed down. I used the same fly all night, haha. It was marvelous. #10 mohair leech with olive green marabou tail and some crazy New Zealand leech yarn that Tim gave me (thanks Tim!). The yarn is green with red mixed in. Oh yeah, bead head added for extra SINK. Sorry all OAF's for no pics, feel bad about posting without them, but this was by far the best night I have ever had on Crane. No sign of any cicada's if anyone is wondering. Would be interested also to hear if anyone ever fishes Crane at night, and any tips you might have.

I have started to wet wade now at Crane because of the heat. The fishing was superb last week right when the fog started rolling in on the water in the evening. Nice report, that park section holds good fish. Got any pics?

I just recently got into fly fishing about 8 or 9 months ago, and my new years resolution is to fish all the public trout water in Missouri. So, my girl and I decided to float the upper current this past weekend, and I could knock another stream off the list. (I count Montauk as separate, knocked it out Easter weekend). We put in a Baptist Camp on Friday evening, paid Darrel Blackwell at Jadwin Canoe to move my S-10 to Akers. Really nice guy. We were on the river as soon as the fog started forming above the water, and we camped at the nice sandy gravel bar where Ashley Creek spills into the river. We drank Miller High Life cans and ate pasta salad. I had floated the Current many times growing up in Missouri, but this was the first time I had ever tried fishing it, let alone with the fly rod. Had to use a ton of weight to get it down to the bottom. I'm talking two .025 lead wrapped moss green mohair leeches, with several .10g shots, and a glo-ball strike indicator to boot. I landed mostly wild rainbows I think, just because they had sleek colors and frosty fins. Had a ton of fight in them! Kinda bummed I didn't hook into a brown, since I havent caught one yet. Saw lots of cicadas in the water struggling, but no noticeable rises to them. Was very hot during the day and the fish seemed to get the summertime afternoon lockjaw. All in all a great trip. Now I'm setting my crosshairs on the Eleven Point. Muhahaha.

I'm thinking of coming down tomorrow regardless of the rain. I need any excuse to fish my new Sage. Tim- any advice for fishing in the rain?

Hot darn! What kind of rod do you use? I just bought a 7' 3wt Sage Flight especially for Crane. Great to see another awesome post and photos!

Great report and gorgeous fish! I have been taking your advice and tying bigger heavier nymphs. Perhaps that will coax more of those 18" Mac Bows to strike! Oh and happy birthday! Looks like a great present.

The creek is not muddy but it is off color. It does look really gorgeous right now. Your buddy hit the nail on the head. The creek is definitely different, and most of the old log jams did wash out. There are some new obstacles, but all in all really good. Those were the only size scuds I had with me. I usually just fish size 10 or 12 hare's ear's, and beadheaded things i call "emerald nymphs" that kinda look moss green with crystal flash, kinda like a cracked out caddis larvae. OkFlyFisher - Do you mess with nymph shot, or do you find that the weight of your fly is all you need? Troutfiend- I KNOW!!! I graduate with my B.A. on Friday and I have three weeks until graduate classes start. Can anyone say trout odyssey? Haha.

Fished the lower and upper wire road sections yesterday. Had luck with nymphs (big surprise) more than buggars, scuds, globalls, and midge's. Took several strung together to get them down quick enough. The water is flowing really hard even though it is finally dropping. I imagine in a few weeks the creek will be really good. It was tough to find fish as there is alot of new gravel and they are still hiding around structure and in deep holes. Green is good. Tan not so much. Lots of new downed trees in the lower wire road, but lots of new riffles and runs that were previously jammed up. Upper wire didn't seem to change much, caught a few little dudes there. Definately an influx of scuds, every rock I picked up had about 10/1 scud/caddis larvae. But, I had small #16 & #18 brown scuds that they would not take. I will attach photos as soon as I can size them down.

Yeah the two fallen trees that used to span middle of the lower wire road access were moved significantly. I would guess the creek is up around 5 or 6 feet. And judging by the grass it probably peaked at ten or dare I say fifteen feet. It will be a whole new creek in a few weeks. It was really ironic because a week ago I had the best night on Crane. I caught 5 fish in 5 consecutive casts right at dusk, it was perfect. Too dark to take pictures of the fish though, they were nice sized males. Dang old camera phones. The above pictures were taken on my girlfriends polaroid digital.

The park was closed or else I would have got pictures. I'm guessing the water got up to the swing sets. I think your right Brian. I saw several fish actually taking stuff off the top. The stream will change, but I doubt the fish move that much. Probably just swim to the side.

and again