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Fly Fishing On The Crane Creek, Missouri

Crane Creek, Missouri Trout

Crane Creek Fishing Report Updated 03/23/24 (Bottom Of Page)

Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.

We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.

Type of Stream
Spring Creek

Species
Rainbow Trout
(Wild)

Size
Small

Location
South Central Missouri

Nearest Towns
Branson
Crane
Springfield

Season
Year-round

Access:
Good

Non-Resident License
State of Missouri

Weather
National Weather Service Link

Seasons:
You can fish this little stream anytime of the year.
Winter:
Fish can be taken throughout the winter mostly on midge imitations.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time to fish Crane Creek because of its many hatches of aquatic insects.

Summer:
You can catch trout during the hot
summer but the fishing is usually better early or late in the day.
Fall:
Fall is considered by many to be the best time for fly fishing Crane Creek.

Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or  6X Nymphing:  
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X

Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X

Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six

Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators

Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.

Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:

Email us  at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.


Copyright 2013 James Marsh

Fly Fishing Crane Creek Missouri
Crane Creek is a true spring creek known for its pure strain of wild McCloud River rainbow trout. This tiny stream is protected mostly by the fact it is difficult to fish. Most anglers will choose to fish one of Missouri’s stocked streams or drive south to one of the nearby tailwaters such as Tanneycomo or the White River in Arkansas. That is the blessing that keeps the little stream from receiving more pressure than it could probably handle. It is thought to be one of the only places left with the pure strain of California’s McCloud River redband rainbow trout.

Flies and artificial lures only can be used to fish the stream and the daily creel limit is one trout over 18 inches. You won’t see many on a stringer, that’s for sure.

The stream, tightly enclosed by trees in many areas, stays cool throughout hot summer days. When you need to make fairly long, accurate presentations using light leaders and tippet, the tree limbs makes casting a real challenge. There are areas of the stream where the stream is not so tightly enclosed but you will probably find they hold the least number of trout. The ones in the easy to access, open areas are very used to seeing anglers and flies. Fooling them can be an even greater challenge. Wherever you fish this wonderful little one-of-a-kind trout stream, please provide it all the care it rightly deserves.

Fly Fishing Guide to Crane Creek:
This is not an easy stream to fish. This little stream is a tributary of the James River. It flows through the little town of Crane Missouri in the middle of dairy farming country. You want find any fly shops down the street and you may not find many local anglers willing to reveal their secrets about fishing this stream. In fact, many of them would just as soon you went on down the road to one of the tailwaters in Branson or across the state line in Arkansas.

The trout are the pure strain McCloud rainbow trout but that isn’t what makes much difference in so far as being able to catch them. A wild rainbow trout is a wild rainbow trout. It is the stream itself that take a lot of getting used to. It is a fragile little spring fed stream that like all other spring creeks, is difficult to catch trout from or at least on a consistent basis. That is a good thing it has going for it because if it were not for that, it would probably be highly pressured. Its “flies only” and “catch and release” regulations help, for sure.

Naturally, stealth is very important, but there is a lot more to it than that. You must get close enough to a trout to present your fly without being seen. That isn’t easy to do in Crane Creek. There is nothing to hide behind except trees and bushes and that is where you fly will end up most of the time trying to do just that.

Making a cast in Crane Creek is difficult, much less doing it in a manner that a trout a few feet from you  isn’t going to see you. Another problem is that these little rainbows have a lot of places they can hide. They will go to the bottom of a pool or they will get behind a clump of tree limbs that have fell into the water.

Wherever you find one, it seems like it is impossible to get a fly to it without hanging up or spooking the trout. Some of this stream flows underground and is a problem many are worried about. It is also a fact that even though it has excellent shade in most places from the tree limbs enclosing it, it can still get rather warm. Some of the trees have been planted along the stream, indicating a lot of effort has been put forth to sustain the fishery. The spring water comes out of the ground at about 55 degrees year-round, but it doesn’t have to flow far on a hot summer day to get warm and in some places, too warm for the trout.

