Advice

[Nick Williams]

Heading to Crane in a couple weeks. Never been there so I'm looking for advice on access points and where to fish, flies, rigs, etc. Any and all advice is appreciated!! Thanks guys!

[duckydoty]

There are two public conservation area accesses. One above town (Upper Wire Road Access) and one below town(Lower Wire Rd Access). You can also fish the creek along the city park in town and behind the baseball fields. Some small dry flies and some heavy nymphs to fish deeper faster water. Czeck nymphing is a great technique for fishing Crane in the deeper faster runs. Be very careful when approaching the pools you want to fish as not to spook the fish. Crane fish are not as line shy as most trout park fish, so you can get away with heavier tippet. That can be handy to pull them out of log jams before they wrap you around some logs and break you off. Good luck to you!

[mic]

I haven't been, but fish the other small creek in the state. If you can, keep the sun in you face so you don't throw shadows.

[Bamboozle]

I differ a bit in that I find the fish to be quite line shy. Typically I also find that they will spook to water you move by walking, shadows, fly hitting water too hard etc.

Good news is that in shallower water these fish are not super choosy about flies and will take dries pretty readily.

Please fish barbless and try to keep fish in water when you land them. The more fish who don't get injured the more fish for all of us to catch.

[Nick Williams]

So a list of flies anybody? I'm not big into buying, so getting some tied up before is my game plan. I look forward to the challenge of it though. I'm sure it'll probably be a crash and burn but trial and error is what makes us better. And don't worry about the barbless, I take care of the fish I catch, regardless of where they're from.

[grizzly]

Well, approach them cautiously as you won't see a trout otherwise.

As for flies: #16 pheasant tail nymph, #16 GRHE, and I would bring in some caddis larva and pupae patterns. I like Oliver Edwards Rhycophila Larva and Sili Skin Caddis.

Like Ducky said, the aren't line shy. I usually fish no smaller than 5x, and if the water is up a 4x fluorocarbon will work fine. But, I use long leaders to avoid "lining" trout, and I think your approach and drift are the most important things.

[timsfly]

I've been catching em on #8 woolybuggers(black)

#10 red San Juan worms, # 8 possum bugs, and a #10 hares ear, all with 1/8" tungsten beads, water is up a bit, the extra weight is needed right now.

[grizzly]

Nick, one more thing. I made the switch to crimping barbs on my hooks years ago and think that my hooking ability improved. I honestly cannot think of the last time I lost a fish because of a lack of a barb. Plus it is easier to release fish. So it is a win win in my eyes. Try it the next time you are out, you'll be surprised.

Sam

[Krazo]

i second Timsfly. i like a little more weight than usual with the high water. i too am a big fan of the san juan. I also like a little double trouble & will fish a pheasant tail or hares ear behind it.

[MarkinKC]

I've shared this before, but I got skunked on my first two trips to Crane. Be stealthy and enjoy the challenge!