ness

Oh -- there's mountain lions out there, bears too. Remember Gregor from the old Conservation Cafe? He went in there one March and has never been heard of since. Ray from Crane told me they found a pair of hemos in a steaming pile of bear scat down by the dairy farm a couple days after he went missing. Anyway, I trained bears and lions for the circus in the summers during school, so I'm comfortable with them. And, I've been bit by all kinda snakes at church, so they don't really bother me none neither.

Looking at this whole thing with a healthy dose of skepticism is probably best. It's a one-sided story that frankly seems pretty hard to believe as told. But, I can't really see too many other explanations, and there are certain facts that appear certain. The fact that's indisputable is that the dog was shot. Apparently, it had a collar and the guy had been looking for it in a fairly small area, for a relatively short period of time -- the same day. I would think the ranger wouldn't even consider killing a collared dog, especially a dog typically used for hunting rabbits, during the rabbit season. As for a beagle harassing a deer -- well, I just don't buy that. Of course, I don't know the particulars, but it seems to most likely the deer could have gotten away -- it certainly wasn't a life-or-death situation. But, what if that beagle had the deer pinned in somehow? Does that warrant killing a collared dog? Nope -- and it never will either. Facts are, there are too darn many deer as it is, and he killed a guy's pet. He needs to keep that darn gun in the holster unless there's imminent danger to humans. The law clearly was written to allow killing feral animals, or ones that are consistently a problem for the wildlife. Seems like this idiot felt he had authority to kill whatever he wanted to, as long as he could claim it was harassing wildlife, so things obviously need to be tightened up some. As for the argument that the guy didn't have control of his dog and he got what he deserved -- that's nonsense, and frankly cold-hearted. The only way to completely assure control is to put the dog on a lead, and that's not required or even expected. Sometimes a dog will run, get lost, whatever. That's just the nature of it. If you've got your dogs trained well enough that you can always get them to do what you want, that's just great. But, people legally hunt with dogs and dogs don't always listen, so there needs to be some room in there for this situation. So, I still don't know all the facts, but I'm glad this thing got some press. These rangers need to held to a very high standard, and keep those darn guns in their holsters. I think I know enough to call the ranger that shot the dog a cold-blooded SOB, no matter what the rules say. And, we don't need cowboys like that roaming around with sidearms. I hope his $^&%*^ gets fired, I hope they get enough bad press that they have to admit this was wrong, and that they sit those rangers down and tighten up rules governing when they can shoot -- and that ought to be darn close to never.

I don't remember the particulars, but the Crane Cafe has pretty limited hours. I remember I had to adjust my plans because they closed at 2PM or something like that.

I had the same meal, same place last October. Pretty good eats, and I always try to patronize the local businesses!

Words to live by right there. Great post Phil.

I see they gave you computer privileges. Welcome back.

They're very easy to miss because they strike soooo fast. You gotta recalibrate your strike timing because a slow, steady one won't cut it most times. It always takes me a little bit to adjust.

Same stuff going on on the west side, but less people. There are places where you can catch brookies all day long, or you can try for a native Colorado River cutthroat -- first cousin to the Greenbacks mentioned earlier. Your chances of seeing a moose are greater over there. We also saw a cougar once. You should be able to find spots where you can jump over the Colorado, or you could fish bigger water for bigger fish downstream. And, don't forget to pee on the divide on your way over.

Man -- that's a pisser. Lost a fly box once, and did the math. Even though a lot were self-tied, it was a big hit. Hope he gets it back. Zip them pockets, boys!

Wow -- that's an early start. I've got a bunch of flats going under lights -- lettuce, maters, peppers, tomatillos, spinach, herbs, flowers fer the missus. But I've still got snow in the garden, and the nice weather just means mud right now. But, the nasty winter sure has me itching to get going outside.

I think we should have a Head-Butters Ball out on a stream somewhere. Once we see each other face-to-face we'll probably all get along famously. Or there could be a brawl. Wayner, in all seriousness, you summed it up nicely:

Andy -- you got me interested in these Neosho smallmouth, so I did a little reading. Interesting stuff -- kinda sounds like the cutthroat/rainbow situation. Anyhoo -- don't want to get this wonderfully productive thread off topic, but could you tell me (and the world) where a Kansan might fish for some of these in his home state?

I've got the Simms Freestones -- Gavin's right. They're especially good if you need ankle support, because they're a thicker vinyl rather than fabric.

Please don't clutter up the Crane Creek forum with trout fishing nonsense. The forum is for bit%^&*g about smallmouth. Seriously -- nice report. Love seeing those little rainbows -- they show the stream is in great shape.

Kicknbass -- we discussed this about 50 posts back. You're not just skipping to the end are you?

Whaddya think Eric? I say we give him a pass on this one, even thought it was dayum close!

If I recall correctly, you're a newlywed. Just give it time...just give it time.

Chief: I'm only dogging you to try and keep things a little more positive overall. Your comments on MSA have tended to dismiss the work they're doing, or make it sound like they've got to prove something. Like I tell my babies: there's always more than one way to say something. As an example: 1) I've looked at MSA's website, and I don't see anything to make me want to join, or 2) Can somebody from MSA tell me a little more about what you're doing -- I might want to join. And, sometimes it's just best to not say anything at all. Anyhow -- lecture over. We've still got a fishing date for this spring, right?

I think it's British for Dickweed.

So you all know I ain't all blow and no show, I'm giving the MSA a bit of my dough.

Hey man, when I don't follow Chief, I conquer evil, whatever name it goes by.

Gary: Just curious -- will you kick non-dues-paying members out of your meetings, or refuse their help if they offer it? Are we required to pony up $20, up front? Guys: why is it that the BEST non-government ally the Missouri smallmouth has (MSA), who just petitioned the MDC on our behalf, is getting beat up? Didn't your mommas ever tell you that 'if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all'? Chief: Did you ever notice how you're often on here saying people have twisted what you've said? That you're an ally, not a foe? You wouldn't feel the need to explain that so often if you'd just tone it down a bit. All along the way you've beat up MSA. You poke them in the eye and say they're not doing anything important, that they're just a bass club, etc. So, it's natural that people get riled up. How can someone consider you an ally when you're always coming at them with something negative? Trav: you made your point. Cutting and pasting from the dictionary pretty much insures people will scroll right on past your post. Just like you should have done when you saw a few too many posts from Gary. I usually try to just let this stuff roll off my back, but when I see a guy step up and try to get something going, only to be kicked in nuts on a public forum, I get to typing.

I've done a crapload of volunteer work over the years. One thing you always encounter are naysayers, complainers and people who want others to do the work. I found a number of creative ways of offloading the problem members, on numerous occasions. And things always got better without them -- ALWAYS. Believe me, you're in a much better position than if they show up at a meeting and poison the atmosphere. Gary -- PM me and I'll send you my dues, even though I rarely fish for smallmouth and don't live in SWMO. I admire your can-do attitude, and I can see past my monitor. This is a GOOD thing, and I wish you the best with it.

What you click on here is up to you -- can't nobody shove nothing down your throat on a forum.

Nice reaction fellers. Describing others posts as 'stupid', 'BS', or 'spam' is bad form. Gary -- I applaud you for getting off your can and keyboard and trying to get something going. I'd give these negative posts zero weight. Zero. While I was looking for the exact wording of another quote, I came across this one from RFK: "Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change."