The fishing is far more difficult when the water is low and clear. It is easier to catch trout when it is high and slightly off color. That is one tip that may be worth more than all the others we come give you. If you can get by with it, don’t wade. Cast from the banks. In many places this is impossible but it will keep from spooking the trout as much when you can cast from the banks. As a final tip, I will say that this is a very good place to use a bow and arrow cast.

Crane Creek Hatches and Trout Flies:
Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in Crane Creek and in all stages of life that are applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call.  We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of the thousands of our customers will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726

The hatches on Crane Creek are diverse and numerous. One of the first to start the year out is always the mighty midge. They are very abundant thanks to the soft bottom. There are burrowing red blood worm midges and light green midges by the zillions.

Blue-winged Olives are the first mayflies to hatch. They can show up in January but are more plentiful in February and March. Look for them to continue into April and May but they will be different and larger species. There’s also a late season hatch in September and October.

Little Black caddis show up in April and early May. Cinnamon Caddis start hatching in June and continue through the Summer through late September. Green Sedges are also plentiful in Crane Creek. The rock worms, or larvae of the Green Sedge or Green Caddisfly is worth imitating year-round.

You will find sowbugs and some scuds in the stream. These can be imitated year-round with good success at times. Sculpin, several species of dace and other baitfish are also plentiful.  

Terrestrial insects are plentiful along the banks of Crane Creek. Craneflies, both the aquatic and the terrestrial variety are also plentiful. Ants, beetles and grass hoppers make up the majority of the terrestrial variety. These become more important in the summer months when fewer aquatic insects are hatching

The trout in this little stream can be very selective and we are certain that you will find the more realistic imitations at Perfect Fly are a huge help in fly fishing Crane.

Crane Creek Fishing Report:

03/21/2020 Stream levels are a little high
and the water stained but that makes it
better. We received one good report.
04/29/20 Stream levels are still a little high.
There are some very good hatches taking
place.
05/13/20 The levels are still high and the
water stained but you can fish from the
bank in some places. There are some
very good hatches.
05/29/20 We are still getting good reports
of good catches and lot of insects
hatching. Water levels still a little high.
06/12/20 The creek is still high but trout
are being caught. Wading is tough to not
safe but there’s some places to fish.
07/07/20 Rain has the creek a little high
but the stain in the water helps. It can be
fished and should drop back down soon,.
07/20/20 The creek is high right now but
it has been turning out good numbers of
trout otherwise. Fish when it drops some.
08/02/20 The stream is a little high but
okay. Trout are being caught and there
are good hatches taking place.
Terrestrials are also working good.
08/22/20 The often stained water this past
several days actually improved the catch
for our customers. We continue to get
good reports.
09/13/20 Rain has the levels up but that’s
good for “catching” trout if you can find
spots to wade or clear banks.
10/02/20 Stream levels are just a little
above normal and there are some good
hatches – Mahogany duns, BWOs,
Cinnamon Caddis, MIdges and others.
10/21/20 Stream levels have been high a
lot making it tough to wade but a few fish
are being caught from the banks.
11/08/20 The creek is turning out soime
nice trout for one of our customers using
midges and our sculpin streamers.
11/21/20 We received a few good reports
from customers the past two weeks. Our
sculpin streamers and scuds are working.
12/12/20 Customers are doing good with
cream and red midge large pupa and
adults. Some little BWOs.
12/26/20 We received one good report
this past week. Cream  and red or blood
midges are hatching very good.
01/12/21 The creek is still turning out
some trout. It is stained some but that
actually helps.
01/27/21 The stream is stained but that
makes it easier to catch trout. Midges and
BWOs are hatching good.
02/10/21 The creek is in good shape with
good hatches taking place. We received a
good report recently.
03/07/21 The stream is clearing and in
good shape with good midge and BWO
hatches. Scuds, sowbugs, and Brown
sculpin streamers are working.
03/20/21 We didn’t receive any reports
the past week but conditions are still
okay. There are some good hatches.

04/24/21 The stream levels are a little high but there are some very good hatches taking place. Little Black Caddis, Blue Quills and BWOs are hatching. Scuds, Sowbugs, and sculpin streamers are working.

