pruett417

Fished the lower access yesterday, and like a few of you, historically it just hasn't fished well for me. Fished big dries, trying to coax some fish from the logs and got it done. Of course missed several fish, but did catch a few all small, did notice several feeding fish at dark that always position themselves where there is no way in hell to present a fly to them. One of my fly box populations can atest for that.

I can assure you if the schedule will allow it, I'll be there. There are some of us that do prefer to back up our words with action, not just a lot of hot air.

I understand completely, and I appreciate those of us that speak out about fishing legal, and improved regulations. I understand that the agents are taxed with trying to patrol an entire county, it's a tough job. But something has to be done, how much money is spent each year, our money, to improve the fisheries, hatchery programs etc., only to let uneducation, poor ethics, and inherited practices destroy our fisheries. Eventually, these questions will have to be addressed. The only thing we can do is continue to be citizen watch dogs and ethical fisherman and hope for the best. It's just not Capps and Hickory.....last week I pulled into the Crane city park in the wee hours of morning and as I sit in my vehicle enjoying what was left of my breakfast, two individuals came walking downstream from above the park only to see me sitting in my vehicle. Those two individuals after noticing me proceeded to toss their spinning rods in the brush and stand at the edge of the water acting like they were looking over the stream. If you have nothing to hide, why would you act like this. Of course I don't know any better and exited my vehicle to approach the two gentlemen, they briskly grabbed there rods and took off back upstream......pitiful. Did I contact the MDC, of course I did. We have a significant problem here, and it has to stop.

Capps creek is one of the most picturesqe spring creek type streams that we have around here, I've fished it a few times mainly from the 2nd access to the bridge up near the park, or what ever the hell it is. What a great fishery, but the only problem is no fish, and the first thing out of the mouths of other fisherman you run into is "Hatchery Truck". Is it fact that everyone sits on their butt drinking cheap beer, cutting their meth, patiently waiting on the next installment on the cash side of their EBT card to go buy a stockpile of canned corn to chum the newly stocked "bows" on the stream. Then the ever so elusive hatchery truck shows up and the people go in masses, sometimes illegally and deplete the resource, what the ***** is wrong with people. Once again ignorance and so called inherited beliefs....the state has to become a helluva lot more proactive and enact, and then enforce a few darn laws and rules to not only provide a resource but to maintain it. Does no one see that this place would become a wonderful fishery if somehow the darn chain of ignorance could be broken. I have an idea go to the Hyvee if you want some fish, less time, and a helluva lot less effort. And they could even buy it with their food stamps. This in no way is meant to poke fun or harass at the fisherman that abide by the rules and regulations of this stream, I don't keep fish, but I'm sure I'm a minority, in fact I know I am.....even though the catch and release mentality is beginning to take hold of more and more. The bottom line is this place needs to become C&R for 8 months out of the year and STRICTLY ENFORCED, this place is a jewel and is being allowed to be transformed into a pile of ****.

Capps creek, Hickory creek, sounds like one in the same......everyone sits their butt on the edge of seats waiting for the hatchery truck, only to go in masses, sometimes illegally and depletes the resource, what the ***** is wrong with people. Once again ignorance and so called inherited beliefs....the state has to become a helluva lot more proactive and enact, and then enforce a few darn laws and rules to not only provide a resource but to maintain it. Does no one see that these two places if would become wonderful fisheries if somehow the darn chain of ignorance could be broken. I have an idea go to the Hyvee if you want some fish, less time, and a helluva lot less effort. And they could even buy it with their food stamps.

Sound like the typical Crane Creek afternoon dash, I've been there many times, in fact possibly today. Did you lose any flies? Or hurt yourself in anyway? That usually adds to the story a little bit. Back in October, set out for my "Crane Creek" dash, dropped my reel in a mudhole right off the bat, a front was moving through, just an all in all miserable night, was doing the "Crane Creek Creep" at dark, with all intents of being stealthy and slick, managed to trip over a limb, fall down an enbankment and break my wrist, 13 weeks later and several thousands of dollars later I'm no wiser, I'm ready to do it all over again....

Nice fish gentleman, good to see some size..........that's one of my favorite spots in the 2nd picture, I have a top secret nymph that may or may not be in the stonefly category that always produces in that area.

