Crane Creek

[Dewayne]

Lower,(to me anyway)would be south of Crane upper would be north.

I was on the lower access off of Swinging Brideg Rd.I drove to the upper one but there was hardly any water even after all the rain we got last week.

[Motor City]

Fished the upper section of Crane in December during the warm spell. My buddy and I spent the day there. Found some nice fish in a few deep holes, however it was sunny and they were very spooked. He was hanging over the water and I am sure the fish knew we were there, even though I told him to chill out and back off. Funny part is he hates snakes, and I was wondering when we would see one. He found the first cottonmouth on a stump on the waters edge and nearly had a stroke. He said he was finished and going home. I told him to relax, these snakes would hardly move as they were trying to warm up. 5 minutes later one swims into the water right out from under his feet as he was trying to drift a fly into these fish. It was comical to see him freak out again! Anyhow, saw some fish. Nice ones in the water in the upper stretch. Could not get a sniff, but did get some looks, and one strike. Couldn't fill the order. Went to the lower water by the dairy farm later in the day. That water looks so fishy, but nothing. I have my suspicions about that stretch.I think it gets worn butt out myself.

[brooktrout]

I agree, the lower water near the dairy farm looks fishy, but either gets too much pressure or is suffering from the drought. I was there in January on a warmer day for a little scouting and drifting. I did not see another soul fishing all day. Caught a few creek chubs but that was it. I didnt see a single bow rise. Even through a light hatch of no see ums. It is beautiful, and peaceful. Just thinking about it and I cant wait to get back. Kinda reminds me of the freestone creeks back home.

[SilverMallard]

The creek is in much better shape now than it has been in years. But I haven't seen fishable trout populations there in a LONG time. I've read some other guys' reports of catching a few trout here and there, but I have walked that creek and fished the creek from the city park to the confluence with the James River several times in the past couple of years and I have seen ONE trout rise. And that was a huge BROWN down near the confluence in a deep hole. Very puzzling, but my eyes were not playing tricks on me. I was standing right above the hole probably no more than 20' from the fish when it surfaced gently and dropped back into the deep water. I got a very good look at it. It was about a 30" Brown! A fish like that can do some damage to Rainbow fingerlings in a delicate fishery like Crane Creek. Then you have the otters. I watched a young otter fishing last weekend. He nailed at least 6 fish in the 15 minutes I watched him. He's in the lower Wire Road CA area about 1/4 mile below the bridge...prime Rainbow water historically. I'm thinking it will be worth the effort to see if perhaps the trout have moved over into Spring Creek. So I'm doing some research along those lines to figure out the topography and access issues over there. If I can figure out how to get to enough of it, I may go scout it out a few times and see what happens. I know the trout do shift back and forth between the two streams depending on conditions. But my fear is that the trout pop is just dangerously low due to the past few years of drought.

[Flysmallie]

Then you have the otters. I watched a young otter fishing last weekend. He nailed at least 6 fish in the 15 minutes I watched him. He's in the lower Wire Road CA area about 1/4 mile below the bridge...prime Rainbow water historically.

That's the one that I saw last time I was down there.

[drew03cmc]

Well, more news on our favorite secret, not so secret trout stream? I only ask because I am dying to get down and fish it for a day or so.