05/04/21 We received two good reports from customers this past week. There are some good hatches taking place and trout are being caught both below the surface and on top using dry flies.

05/13/21 Our customers continue to send in good reports. Rain has been a problem at times but there are still catching good numbers of trout. Excellent hatches. Send us an email or call us for an updated fly list.

05/21/21 The creek is still turning out some trout for the few anglers fishing it. There are some very good hatches taking place.

05/29/21 The creek is running high and wading currently not safe. It is falling fast and is okay to fish from the banks. Sculpin streamers should work good. There are some very good hatches.

06/08/21 We are getting some good reports. Good hatches are taking place. Email us  at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.

06/21/21 The creek is in good shape with good hatches taking place.

07/04/21 The stream is still a little high but clear and with lots of insects hatching. Terrestrials, Carpenter ants, Japanese beetles and hopper are also working. We are getting good reports.

07/14/21 It is still in okay shape with cool water and good hatches. We received a few good reports from customers recently.

07/20/21 The stream is still high and stained but the stain actually helps. We received two good reports from local customers this past week.

07/28/21 The still is still above a normal level. We did receive some good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches continue.

08/04/21 The stream is in good condition. We continue to get some good reports.

08/14/21 If you don’t find anything hatching, fish our scud imitation. The stream has a healthy population of them.

08/22/21 The stream is producing well for one of our customers who fishes it on a regular basis.

08/29/21 The area is received some rain which will continue through tomorrow. Stream levels are a little high but okay. The stain actually helps.

09/09/21 Stream levels are still above normal but there is plenty water that can be fished and again, the stain actually helps.

09/18/21 The stream is turning out some good catches for our customers. We had two good reports come in the past week. Good BWO hatches as well as Mahogany duns.

09/28/21 The stream is in good shape and we are getting some good reports. Good hatches continue.

10/12/21 We received a couple of good reports from customers very recently. Good Fall hatches are taking place.

10/23/21 The stream is in good shape in all respects. Good hatches of BWOs and midges continue. We received two good reports from the past week.

11/01/21 The stream continues to turn out some good catches for our customers. Good hatches continue.

11/08/21 We received two good reports from customers fishing the creek this past week. Scuds and sowbugs are also working as well as blood midges, BWOs and Mahogany duns.

11/16/21 We continued to receive more good reports this past week. The spring water stays warm all winter.

11/25/21 More good reports came in this past week. The stream is flowing near a normal level in good shape. Good fall hatches continue to take place.

12/06/21 Stream levels are normal and the water clear. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

12/14/21 The stream is in okay shape. We received two more good reports from customers fishing this past week.

12/22/21 The stream is still in okay shape. We received two more good reports this past week. There are good midge hatches taking place.

12/30/21 The stream is a little high and stained. That can actually help it. We didn’t receive any reports from the past week but probably due to the holiday.

01/07/22 The stream is a little high and stained some but that’s a good thing. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

01/15/22 The creek is in okay shape. We received two more good reports from customers fishing this past week.

01/23/22 The stream is still in good shape. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good blood midges and BWO hatches continue to take place.

01/31/22 We received three more good reports fro customers this past week. Conditions are good. A little stain helps.

02/08/22 Two more good reports came in from customers fishing the little creek last week. Conditions are still just fine.

02/16/22 We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. Scuds are working as well as BWOs and Cream and red or blood midges.

02/24/22 The water has been high and stained some but that’s not a bad thing. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Scuds and sowbugs also work.

03/04/22 We received two more good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches continue to take place.

03/12/22 We received two more good reports from customers fishing the past week. After the weekend cold snap, it should be good again.

03/20/22 We received two more good reports from the past week. Good conditions continue. Good hatches of Blue Quills, BWO’s, and little Black caddis are taking place.

03/28/22 The stream is near a normal level and clear. Good hatches are taking place and we are getting good reports.

04/05/22 The stream is turning out good numbers of trout for our customers. Good hatches continue to take place. This should be good week.

