Andrew324

Here we go

Went out there today. HERE IS THE DAMAGE Any thoughts on how this will affect the stream and fish?

The James River is quite high. Anyone been down to Crane to see what its like? I'm curious to drive out today to check it out.

I was down at the park around 7:30-9am on Saturday 4/23. When we first got there the bridge was closed, but then the water dropped and we got to the store to pick up tags. It did start pouring pretty hard around 9am and I was catching fish on nymphs and globalls, but it started to lightning hard and we left, went to Salem, then finished the afternoon at Meramec. Both the Current and Meramec were blown up, brown, and turbulent.

No word back. They were just going to shoot an email to the agent who lives in Crane. I wish I could've know it might be otters. Feel kinda stupid if it is, but that was a a good deal of fish. Can otters carry lots of fish like that? It was maybe 30 or 40 fish. I don't know how many ponds there are around the lower wire road. Maybe a few other anglers will see this thread and be able to distinguish next time something like this happens. I have been standing in the parking lot of the lower wire road stringing up my rod when a guy stopped on the bridge and dumped water/fish into the stream and drove off. That was way back in November. But I do know otters are not uncommon on Crane.

Notified the Southwest Regional office. Hopefully we can keep this kinda junk from happening. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Was at the lower wire road access and saw that someone had dumped a what looked to be 20-30 crappie over the bridge. Dead fish everywhere. Is this legal? Should the conservation be notified?

I stopped taking pictures of every fish I caught when I dropped my camera in Taneycomo. Now I just pull out my cell phone if its a REALLY nice fish, otherwise I try to play and release as fast a possible.

Nice report. What mega pixel is your camera?

Always enjoy these videos. Thanks for putting this up. Everytime I see ol'Kosovich anywhere besides campus, he's holding a nice brown or rainbow. Ha! Thanks again Brian.

Wow! Looks looks like you had a good day out there! I have been enjoying the shape of the creek lately. Those are magnificent fish. Ray is a great guy! One time he left a whole paper towel full of flies for me after a long day of fishing the creek. Every one of those flies has produced numerous fish since then, and I haven't ran into him again to thank him. I like having those stream side chats with him just as much as fishing there. His dogs Rusty and Jake are funny too!

I am looking to buy a 3wt rod, preferably a 7-8ft rod. What should I look for in a good 3wt? Any favorites or suggestions? Looking to get this to fish small streams. Thanks!

Tell more!!!!

Growing up in Missouri I was always taught to respect people's private land. In "A Paddler's Guide to Missouri" it lists Crane Creek as a possible float, but they list the first access point at Hwy CC, which is lower than all the public fishing accesses. They list the section from 413 to CC as not recommended for due to low water. Getting a canoe through all that in regular water is a joke, and no serious paddler would do it, let alone an angler trying to make a point. There is enough public access on Crane to satisfy any angler I think. Although I never fish the park hardly, I do think it would beneficial for the landowner to get a little purple paint. On a separate note, the James River Basin Partnership will be organizing another cleanup of Crane Creek sometime in the next coming months, to get all those tires out and stuff. I will post on here when I know more details, I exchanged info with a few guys when I was on lower Crane this weekend.

Awesome Fish!

Great Report. I had the catch and release all to myself on opening day this year when the horn blew. It was almost like it was reserved for me. I really enjoy sight fishing those lunkers in Zone 2 as well. I am stoked for dry fly fishing as well; onward Spring!

I slipped down to the lower wire road around 4:30 and fished till dark. Had success with caddis patterns and nymphs. Looked like caddis were everywhere. Water is way up. Beautiful sunset.

