Quest Pt. 2

[Chief Grey Bear]

Buzz, Dylan and I headed out early Sunday morning for Pt. II of our Wild Trout Quest. Gawl dang was it cold. Temp was in the low 20's with a sharp wind. For a 10 year old, I gotta say Dylan is a trooper. He never complained once about the cold.

We hit our fist stream about 9:00 after more than an hour or so driving. We all suited up and started the days activities. We struck out this time. Buzz caught one chub and that was it. We saw a few perch and minnows. We fished for hour and head back to the truck for some well deserved warmth. While there we discussed our next plan of attack and looked at our map.

We decided to head to our next stream. Off we went. We pull up and this stream is really small. Not what we were expecting. We spent some time looking for some holes of deep water. We didn't find any. Everything we saw was not much more than ankle deep. This was really disappointing as I really thought this one would produce for sure. So at this point we are 0 for 2.

So now we head for our third and final stream of the day. We looked around up near the head waters of this stream and it is just gorgeous. Man, what a trouty looking stream. We fished a little and move on. It is time for some corn dogs and rootbeer. Sounds crazy but Dylan says that is new official Trout Fishing Food. Corndog, Chili Cheese Frito's and a bottle of A&W Cream Soda and he is ready for Round 2! Oh and a Little Debbie Swiss Rolls for dessert.

We end up well down steam from where we started on this stream and we hit it again. And again, we come up empty handed. But we are not done with this stream. We decided we need to work it over again as we both believe there is some action there.

Beat by the Quest this time we duck our tails and hang our pride and head for home. On the way take a side trip and look at the lower end of Crane Creek. At a point about 5 miles or so from Crane, we can't resist casting a line. So we do. Buzz yells to me "Fish On!" I get excited and look his way. He hooked a nice brownie in the 13 inch range. Nice fish! About 5 cast later I hook myself a McCloud. Sweet! He too was in the 12 to 13 inch range.

We head up stream towards Crane looking at the creek. We get to the Dairy farm and I take Dylan down the water and have him try his luck at a good looking brush pile that has produced before. He makes a few casts and gets nothing. I then get him set up on a part of the bush pile that gets him to a spot he can work it better. He makes a few cast and still nothing. But on the next cast we both see a flash that is as big as a saucer. OH Baby was that a nice one. But the fish and the hook did not make a good connection and that was it. That kid had eyes as big as the frozen tundra working for that trout. But to no avail.

I promise Dylan I will get you hooked up with a wild trout. Hang in there buddy!

[Poke 'Em]

Beat by the Quest this time we duck our tails and hang our pride and head for home. On the way take a side trip and look at the lower end of Crane Creek. At a point about 5 miles or so from Crane, we can't resist casting a line. So we do. Buzz yells to me "Fish On!" I get excited and look his way. He hooked a nice brownie in the 13 inch range. Nice fish! About 5 cast later I hook myself a McCloud. Sweet! He too was in the 12 to 13 inch range.

I didn't know there were brown trout in Crane.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I don't think there are. I have never heard of a Brown trout in Crane. Don't recall ever reading about any Brown trout stocking either.

[jdmidwest]

Brownie is a slang term for Smallmouth bass. Bronze back, brownie, smallie, yellow bass, and others.

[Poke 'Em]

Brownie is a slang term for Smallmouth bass. Bronze back, brownie, smallie, yellow bass, and others.

oh. duh.

[DD'sMC]

Sounds crazy but Dylan says that is new official Trout Fishing Food. Corndog, Chili Cheese Frito's and a bottle of A&W Cream Soda and he is ready for Round 2! Oh and a Little Debbie Swiss Rolls for dessert.

A man after my own heart!

Hang in there Dylan. Good report Chief.

[strangercreek]

It seems that anglers are getting more resourceful after the constant generation at Taney last year. I have spent a lot of time over the past year and a half searching google earth and looking for different spots, with some success, but I have pretty much been sticking to Roaring River and Roaring River park recently. I don't know if anyone on here reads the reports from www.charteredwaters.com but he is posting alot about his "top secret" locations like they are everywhere. I guess the word will get out as more guided trips are taken in those areas. I only see so much water that is close to Branson but the region as a whole must contain alot more trout holding water.

I figure they will get enough traffic as it is so I will probably stick to the areas that people already know about but I really enjoy reading about the hidden streams, it's really interesting. Thanks for the info guys.

[strangercreek]

Does anyone read Brett's fishing reports on www.charteredwaters.com? I am not sure what to think

[Gavin]

No I havent read his reports till just know...If I wanted to track down his spot....I'd start with the creeks that feed Taney, nearby pay to play streams like dogwood canyon, and look for possible public or private access below...The water he's fishing isnt that big, and he's reporting lots of 14-16" rainbows and the occasional big fish from small water..That doesnt usually happen without some help from the stocking truck, restricted access, or both. Cheers.

[strangercreek]

that is kind of what I was figuring. They couldn't be that hard to find. I pretty much stick to the same areas but it is a nice thought to scout out some other water when Taney isn't wadeable and Roaring River is closed. I guess it is good marketing on his part though, seems to attract a crowd.

There are only so many creeks in the area unless they don't show up on Google earth, but you can usually make out the features pretty well. I have wondered about the creek that runs south or southeast out of Hollister. It seems some fish would move up into those areas.

I have caught rainbows on Roark as far up as the tennis courts in the park (small stocker size)