04/13/22 We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good BWOs, and little Black Caddis hatches are taking place. Scuds, sculpin streamers and sowbugs, damselfly nymphs are also working.

04/21/22 We received two more good reports this past week. Good hatches continue to take place.

04/29/22 Conditions remain good. We continue to get good reports from our local and visiting customers. Good hatches are occurring and dry fly fishing is good at times.

05/07/22 The creek is high and stained but that may help as much as hurt. Good hatches continue to take place.

05/15/22 Sorry we had the dates wrong above. Conditions are okay. The stream is still a little above normal but the stain helps the “catching”. We received one good report from a customer this past week. Very good hatches continue to take place.

05/24/22 The stream is in good shape and turning our good numbers of trout for our customers. We received two good reports this past week. Good hatches are taking place.

05/31/22 The stream is still turning out some nice catches for our customers. Good hatches continue. Sulphurs are starting to hatch along with several other insects.

06/07/22 Some terrestrials are starting to work, or Japanese beetles, Carpenter Ants as well as scuds and sowbugs and other hatching aquatic insects.

06/14/22 We received two good reports from customer fishing the stream this past week. Good hatches continue and terrestrials are working good.

06/21/22 We received two more good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are taking place. Scuds and sowbugs are also working good.

06/28/22 The good action continues. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. Dry fly action is good as well and subsurface presentations.

07/05/22 We received two more good reports from customers. Good hatches continue to take place.

07/19/22 The cool spring water still has the trout active and feeding. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are still taking place.

07/26/22 We received a good report from a customer fishing this past week. The weather is warm for the angler but not for the trout.

08/02/22 Conditions are good. The water is stained and that helps. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.

08/09/22 The stream is flowing a little above normal and lightly stained which is good. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

08/17/22 The stream is still a little above normal but okay. Good hatches continue and we continue to get some good reports from local customers.

08/24/22 The creek is still near normal level and clear. Good Blue-winged olive and cinnamon caddis hatches are taking place. Scuds are also working good.

09/04/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing it this past week. Good late summer hatches are taking place.

09/12/22 We received a good report from a customer fishing this past week. There is some stain in the water but that only helps. Good BWO and Cinnamon caddis hatches are taking place.

09/23/22 Two more good reports came in from customers fishing this one during the past week. Water levels have been a little high but that often helps due to the water having some color to it.

10/07/22 Conditions remain good. Stream levels are a little high but okay. The stain in the water helps. We received two good reports from customers this past week.

10/21/22 We received a good report from a customer fishing the creek this past week. Scuds and sowbugs are also working as well as blood midges, BWOs and Mahogany duns.

11/05/22 The creek is turning out some nice trout for our customers using
midges and our sculpin streamers.

11/19/22 Good reports continue to come in. A good stream to fish during the current cold front conditions as the water stays warm and the trout active. Good late season hatches are taking place.

12/07/22 Sorry for the missed reports. Catching up, we have been getting good reports from customers the past two weeks. A little stain in the water from rain just helps the “catching”. Good winter stonefly, cream and light green midge and little BWO hatches are taking place. Scuds and sowbugs and aquatic worms also works.

12/30/22 Stream levels remain good and fish are being caught. There are good winter hatches taking place. Our sculpin patterns have been catching some good fish.

02/09/22 The stream is in good condition except stained which can be a good thing. We are getting some good reports from it’s warm spring waters.

02/23/23 The stream is in okay shape with some stain which helps. Light Green midges and Cream midges are hatching good. Our Scuds, sowbugs and aquatic worms are working good.

03/11/23 The stream is turning out some good catches for our customers who happen to also be locals. Good Blue-winged olive hatches are taking place along with cream and red or blood midges, sculpin streamers and scuds.

03/25/23 The stream is in good shape and mostly clear. We received two good reports from customers fishing it very recently. Good hatches are the key.

04/06/23 The stream is still a little high and off color but that helps. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

04/16/23 The stream is turning out some nice catches for three of our customers. Some very good hatches are taking place.

04/24/23 Good conditions continue to take place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are taking place.

