What A Way To Start The Weekend:

[FishinCricket]

"Wanna try Crane Creek tomorrow?"

(you were thinking something different, weren't you? lol)

never have been to crane but have harped at the wife about it enough that she decided tomorrow should be a good day..

What can I expect? Should I even bother to bring the waders? Which access should I go to? Any pointers you can offer for tomorrow in particular? Any adjacent areas or creeks that I should also consider? Thanks in advance for the advice, am looking forward to trying this area on for size...

[duckydoty]

You will want to take your waders. A short rod is best. Some nice fish on the upper wire road access to be caught, but you have to sneak up on them. Be quiet and slow on the approach to the different holes. Fishing on your knees is a good idea. I fished the lower end a couple of days ago and did very well in numbers. Grey sowbugs size 16 and 18 worked very well along with bead head pheasant tails, but needed lots of split shot to get it down fast enough to drag bottom through the run. There are some nice areas that I like to fish downstream of the park below the bridge. You might want to try and hit all three of the public accesses. Bring some dry flies also. Elk hair caddis, klinkhamers or something like that in 14 to 18's. Glow balls work good also. Crane should be enough to keep you busy all day so I would not worry about any other streams to fish tomorrow. Good luck!

[FishinCricket]

Thank you very much for the information, DD.. I ended up taking the ultralight and the waders, but I left the wife in the car.. lol

I am proud to say that I only used one lure the whole day and had a very good first day on the crane.. I'll type up a report shortly..

[FishinCricket]

See, that's what I like about this place.. I decide on a whim (and on short notice) to post in here that I'm hitting Crane the next day and I immediately get two PM's with some GREAT tips about the how to's, and one PM offering to alter their fishing plans for that day so that they can come "show me around"...

Well, when I invite someone down to Bennett to "show them around", what I usually mean is "show them up".. lol, but not this guy! He was kind enough to meet me in crane and escort me around to all the holes as well as being scholarly enough to allow me first choice at every stop! I could come on here and brag about how I outfished him, but that isn't hard to do when the fish spook easily and I get first cast in every hole!

(I'll allow this kind gentleman to introduce himselfas my pro Bono guide if he'd like.. His option.)

I ended the day with 6 McClouds on my little Maribou.. Not just any maribou either, but one of a pack of 16th ounce black and white jigs that I bought from Lilley's Landing last month!

Seems like the trick really was to sneak up on them, the water was gin clear and each hole contained 1 to 4 really pretty and very active trout. They hit hard, the fought hard, and they jumped often.. Definitely a blast to Wade, I suggest wading upstream and being VEWY QUIET!

No pics this time, but I am considering making a pilgrimage there again soon, and this time I will be camera equipped..

[Chief Grey Bear]

Thanks for the kind words FC. I always consider it a honor and and pleasure to meet fellow fisherman from the forum, and in this case their signifigant others, to show them around my playground and fish.

Even though I only got one trout and one Ozark Bass, I indeed had the most fun showing you the area and putting you on some fish. That jig from Phil worked great. I tie my own but may have to make a purchase. It was indeed awesome to watch those trout attack so aggressively.

I am glad you had a great time and was not caught up Crane Creek Curse of a no fish day. Especially since this creek has seen a lot of action the last few weeks.

It was also my pleasure to run into Plugradt while fishing Crane. I had a very pleasant conversations with him and hope to see him out there again someday.