I can only assume that it's a law, it's contained in the Missouri Statutes and it would be the person who is guidings responsibility to ensure he/she is abiding by law. Punishable by what? I'm assuming a fine or citation leading to a fine, you would have to refer that question to someone a helluva lot more qualified than most of us. I think we all tend to read a whole lot more into these issues than what the original thread is referring to. No, it's not illegal to guide on Crane Creek, when accessed by means of private property. If guiding on Crane in areas in which the stream flows through land leased or owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation it is illegal. I don't think it's an issue of the navigable waterways nor the stream bed, if you're gonna guide on Crane Creek don't do it via state owned access and don't step "ON" conservation land while you do it, it's that easy....but then again I usually look for the most obvious interpretation of these things, so I may be the minority in this case. As most know, at least the one's that fish this resource, 90% of the time you're feet aren't wet while fishing the stream, so therefore you are technically on land owned by the Missouri Conservation Department. I'm like a lot of the others chiming in to this post, I've taken several people fishing on Crane, and I enjoy sharing the experience, and I leave it at that......enjoy the resource, take care of it, leave it in a way that makes the next visit just as enjoyable.......everything has to get so darn difficult once money is involved. But I am interested on what it takes to have one of those 30, 40, or 50 fish days......and here I thought I was doing good with anything more than 1.

Here's the url were I found it, and it took some time to find it. http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3c10-11.pdf

Well this is all I found relating to this issue, there is no way to interpret the wording other than the way it is intended, but that's just an opinion. It's number 7 in this particular statute. I think this question is being raised because of increased pressure on this stream. And I think we all should look in the mirror when it comes to the pressure these fish get. I'm as guilty as anyone here, the bottom line is the fish get hammered at Crane, and I do my fair share of the hammering. However, I think that the fish still win out in the end, how many days have we all left that little creek feeling defeated and beat, only to come back the next day for another whipping. The things that do make me raise an eyebrow and a giggle are the claims that certain guides are having 30, 40, and 50 fish days.....guess no one has a conscience when it comes to drumming up business. And I will go a step farther, and say the morning that the said individuals vehicle was parked at the ballfields, I'm not sure where they went, hell it's none of my business but I can say that I made every attempt to fish the creek before they had a chance to (and I can say the thought crossed my mind about being annoyed that since all the generation at their normal stomping ground, you end up with your group here), but where the group went I had no idea they were no where to be seen from the railroad trestle, so maybe the fishing is being conducted on private land, or maybe I just didn't see them, who's to say and I really don't care to a point. But I can say that there are several of us that have a unique attachment to this place, it get's in your blood, and you don't care how many fish you catch, how many flies you lose, etc. But misuse, littering, etc. does matter. Title 3—DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Division 10—Conservation Commission Chapter 11—Wildlife Code: Special Regulations for Department Areas 3 CSR 10-11.105 Title; Authority PURPOSE: This rule defines which department areas these regulations apply to and how exceptions to the regulations are made. The special regulations in this chapter apply on lands and waters (referred to as department areas) owned or leased by the Department of Conservation. The director may issue temporary written exceptions to rules and provisions of this chapter for emergencies, special events and other compatible uses. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-4.115. Original rule filed April 30, 2001, effective Sept. 30, 2001. 3 CSR 10-11.110 General Provisions PURPOSE: This rule establishes restricted activities on department areas. (1) The following activities are allowed on department areas only where and as authorized by this chapter or by signs and area brochures or by a special use permit issued by the area manager: swimming, sailboarding, sailboating, skateboarding, boating, entry on areas closed to public use, bicycling, camping, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, removal of water, commercial use, vending, fires outside of designated camping areas, rock collecting, planting, digging and other soil disturbance, field trials, horseback riding, ranging of horses and other livestock, possession of pets and hunting dogs, caving, rock climbing, rappelling, paint-balling, scuba diving, water skiing, geocaching or letterboxing, the use and possession of vehicles and aircraft, the use of decoys, and the use or construction of blinds and tree stands. (2) Collecting or possessing wild plants and wild animals (including invertebrates) and unprocessed parts thereof must be authorized by a Letter of Authorization for Plant Collecting or a Wildlife Collector’s Permit, respectively, except as otherwise authorized in this Code. (3) On Thomas Hill Reservoir, swimming, sailboarding, scuba diving, and water skiing are permitted, except water skiing is prohibited north of Highway T on the Stinking Creek Arm of the lake and on the warm water arm of the lake upstream from the marker buoys. (4) The destruction, defacing, or removal of department property and use of fireworks are prohibited. (5) Possession of glass food and beverage containers is prohibited within the Castor River Shut-Ins Natural Area on Amidon Memorial Conservation Area. (6) Waste containers may be used only for disposal of garbage, trash, refuse, or rubbish generated on the department area. (7) Guiding for pay is prohibited on department areas. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. and section 252.240, RSMo 2000.* This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-4.115. Original rule filed April 30, 2001, effective Sept. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective Oct. 30, 2002. Amended: Filed Sept. 14, 2005, effective Feb. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective April 30, 2009. Amended: Filed March 23, 2009, effective March 1, 2010. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. *Original authority: 252.240, RSMo 1972, amended 1984.