05/04/23 Stream levels are a little above normal but okay. We received one good report from a customer this past week. Good hatches continue to take place.

05/12/23 The stream is in good shape and turning out some good catches for our customers – four this past week. Good hatches are taking place.

05/22/23 The stream is still in great shape with lots of hatching insects. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.

05/31/23 We received two more good reports from local customers this past week. Very good hatches are taking place.

06/12/23 Conditions are good. There are good hatches taking place including some sulphurs and several other insects. We received two good reports this past week.

06/21/23 Conditions remain good. Good hatches are coming off. Dry fly fishing is good. We received another good report form the past week.

07/01/23 The spring creek is a good destination for the hot days of July. We received two good reports from locals fishing it this past week.

07/11/23 Conditions are very good. We received four good reports from customers fishing this past week. Match the hatches and you are in business. BWOs, sulphurs, eastern Pale Evening duns, Spotted sedge caddis, and scuds are most important.

07/18/23 The stream has been high at times but near a normal level at this time. There are very good hatches taking place. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.

07/29/23 The stream is in good shape with some hatches taking place. The stream is surrounded with terrestrial insect habitat and our Perfect Fly imitations of hoppers, beetles and ants are turning out some good catches.

08/05/23 The stream is still at a normal level and clear. We received another good report from a customer fishing it this past week.

08/15/23 The stream is still flowing in good shape. lots of damselflies, dragon flies and other terrestrial insects along the stream. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

08/21/23 Good conditions still exist.

08/28/23 The stream is still in good shape. Terrestrials and matching the hatches are both working good. We received two good reports from customers fishing it this past week.

09/05/23 The stream is still turning out some nice fish for our customers. Good late season hatches are taking place and or terrestrial imitations are also working good.

09/12/23 The stream is still in good shape. It is a little high and slightly stained but that is good.

09/19/23 The stream is flowing clear and our customers are still sending in some good reports.

10/03/23 The stream is in good shape flowing near a normal level with clear water. Good late season hatches continue to come off.

10/10/23 Two more good reports came in from the past week. Conditions remain good.

10/25/23 The stream is in good condition with normal flows and clear water. Good midge and BWO hatches are taking place.

11/10/23 The stream is still in very good condition with normal levels and clear water. Good hatches continue to take place. We received another good report.

11/17/23 The stream is still in very good condition with okay stream levels. Scuds and sowbugs, Cream and red or blood midges and little BWOs are working.

11/27/23 The stream is a little high and slightly stained but that helps. We are still getting good catch reports from customers fishing it.

12/07/23 The stream is turning out some nice catches for our customers. Midges are hatching very good and scuds and sowbugs are also working good.

12/17/23 Good weather this week should lead to good fishing. We are getting good reports about catches.

12/29/23 Good conditions still exist thanks to the warm spring water. We received three good report from customers fishing this past two weeks. Good light green and red, or blood midge hatches are taking place.

01/04/24 The stream is still in good shape turning out some good catches for our customers.

01/18/24 We received a good report from a customer fishing yesterday. Good Light Green and Blood or red midge hatches are taking place.

01/27/24 Conditions are still okay. We received another good report. Fish the midge larva and pupa in tandem with the larva on the bottom. We pre-rig these for those that have problem tying the tiny flies. https://perfectflystore.com/product-category/flies/perfect-fly-trout-flies/midges/midges-larvae/

02/05/24 The stream is still in good shape with a little high and lightly stained water. We are getting good catch reports from customers.

02/18/24 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. Good hatches are taking place and we continue to get good catch reports from customers. Scuds and sowbugs, aquatic worms, & light green midges are working good.

02/25/24 Conditions remain good. We received a good report from a customer fishing yesterday.

03/03/24 Excellent conditions exist. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.

03/15/24 Sorry for the missed report. The stream is in good shape even when it is a little high and stained and that’s the case now. Good hatches of Blue-winged olives, and cream and light green midges. Scuds are also working good.

03/23/24 The stream is turning out some very good catches for our customers. Good hatches continue to take place.

Email us  at sales@perfectflystore.com