Andrew324

Zeke & I are gonna try to do Patrick to James tomorrow again with a few sexy dungeons. Hopefully Justin & Amy know we are coming with all the messages I've left thru OAF, Facebook, & phone. We need to also retrieve Zeke's GoPro, so perhaps we can get some footage of the river.

I hate to stir the pot, but what rules? Seriously I'm just really skeptical about a regulation that no one has yet to point to or explain, and isn't listed anywhere online or in the wildlife code. I assume that if you want to take another person fishing and they reimburse you (for whatever, your expertise or buying dinner) then the MDC isn't going to make a stink as long as you follow the regulations in place for fishing. If you want to take ten people fishing at your local MDC managed bass pond, then you have to use a special use permit, but you have to get a special use really anytime your taking 10 or more people to an MDC area. Here are examples of: special use permit for group fishing commerical fishing report form Here is a thread from a few years back where someone was searching for info on a guiding permit for the Current, but it only mentions the National Park Service permit I spoke about it my earlier post. No mention of MDC regulations I just am really curious about this ghostly regulation, not because I want to be a jerk or be nitpicky, but because it affects my job.

I enjoyed this over a cup of coffee this morning. Once again, nice work Brian! Your videos are like getting a new issue of The Drake!

I guess I don't mind if someone guides a lesson or what not on Crane, so long as they aren't the ones leaving trash and using nightcrawlers! I am familiar with what the MDC calls a "Special Use Permit" but I have never heard or ran into trouble dealing with the MDC when I ask them for these permits to guide students in caves (pre WNS) or take them on hikes at Busiek, and so on. I always have used the term "guiding students" not "taking a trip with students". I used to speak directly to Tom Draper when he was District Director at West Plains and told him I was "guiding" and he never made a stink about it. I'm just wondering if someone can cite where this MDC guiding regulation is? I'm curious because I cannot find it. Now Mark Twain and the Forest Service - Flat Fees for all guiding no matter what, even if your non-profit/educational like my program is. But I think even the boyscout troops skirt those rules.

AJ we should go. Crane has a high gradient and so it always drains fast. Pruett you are in SGF you should come too.

Yeah Zeke and I really hatched this plan and flew by the seat of our pants. I need to get you on the driftboat before an institution swoops you up for a few years of doctoral punishment!

Had kinda left Crane alone for several months due to low water and the spawn and had focused efforts on Taneycomo and the North Fork of the White. Zipped down there this morning to see how high the water was and decided it was fishable so I rigged up and hit the lower, park, and upper wire. Water has come up a good foot or two. Every fish came by carefully reading the water and choosing the right spot, and they all had nice fat bellies from a well deserved aquatic buffet. It was around this time last year I pulled a nice 18-19 incher out of the creek after a good rain, but I think I went too early. A few more days I might go down. Saturday is my birthday, and what a better thing to do than spend it on the creek that got me into this habit. On a side note I did find nightcrawler boxes in lower wire. I see them often in the park too. Frustrating.

Yes I had a great time with the driftboat/streamer learning curve and thanked the fishing gods for holding back the rain. Justin & Amy will have to let us know how the Mother's is, and if we should import more from Springfield?

I've been speaking with a buddy about joining the Yacht Club with me. If I would, is it available anytime between 3/17-25? That is MSU's spring break, and I want to spend a few days on the NoFo.

I think I saw your buddies float by when I was at Blair & Patrick. I also some people using the "yacht" from Sunburst. Made me very jealous. I secretly hoped that someone would say "wanna jump in?". I really want to fish from a driftboat!

Not bad really. I am used to doing day trips rock climbing in Arkansas and that is always a two hour drive. My best advice is carpe diem, get up early and go for it. The river is a jaunt from Springfield, but well worth the trek. I also concur with a trip here soon.

