Fishing Report 20 July

[Kurt]

Hello all-

This is my first post here.... awesome info!

I just finished up an epic trip to Crane yesterday by myself. My brother and I ventured out there several years ago, and I remember the upper Wire Road access all dried up along with a stream that was trying to hang on. To my surprise, Crane is now flourishing into a wonderful habitat for these beautiful McCloud 'bows. It just goes to show how hardy and wild these fish really are.

I started out behind the baseball diamonds and worked my way upstream past the main bridge. All-in-all, I landed 9 and hooked another 3 or 4. Some of these little buggers think that they are steelhead... once hooked, they swim as fast as they can right toward you, spitting the hook, and giving you little or no chance of landing them. It's great!

Everything that Kevin has mentioned is great advice for this little creek. I, myself, used a hopper most of the day with an extremely long (4') 7x dropper. I switched between a red San Juan worm and BH Hare's Ear for the dropper.... both successful.

The key to fishing Crane is patience.... stop, listen, look around, think about how you are going to make that next sidearm cast under that tree in order to make a soft enough presentation. You only get once chance here, and these fish will reward you with amazing flips and long, powerful runs for their size.

The highlight of the day was a bow destroying my hopper a split-second after it landed, missing the set, casting to the same spot, and then landing the largest fish of the day, around 13".

A word of advice... pinch down your barbs.

Here's a picture that I quickly took from Monday.... enjoy.

Kurt

[Danoinark]

Excellent reports, sound advice, thanks fellows.

Kurt welcome to the forums.

Dano

[zsmith62]

Great advice Wheatenheimer, but I've got one more question. . .

Should I leave the waders at the house or not?

[Wheatenheimer]

First of all, thanks to all of you that have taken the time to read and reply to this posting........when it comes to Crane Creek, I can talk all day (or type all day!)

Zach- It is a matter of preference on whether you want to bring the waders or not. I did not take a water temp reading while I was there Sunday but I will tell you that after about 4 hours of fishing my feet were feeling a little numb.

I work outside for a living and I have the same feeling on waders as I do on rain gear. I would rather be wet by the elements than to be wet by my own sweat. Although, keep in mind, Crane is very thorny, very buggy and just down right unaccomodating to people who are bothered by those things.

So if you don't mind a few scratches on your legs, a few ticks to pick off and the sudden shock of chilly water hitting your nether regions, leave the waders at home. If you choose to wear your waders, by all means do so.......who am I to judge someone that has a lick of common sense!

Kurt- Welcome! Sounds like you had a great day on Crane! By the way, I could not agree with you more on your views about smashing barb's!!! Thank you for adding that. I'll tell you why this is such good advice. Not only is it easier on the fish, but it is easier on the back of your head when you think you are making the perfect cast and you end up driving a size 12 Wooly into your nugget! This has happened to all of us!

Keep your expectations low when it comes to catching vass amounts of huge fish, this will just not happen at Crane. Have the mindset that you are going to explore a beautiful, freeflowing, wild spring creek that happens to have some wild trout in it. Cherish every fish that you may catch and with wet hands, gently hold it, gaze at it and quickly turn it loose, no matter how big or small it may be. This is a very, very special stream that we are blessed with!

Once again, thanks to all!

Cheers,

Kevin