Finally made it to Crane

[JestersHK]

I've been obsessed with chasing monster trout for a while.  This past winter @BrandonSTL and I started the blue ribbon slam challenge.  After the winter I was down to 3 streams left. Crane, NFOW, and 11pt.  

My buddy and I were chasing sea monsters on Taney this weekend and the crowds in the morning were crazy with the water being off.  We woke up in the car after a quick nap yesterday and I called the audible to make the hour drive to Crane.  

On the way I texted a trusted source of knowledge here @trythisonemv and anxiously awaited he respond to my text!  I prayed he was awake and could help us two noobs on where to start.  He responded and we were all set.

We arrived to a locked bathroom and my buddies coffee kicking in lol, after a slight detour we parked around 9am and grudgingly started the process of wadering up.   I say grudgingly as at this point I think we had maybe 3 to 4 hours sleep in the past 3 days and it was well over 95 degrees and humid. 

After a 1/2 mile trek in the sun and heat us fat kids were sweaty so it was awesome to be greeted with a shady creek and cool water that was teeming with life. 

After struggling to find fish in 2 of the other blue ribbon streams it was great to see so many trout so quickly.

It didn't take us long and we both had our first fish landed.  They weren't huge but they were hardy and fought good. 

Robs 2nd fish was a 14in that took him for a ride.  All the fish we caught fought harder than any other trout their equal.  They just had a fire in them that day I guess,  but it was great fun. 

After about 3 hours and over 5 a piece for both of us we decided to end this little side adventure.  I was stoked with the catching,  and also crossing #7 off my list. 

#7 is right up there as my top favorite currently.  Wish it was closer and also wish I'd visited sooner. 

[LuvToFish]

43 minutes ago, JestersHK said:

I've been obsessed with chasing monster trout for a while.  This past winter @BrandonSTL and I started the blue ribbon slam challenge.  After the winter I was down to 3 streams left. Crane, NFOW, and 11pt.  

My buddy and I were chasing sea monsters on Taney this weekend and the crowds in the morning were crazy with the water being off.  We woke up in the car after a quick nap yesterday and I called the audible to make the hour drive to Crane.  

On the way I texted a trusted source of knowledge here @trythisonemv and anxiously awaited he respond to my text!  I prayed he was awake and could help us two noobs on where to start.  He responded and we were all set.

We arrived to a locked bathroom and my buddies coffee kicking in lol, after a slight detour we parked around 9am and grudgingly started the process of wadering up.   I say grudgingly as at this point I think we had maybe 3 to 4 hours sleep in the past 3 days and it was well over 95 degrees and humid. 

After a 1/2 mile trek in the sun and heat us fat kids were sweaty so it was awesome to be greeted with a shady creek and cool water that was teeming with life. 

After struggling to find fish in 2 of the other blue ribbon streams it was great to see so many trout so quickly.

It didn't take us long and we both had our first fish landed.  They weren't huge but they were hardy and fought good. 

Robs 2nd fish was a 14in that took him for a ride.  All the fish we caught fought harder than any other trout their equal.  They just had a fire in them that day I guess,  but it was great fun. 

After about 3 hours and over 5 a piece for both of us we decided to end this little side adventure.  I was stoked with the catching,  and also crossing #7 off my list. 

#7 is right up there as my top favorite currently.  Wish it was closer and also wish I'd visited sooner. 

Nice catch! Beautiful McCloud bows. Was there myself a couple weeks back for the first time and fail in love with that little piece of heaven. 

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, JestersHK said:

I've been obsessed with chasing monster trout for a while.  This past winter @BrandonSTL and I started the blue ribbon slam challenge.  After the winter I was down to 3 streams left. Crane, NFOW, and 11pt.  

My buddy and I were chasing sea monsters on Taney this weekend and the crowds in the morning were crazy with the water being off.  We woke up in the car after a quick nap yesterday and I called the audible to make the hour drive to Crane.  

On the way I texted a trusted source of knowledge here @trythisonemv and anxiously awaited he respond to my text!  I prayed he was awake and could help us two noobs on where to start.  He responded and we were all set.

We arrived to a locked bathroom and my buddies coffee kicking in lol, after a slight detour we parked around 9am and grudgingly started the process of wadering up.   I say grudgingly as at this point I think we had maybe 3 to 4 hours sleep in the past 3 days and it was well over 95 degrees and humid. 