I do agree with ozark trout fisher, I think sometimes when trying to "match the hatch" that size is more important than color, etc. and when I have seined Crane usually all the nymphs are tiny. But I do think that its fine to fish bigger flies on Crane. I tie my nymphs as big as 10 and usually fish 12, and have had all kinds of fish hit mohair leeches tied big. Tim told me a few weeks ago he likes bigger flies on Crane, and I agree. I have the most success on Crane when I switch and experiment with flies and weight. It's tedious work and its the kind of fishing people don't usually like. My friends poke fun of me when they think I spend more time messing with my flies and rig than actually fishing, but it usually pays off. The other day at Taney I spent an hour in the pouring rain fiddling with that, and right when my buddy was ready to split I started getting fish on every presentation. I think those fish at Crane aren't overly picky about what you throw at them. What I think matters is stealth, staying out of the water, presentation and movement. My family is from around the Rolla/Vienna/St. James area. I need to hit ozark trout fisher up the next time I fish those small blue ribbons in that area.

I fished the lower access this morning before heading to Roaring River to fish for the day. I must have left before you swang by, I could have given you some of my flies! When I can get off campus, I fish Crane a time or two every week or so. As far as the deep fast water, I sometimes tie a heavily wieghted nymph or streamer onto some monofilament. I got that idea from Joe Humphrey's Trout Tactics and its worked a few times, but mono's thin diameter means less air and water resistance, and less chance of un-natural drag. You just kinda have to adjust your cast waiting to feel the tug of the fly on your backcast, but every spot on Crane requires you to adjust your cast right? Roll casting is hard with mono though, that's the downside. Crane teaches me lessons everytime I go there, and I think it makes you a more precise and observant fisherman to fish there. Big fish at Crane for me are like the first time you kiss a girl, you wonder to yourself "did that just happen?" And it doesn't happen on every date.

I also made it down to the park on Monday. Had a blast fishing the catch and realease as well, sight fishing those big ones in that zone is way more fun trying to trick dinks into nipping a glo ball. I even went up to the hatchery to get a lunker trout patch after releasing this big momma.

Slipped out to Crane today. Fished a few hours catching good little fighters, trying and experimenting with flies and weight, got most on nymphs and a few leeches. Put on a beadhead nymph with some moss green dubbing I stripped from iridescent chenille and mixed with hare hair, really good looking thing. Caught my personal best, maybe 17". Is it a male or female? I battled it for a bit, and my heart was pounding. After releasing it I sat on the side of the creek laughing to myself.

I actually had a good day a the opener at Roaring River, despite there being crowds. I started in the catch and release area when the horn went off and I was all by myself, and landed some really nice fish right off the bat. I actually had riffles and runs to myself in zone 3 too. The nice thing about being a fly fisherman is that you can fish water and wade where others don't; so many anglers probably think "that water is too shallow" not noticing the large silver flashing going on under the surface. I think a lot of people just cast to the fish they can see, but when your nymphing hard and landing more fish than any spin casting angler, it gives you one of those "yes!" feelings. Yeah the opener is shoulder to shoulder if you want to cast micro-rods to pools full of 400 fish, but if you bring your waders and hit that overlooked water, its all the sweeter. I was literally landing fish on darn near every drift, and I fed my girlfriend baked trout tonight. But, I will say after today I will be ready to go back to seeking solitude and releasing fish back into the stream, it was a change of scenery thats for sure.

Already tied a few mohair leeches with that crazy leech yarn Tim, they look great! Can't wait to try them out. I had a good opener today, started out in zone 2 just having fun playing big ones, then about 7:30 I went below the bridge and had complete runs to myself! I was fishing water that I guess no one thought held fish, but I saw those big boys nymphing about and threw all my best nymphs all with success. I released alot of fish and kept my best ones. Great weather too. Good night to eat some fish and drink some suds.

My tuesday morning class is canceled. WHAT A SHAME. Can't wait to be there when the bell goes off, talking with other anglers, sipping hot coffee, and perhaps landing a few nice fish. Any flies you recommend Tim? I'm bringing a standard arsenal of PT, HE nymphs, wooly buggars, glo-balls, mohair leeches and the like.

Thanks for all they advice everybody. Looks like I will be tying a few more clouser's tonight. I just plan on fishing off and on, but this trip is mostly myself and my assistant trip guide taking students paddling.