Chief Grey Bear

There was nothing within a days ride. That is just a stock photo. It may not even be trout in those cans.

I almost called you today. I was in Gentry and geese were coming over about 500 at a time!

I guess that is the only place I read it myself. I could have swore that I read it in another spot or two though. Then should we put any credence is Spence's work on this because he erroneously reported that Crane was stocked from a railcar in 1880? http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/may/16/the-rainbow-connection/ Now personally I would not go that far. I guess the next move would be to find Jerry and ask for his reference. Anyone here know him????

With all the recent discussion about Crane, I thought it would be appropriate to post a pic from days gone by. Well, it may not be from that long ago but, it is from about 3 or 4 years ago. Cute little booger no matter what his DNA may be.

That pretty much seals the deal. I have been scouring this site all night looking for some of my links. I couldn't find what I thought I had posted. I did find this though: http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12334 It has some really good info, and one mistake. Crane was not stock by rail in the 1880's. I had also posted this link: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/25.pdf Its info is somewhat generic when it comes to the wild trout. It is somewhat dated but, a good read none the less. From everything I have read, Brown Spring hatchery was in St. Joe Missouri. Not on Spring Creek near the village of the same name. But that also does not mean there was not a "hatchery" there. There were many these "hatcheries" scattered throughout the Ozarks. I don't think they actually hatched fry there but, received fry and raised to stocking/selling size. I can't confirm that though at this time.

I also recall reading that somewhere. Something about the particular strain was used for all of this cross country stocking not being in the McCloud river anymore. Seems like Crane and only about 4 other places in the US actually has this original strain. But like you, I have no idea where I read it other than it was in Cyber space. A place where as quickly as things are found, they are forever lost again. And you know, as curious as I am about this, I am not sure we really want to know. As much as I love to research and learn this stuff, maybe we should just let it be. I mean, if we did indeed find out that these are not as pure as we think, will it ruin the mystique and magic of Crane?

I had this stuff saved on my old computer. I am searching now but having trouble finding it. It was out there in Cyber land and I usually ran across it while researching something else. Maybe I read it wrong but that has always stuck in my head. In fact as I think about it, I think I have linked some of those here. Give me sometime to run through all of my post to OAF. If you will read the link I provided on the first page by Jerry Dean, he credits most of the info to Spence and it also states the MDC stocked into the 60's. Now it is also my understanding that these were sporadic stockings and nothing like what we know them as today. I almost did that last night myself. I'll thaw out some crow I have in the freezer just incase I am wrong, but I just know I read that from him. I am still searching too.

That is strange. I have read many of the writings of Spencer Turner, a now retired MDC biologist and the probably the foremost authority of Missouri trout, and he states the MDC stocked Crane into the 60's.

I don't understand where this is coming from???? Has the MDC ever denied this?? Just asking...

You're falling behind again Phil. That was posted on page 1.

That is actually an indicator of leprosy! And you handled that fish! Get to the doctor quickly! This is why nobody fishes Crane anymore. Some years ago a group of leprechauns from St. Louis came down on St. Patty's day and were accosted by some locals from Taney. I won't go into details at this time but just stay out of the water. It will usually effect the teeth first. Next time you are in the Barry - McDonald county area you will notice that few locals have their own teeth. But on a lighter note, that is a beauty of a fish! Great job!!

See, this is why I have to get my butt up to Columbia and see Spence. I have a lot of questions for him about Crane! One is if indeed Crane was stocked in the late 1800's, which I am not disputing, it wasn't done by rail. The line through Crane was not built until 1905. So were they stocked by wagon????? I have read that the MDC stocked up into the 60's. Is that really when they stopped?? Not saying your info is incorrect, just want to pin it down. Whenever they stopped, what and/or how many species were stocked??? And no, it won't change my mind about Crane. What a simply gorgeous place to fish. We should meet there someday. I'll bring the sandwich's.

What did Art say about MDC stockings??? That is what I am most curious about.

I appreciate substanial contribution. But also to be completly honest, it was not my idea to mount a whole campaign. I think it was yours. But you do raise valid options to get a ball rolling. I didn't read it as the fine outdoors master made a warning shot towards the ferocious feline to scare it off before he wet himself. Woops that is not quite right. The little tike stated he was "...a little scared." But I am sure that as he was telling of his death defying tales, he suddely had a thought that shot through his mind and reminded him that this story will be on the front page since we called the paper to interview me and it would not be cool to portray fear of the kitty. In fact I think it may be you that is doing the inferring here. (Actually I am just having a little fun here. But I don't believe for a minute that Jr. wasn't trying to get himself a kitty pelt and county wide momentary fame.)

Care to make a donation?

I don't know that they made it legal but they sure ain't trying to make it illegal. This punk kid states that he took a pot shot at the Mountain Lion knowing full well he was not under attack or in any danger of his life. This is where I get extremely angry with the MDC. Some people will do anything to for their minute of fame in the local paper. With total disregard for the wildlife and the outdoors. There was no self defense in this instance. Or any of the others in recent time that I have read about. It is time the MDC does something to stop this. As you all know, I am a staunch defender of the MDC but, as long as these senseless killings, no, make that murders, are happening, I can not and will not defend them on this issue.

I may be way off but, isn't there a pay to play trout creek in that vacinity???

Ummm, from the pic and report I got this morning about your trip yesterday, you have plenty spots! And back at ya with happy Eat To Much, Watch Some Football, Feel Miserable All Day day.

Just go ahead and disqualify him now. I think, if I remember, just him showing up is a violation!

I think I will sit this one out. Weather ain't looking real good. Just ain't ready yet to be that cold!

A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves ("rifling") cut into the barrel walls. Don't know of many pellet guns that have that. I know his don't. Harrasing the blackbirds huh?? I sure you didn't kill of those migratory creatures.

I doubt they are were in this place year round. It was actually in the barren wast land between Ponca and Pawhuska. Not even hardly a blade of grass. Only saw one field today that held a handfull of snows's between Wagoner and Broken Arrow.

I had to go to Oklahoma yesterday, and again today, and saw lots of snowss and canada's near Ponca City - Blackwell area. Headed to Grove and surrounding area today.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:vnwMHh7_hDoJ:mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/11939.pdf+spencer+turner+crane+creek&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiHsgvnfoGKBitjGcvUkp2tgcv1ODk2ghd5abMiTcARVJad0WqxtqX3BV92HEFXH4J8_sQjCalqt3KFAddPZid_CykHIb7ROUpE_xgCOUb1uCVwVgfIb3AHToDAAWWq7kQLAV6t&sig=AHIEtbQwvFsRASCZ3IXURZAPm2VfTovNzA I have posted this here before and do so again for a little refresher. Very good info. There are and have been lots of unrecorded stockings of trout over the years by private individuals thoughout the Ozarks. It was very common in the early part of the 1900's. Some were able to survive continue to reproduce and others were not so lucky.

Ye ol' pellet gun is great on small game. I, and now my son, have harvested lots of squirrel and rabbits. He has even shot quite a few doves with his pellet gun! I think though I would start with a .22. I think you will enjoy that much more. I can't say I shoot much small game at 50 yrds but, I do like the .22 over the pellet for getting shots in the tops of high trees where squirrels can be. One note, I don't think I would set up any bird feeders for squirrel hunting. That would most likely be considered baiting and thus illegal.