After a 1/2 mile trek in the sun and heat us fat kids were sweaty so it was awesome to be greeted with a shady creek and cool water that was teeming with life. 

After struggling to find fish in 2 of the other blue ribbon streams it was great to see so many trout so quickly.

It didn't take us long and we both had our first fish landed.  They weren't huge but they were hardy and fought good. 

Robs 2nd fish was a 14in that took him for a ride.  All the fish we caught fought harder than any other trout their equal.  They just had a fire in them that day I guess,  but it was great fun. 

After about 3 hours and over 5 a piece for both of us we decided to end this little side adventure.  I was stoked with the catching,  and also crossing #7 off my list. 

#7 is right up there as my top favorite currently.  Wish it was closer and also wish I'd visited sooner. 

Great day buddy. Wished that I had pushed harder to get you to go to the other blue ribbon streams in the state. Would have loved to fished them with you.

[JestersHK]

Yeah John,  I was in a different place then chasing big fish.   I still am, but found a great love for chasing the native wilds after getting back from Colorado. 

I know these technically aren't true natives, but as close as you can get here. 

And they are beautiful fish indeed.  

[BilletHead]

24 minutes ago, JestersHK said:

Yeah John,  I was in a different place then chasing big fish.   I still am, but found a great love for chasing the  wilds after getting back from Colorado. 

I know these technically aren't true natives, but as close as you can get here. 

And they are beautiful fish indeed.  

      FIFY

  Nice you got into them DJ

[JestersHK]

Haha Thanks Marty,

I'll just refer to them as bait from here on out lol.  

[trythisonemv]

2 hours ago, JestersHK said:

I've been obsessed with chasing monster trout for a while.  This past winter @BrandonSTL and I started the blue ribbon slam challenge.  After the winter I was down to 3 streams left. Crane, NFOW, and 11pt.  

My buddy and I were chasing sea monsters on Taney this weekend and the crowds in the morning were crazy with the water being off.  We woke up in the car after a quick nap yesterday and I called the audible to make the hour drive to Crane.  

On the way I texted a trusted source of knowledge here @trythisonemv and anxiously awaited he respond to my text!  I prayed he was awake and could help us two noobs on where to start.  He responded and we were all set.

We arrived to a locked bathroom and my buddies coffee kicking in lol, after a slight detour we parked around 9am and grudgingly started the process of wadering up.   I say grudgingly as at this point I think we had maybe 3 to 4 hours sleep in the past 3 days and it was well over 95 degrees and humid. 

After a 1/2 mile trek in the sun and heat us fat kids were sweaty so it was awesome to be greeted with a shady creek and cool water that was teeming with life. 

After struggling to find fish in 2 of the other blue ribbon streams it was great to see so many trout so quickly.

It didn't take us long and we both had our first fish landed.  They weren't huge but they were hardy and fought good. 

Robs 2nd fish was a 14in that took him for a ride.  All the fish we caught fought harder than any other trout their equal.  They just had a fire in them that day I guess,  but it was great fun. 

After about 3 hours and over 5 a piece for both of us we decided to end this little side adventure.  I was stoked with the catching,  and also crossing #7 off my list. 

#7 is right up there as my top favorite currently.  Wish it was closer and also wish I'd visited sooner. 

Super glad to help dj. I am always up early and always glad to provide knowledge . that creek is truly a piece of Eden. Glad the tips and waypoints were productive! Some day we can hit the creek together and I'll show you where the really big one are 😁

[netboy]

Looks like a great trip.

The saying about the 3 stages of fly fishing is...

1. You want to catch the most fish.

2. You want to catch the biggest fish.

3. You want to catch the smartest fish.

[JestersHK]

34 minutes ago, trythisonemv said:

Super glad to help dj. I am always up early and always glad to provide knowledge . that creek is truly a piece of Eden. Glad the tips and waypoints were productive! Some day we can hit the creek together and I'll show you where the really big one are 😁

I'd love that!  We'll get synced up eventually!  I will say Crane was super clean too. I will bring a bag with me next time as I did see some trash by the bridge,  but overall very pristine. There is still a bunch of it I'd like to check out too.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

March was fun there this year. Those warm days had the caddis going crazy and the trout acting dumb! Glad you caught some!