1st Trip To Crane, What A Gem!

[trout_bum]

Its hard to believe that just about a month ago the upper wire road access was completely dry. I came down last Sunday afternoon and did very good. I enjoy coming down after the creek floods to see how much it's changed. The last flooding really did a number on the city park and the baseball fields. There used to be a small pavillion in the park on the other side of the metal foot bridge that crosses over the creek. It is now upside down about 100 yards downstream on the opposite bank lodged between two trees. Most of the fences in the ball fields were laid over from all the rushing water and debris. A lot of trash has washed into the creek in and below town. Next time I come down, I will probably bring some trash bags and pick up trash as I walk the banks.

[OKFlyFisher44]

That is crazy that the upper access was dry just a month ago! We walked quite a ways upstream on sunday and there was fish the whole way up! Once that water starts flowing those fish get on the move! I think the creek would be amazing if it could keep the flows that it had on sunday most of the year.

That makes me sad to think that the upper access is dried up most of the time, I had a lot more fun fishing the little pocket water than I did fishing the lower access with the deeper runs. Which I'd imagine that once the flows drop, the lower access becomes pretty similiar to how the upper section is laid out.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I've seen it dry a bunch. Good to see some flow.

Great story. Nice fish. (Those are 'purdy).

Brian

[MaxDrown]

Very much enjoyed your report. Thanks for posting it. Can't wait to try out Crane Creek!

[drew03cmc]

I am jealous!

[zsmith62]

It's great to see some reports coming out of Crane, I miss being able to fish there more than anywhere else I cannot get to anymore. I had only fished there 4 or 5 times last year, but really fell in love with the place. Someday, when I am able to access the stream again, I will. I just see it more rewarding to catch a fish out of there that is so small than just a run of the mill stocker at some of the other places around here.

et84, that second picture was great. I hope you don't mind, but I cropped whoever's butt that was out of the picture and copied your idea of using it as a desktop. You are right, it makes you feel like you are there.

I actually have a question for someone who is more familiar with Crane creek than I... Not too long ago, I was reading Danny Hick's "Ozark Blue-Ribbon Trout Steams" and came across something in the Crane section that seemed a little odd...

The book was copyrighted in 2002, but when describing the fish, he says: "Crane is not a large stream but it grows big rainbows; some are reputed to exceed 10 pounds, and that is likely accurate." He then goes on to say something about how he would walk the stream and see fish in anywhere from the two-pound range, all the way up to 8-pounders! He says something about how he had noticed that within the last couple of years, the fish have been seeming to shrink, because of what he thought was poachers, otters, and the extremely low waters that the creek experienced in the 90's. Hicks said he had fished there all the way back into the 60's, but it seems to me he hadn't been there in quite a while, at least not since they had shrunk down to their current size. My question is, were they ever that big? What caused the shrinkage?

[ColeM.]

I am pissed that I didn't get to go. When you guys want to go again, I am there!

[OKFlyFisher44]

My question is, were they ever that big? What caused the shrinkage?

I believe that they used to be that big and there are still some good fish in the creek, we seen some nice fish on this trip. Spooked a few fish that were 20+ inches...easily.

[laker67]

I actually have a question for someone who is more familiar with Crane creek than I... Not too long ago, I was reading Danny Hick's "Ozark Blue-Ribbon Trout Steams" and came across something in the Crane section that seemed a little odd...

The book was copyrighted in 2002, but when describing the fish, he says: "Crane is not a large stream but it grows big rainbows; some are reputed to exceed 10 pounds, and that is likely accurate." He then goes on to say something about how he would walk the stream and see fish in anywhere from the two-pound range, all the way up to 8-pounders! He says something about how he had noticed that within the last couple of years, the fish have been seeming to shrink, because of what he thought was poachers, otters, and the extremely low waters that the creek experienced in the 90's. Hicks said he had fished there all the way back into the 60's, but it seems to me he hadn't been there in quite a while, at least not since they had shrunk down to their current size. My question is, were they ever that big? What caused the shrinkage?

Hi Zack,

In the early to mid 80's I have witnessed a handful of fish in the 5 to 7 range on the very upper end. With the creek being so small it was virtually impossible to get close enough to fish successfully to them. Kerry Daniels and I have literally crawled to the edge and used the flip and dip technique. Even at that they usually spooked to the undercuts. Charlie Reading caught a 4 pounder during this same time period. It is the largest that I know of being caught. He has the picture in his fly shop. During this same time period, the lady that lived above wire road, raised trout in raceways on her property. I suspect the larger fish came from her. We were invited once to view her hatchery, and she had about 6 fish around 5 pounds and several smaller fish. I caught a brown at the tressel bridge that was close to 3 pounds, where that fish came from, I have no idea. I have not returned to crane in years.