et84 Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 This is my first post, so I want to say a little about myself. Born and raised in Springfield, I have been fishing Crane since I was a little kid. My dad used to take me to the upper Wire Road access, and I can remember going to the Crane Broiler Festival every year. Needless to say, my dad is a fly-fisherman. I kinda lost interest in it when I was about 14. I never developed any real technique, but I did catch several fish in my day. I think I put the fly outfit away because of the cost. Anyway, back on the topic, my buddy and I have fished crane twice this year off Swinging Bridge Rd. by the Dairy farm, and at least one of us caught something each time fishing with in-line spinners. I'm not sure about my buddy's setup, other than a BPS Bionic Blade rod, but for Crane I use a BPS Micro-Lite Glass rod- 7'6" and a Browning Micro-Stalker reel spooled w/ 4 lb. green mono (you could make the combo new for around $40), then a size 1 bb swivel and about 12" of 2 lb. green mono leader. The first time we went was when it warmed up real good on a Saturday in early February. My buddy caught 2 small goggle-eye, a pretty fat bluegill, and a 16" McCloud. I think he was using a Blue Fox Flash spinner, size 1, but it might have been a Worden's. The next time we went was Valentines Day. We arrived right at sunrise but didn't feel to good about the creek once we saw it. It had rained a couple days ago and the water was about 3 ft. higher than it was last time, and it was MOVIN'! (not to mention the actual temp. being about 30, and windchill of 20) We fished til about 11:00 with no luck and started making our way back to the MDC Access parking lot. I was throwing a Panther Martin (my choice brand) Fly spinner, gold, 1/32 oz. with an orange & yellow dressed tail. The water was moving so fast, I had to put a small split-shot above the lure to keep it underwater. I pitched it about 80 ft. downstream from the bridge, where the creek gets really narrow, and BAM! It was a 14" McCloud, hanging out underneath some exposed roots from a tree on the bank. I would post pics if I had them, so you'll all just have to trust me. We seem to be cursed when it comes to taking pictures of McClouds. We got a picture of my buddy's on his cell phone, but forgot to save it. My brother accidentally pressed the wrong key on my phone when I caught the 14", and he flopped right out of my hands into the water. Anyway, I just wanted to know if there were any other anglers out there that fish Crane with in-line spinners. To my dad's disbelief, they DO catch McCloud trout. I know that neither of our fish were even keeper size, but they are the bigger than any of the ones I caught as a kid, so I feel good about them. We're thinking about going back this weekend 3/7, weather permitting. Good fishin' to all!!! "Sometimes it seems like such a hard life, but there's good times around the bend. The rollercoaster's gotta roll to the bottom if ya wanna climb to the top again."
Members jefly77 Posted March 6, 2009 Members Posted March 6, 2009 I fish crane about every two weeks and I don't fly fish either. I have had good success on in line spinners there. Mepps aglia's, panthers, and roostertails all have produced for me. Back in early december I caught a 21" male just past the real gravelly S curve below the dairy farm. I usually catch a couple of MCClouds, goggle eye, and suckers. I have also had good luck fishing really small silver spoons too.
et84 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Posted March 8, 2009 I fish crane about every two weeks and I don't fly fish either. I have had good success on in line spinners there. Mepps aglia's, panthers, and roostertails all have produced for me. Back in early december I caught a 21" male just past the real gravelly S curve below the dairy farm. I usually catch a couple of MCClouds, goggle eye, and suckers. I have also had good luck fishing really small silver spoons too. Awesome. Good to know there are others like me out there. BTW, I went to Crane today (3/7) and finally ended the curse of getting pics. Neither of my fish are as nice as yours, but I'm just happy I finally got ACTUAL proof. We fished lower, middle & upper Wire Road Access, and also the park for the first time. That's where the little guy came from. The dead snapper was by the middle Wire Road Access, about 200 ft. west of the parking lot/ bridge. Also, I caught two of the little toothy critters- are they pike? The last photo is a sculpin (I think), also from middle Wire Road. Everything was caught with the Panther Martin in the pics. "Sometimes it seems like such a hard life, but there's good times around the bend. The rollercoaster's gotta roll to the bottom if ya wanna climb to the top again."
ozark trout fisher Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Awesome. Good to know there are others like me out there. BTW, I went to Crane today (3/7) and finally ended the curse of getting pics. Neither of my fish are as nice as yours, but I'm just happy I finally got ACTUAL proof. We fished lower, middle & upper Wire Road Access, and also the park for the first time. That's where the little guy came from. The dead snapper was by the middle Wire Road Access, about 200 ft. west of the parking lot/ bridge. Also, I caught two of the little toothy critters- are they pike? The last photo is a sculpin (I think), also from middle Wire Road. Everything was caught with the Panther Martin in the pics. The, pike type fish is a pickeral, a close relative to pike. By the way, nice fish. I also like to fish Missouri's wild trout streams with spinners, although I haven't made it to Crane just yet. (I'm gonna this summer)
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