The party in reference was parked at the ball fields this morning.........

The water is fine, had a good day today.....

Nice to hear of the fat bellies, that wasn't the case a week or so ago. I'm just curious as to what the last 12 or so hours of rainfall is going to do, plan on doing some checking on the water level in the morning.

Really enjoyed your Blog, keep up the good work.....

Please excuse my ill attempt in Crane Creek humor with the initial post of this thread........I can say that the fish are no more skiddish than normal, fished Crane twice in as many days and had two great days on the creek, first day was spot and stalk with a buddy taking turns chucking big dries with direction from the brush, my favorite method by far. Had a few takes, love the mayhem caused by those fish and a #10 stimulator, and of course lots of looks. Had a follow from one of the larger fish I've personally had the opportunity of seeing at Crane. The sun was out, I had scampered ahead of my partner to fish a little run above town, my trusty Costas where showing me what I thought was a either a shadow of a limb or the limb itself, that is until the limb turned broadside and tried to inhale my fly........I of course flipped out and ended up jerking the flie away from the fish in typical bonehead fashion.....Lord I do apologize for my actions and my words following this incident . The second day was spent alone, a few fish, lost a multitude of flies in typical Crane Creek fashion. What was a joy was seeing the condition of the upper end, lots of fish, and the water level was decent up until the last 75 yards where it's lost above the first parking lot. Upstream from town, produced a few fish and decent water, no doubt the rains will help. And actually I have seen more snakes in the last 2 days down there than I have in the last 2 years, so do watch your step, it's getting to that stage where the springtime vegetation is really starting to make itself a problem, and of course once you see a couple, I end up tiptoing around like a little girl. To sum it all up it looks as if it's going to be a good spring on Crane. Let's all do our part to help this place thrive. * Barbless hooks, come on it doesn't take much to pinch down a barb * How bout a few less photos of fish on the rocks * And it never hurts to pick up a little trash Good luck to everyone, I hope to not see any of you, but I'm sure I will (That's a joke, by the way), make sure you say "hello", I'll be easy to spot, I'm the one tiptoeing around the brush like a little girl......

I can't comfirm nor deny any of the above conditions........

Snakes are out, in full force......in fact Crane Creek has reached a level of danger that even the most skilled and avid angler, outdoorsman, or even herpetologist should avoid this horrendous little ditch....especially the upper end.....horrible, horrible, I tell ya horrible......stay away if you know what's best, if you do try to fish this place...make sure that you make plenty of noise, break brush, throw rocks whatever it takes in order to let the serpents know you're there.........and if you make it out without being bit.....please don't test you're luck and karma again......once again, especially on the upper end above town....

I love the fact that this little stream is so dang humbling, was down on Saturday, fished the lower Wire road access, had one of the best days ever on the stream, seems as if the fish just couldn't resist my caddis, couldn't slap the smile off my face all the way home. Today much different, same place, same time, lost a dozen or more flies, 1 chub, 1 sculpin, and 1 7" beauty, so all in all not much to complain about. Did visit the park monsters at dusk, caught and released of few of them with my Costas, gonna give em a shot in a few days. The creek is fishing great, decent water, and if you could somehow eliminate the leaf fall, we would be in business.