5.23 Report

[Nick Adams]

I had the day off but got a late start. I headed down to RR late morning. I got there around 11. It was overcast and threatening rain. I had a new 6'6" 4wt road I've been waiting to try out. I drove by Crain, but it was up and while I love Crain on paper, my daughter reminds me that I never catch anything. Teenagers: harsh, but true.

I wanted to try the C/R section as I don't often fish that. I went to the run a couple hundred yards up from the bridge. It looks a a tree washed in from recent rains.I started with a red San Juan on an 1/80th oz jig head. l did well on it earlier this spring but no takers. Switch to an orange bead-head. Nothing. It was so overcast it seemed like dusk. I tried a beetle near the tree and had a few swipes but no hookups.

Around noon I started noticing a fluttering mayflies and surfacing fishing. They were very aggressive moving several feet to take a live fly. I had a 16 BWO, but it was too big. I got a ton of looks, but no strikes. I had a fish jump over my fly twice. Exciting, but not as exciting as actually catching.

I looked for something smaller. (In retrospect, I should have had an emerger of some kind. Shipment coming tomorrow from BigY). All I had was a Griffith's Gnat, so I tried it and finally hooked up. He actually missed and came back for it, which was fun. Then very loud thunder and a lightening flash told me it was time to leave.

All in all, a fun trip. I forget how "real" the C/R section feels compared to the rest of the park.

[netboy]

Try a size 18 parachute Adams next time.

[2sheds]

Gorgeous trout.

Glad your new #4 6-6 has proven itself.

Will be looking forward to some reports from Crane.

[Nick Adams]

It casts pretty well/far for such a short rod. It's a Bass Pro White River Fly Shop Classic and I got a Maxcatch ECO Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel from Amazon. Turns out to be a nice little combo.

My Crane reports will probably consist mostly of "I spooked some fish and lost some flies in the trees/weeds/bushes/parking lot/ball field/etc."

[2sheds]

I spook more than my share, but slowly learning the requisite  patience.