Woke up Saturday morning too early to get back to sleep. Checked the Table Rock Dam generation on my Iphone and it was unfavorable. Decided to ramble down to the North Fork. I've only fished the river a handful of times and each time has been okay in terms of fishing - this trip however was different. Packed up the GoPro, some hot coffee, a blueberry muffin, and threw my gear in the car. After a near two hour drive, I found myself zipping up Hwy PP. I decided to go find Kelly Ford, but I don't think I did. I went all the way down CO 370 to 365 to the river but I was getting kinda lost and wanted to fish, so I backtracked to Blair Bridge. Waded all the way down to the island near Sunburst and started to fish up. Rainbows were hitting nymphs, egg patterns, and soft hackles. River level was perfect. Picked up a nice 15/16 inch rainbow on a beadheaded hibernator closer to Blair Bridge. Lost my forceps in the river, so I learned quickly how to pinch lead shot with my teeth - felt like Joe Humphreys. Later in the day I went to Patrick and waded down again. Picked up a few more rainbows and a little stocker brown (first brown on the NoFo for me!). All in all a great day. I've waited a year to hit the river at a good time and rip lips. Check it out!

Yeah biggest mistake people make when I take them night fishing for the first time is the light. Its very tempting, but it will spook fish I think. I like using a headlamp that has a red light. Astronomers use red flashlights while at observatories so their eyes can remain adjusted to the dark.

You gotta have a big stick to catch a big stick!

Wish I could watch something like this every morning. Like the early news!

Happy Valentines Day! Plays best in 780HD.

Laker I think they do allow trapping along Crane Creek, but I'm not 100% on that. I've seen a few guys out there that looked like thats what they were doing. I would like to see someone do some trapping out there because I think the otters are really chowing down at the lower wire road.

In no particular order 1. Fish Taneycomo more at night 2. Catch a brown from the NoFo 3. Hit the Eleven Point 4. Find more off-the-map trout water 5. Record more details about regular Crane Creek trips, (start taking stream temps, write a journal) 6. Write more fishing reports on OAF, twitter, and Facebook. 7. Teach more MSU students how to cast a fly rod. 8. Fish from a drift boat 9. Fish Wisconsin and Minnesota 10. Spend more time fishing, period.

Made a visit to the stream on Friday. Didn't do much fishing as the weather was cold and windy. Did manage to capture a short video of two fish on a redd. I didn't disturb them but got a nice little video of them doing their thing. They appear in the center of the shot in the light patch of gravel. Very faint. Cool though. Water remains low but the flow has been enough.

I throw my vote in like Missouri Primary - I like my Peak.

I was down at the dam on Saturday night. I stuck around during the generation because it was quite busy during the day. Ran into Leonard and chatted it up while we waited for his client (another OAF guy). I had a good night bringing around twenty to hand, including a this lengthy rainbow that fought forever. I hit rebar, below the tree, outlet 2 and the flats and had hookups in all places. I so enjoy Taneycomo at night.

Nice report Buzz. Its cool to know we aren't the only folks who enjoy catching little wild trouts in un-named streams. Lower wire road has been slow. I spoke with Ray and he thinks it could be otters.

I fished upstream from the lower access today for a few hours. Spent the morning at Roaring River and it was windy, the bite was tough, so I decided to kill some time. Didn't do very well. Only had a few takes. Saw a few guys who were catching them on spinning rigs. I fished streamers swung through holes and deep runs for browns but got skunked. Pretty stream in the winter. I wonder if Capps would be better if they upped the status or something.

Yes I thought that myself. Wish I could leak fishy information more often, but graduate school and the outdoor rec program here at MSU keep me rather busy, but in my spare time I chase wild bows in small creeks in Southwest Missouri. Two other tools I use to zero in on areas are: Google Maps - I use it to pinpoint and create my own maps, so that they can be viewed on: Google Earth - the function on Earth where you can view multiple years of aerial photos helps (especially the ones where the photos were taken when there were no leaves on the trees). Which all in turn can be viewed on my Iphone (which I carry fishing). And the USGS Map Locator/Store - I download quadrangles from here to pinpoint areas of troutness indicated by the Spencer studies. Hope this helps any other wild trout fans!

Psst....I sometimes trick Crane rainbows on size 10 dries (summer/autumn). Usually opportunistic little fighters, but once every 10-15 you pull one that's over a foot. Large is better on Crane than any of the other blue ribbon creeks.