A Day At The Crane

[ness]

Tim:

That's good that you have notified the authorities. I did too, earlier today, and her response was that they would put out the information and ask them to increase patrols out there. Will they, or will it help? Sure didn't hurt call. Squeaky wheel, you know.

Not sure what you meant by 'many have tried' screwing up the creek. My only point was that internet posts can affect things, in ways we may not think about.

Redbird:

You make several excellent points. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part that a good thing can be kept secret for too awful long. But I'm an optimistic guy.

Greybear:

My tummy tells me you're right about the locals being the biggest threat. Last time I was there, a couple seedy looking characters were fishing spin tackle, and although I didn't get close enough to see what was up, it was pretty big stuff they were launching. If I had to guess, it wasn't single-barbless. But...I wouldn't go so far as to say what gets said here has NO affect. Not everybody who reads posts. And this stuff lasts forever.

I fished with a guide out in CO several years ago, and we went to some pretty sweet water in a National Park. Three years later I fished with him again, and he said he had been forwarded a link to a post I'd written on the old Conservation Cafe telling a guy where we fished, including where to park. It had been forwarded to the guide because I had mentioned his name. I didn't even remember writing it until I thought about it. So, something that I'd written in passing, with only a few minutes thought, lingered out there all that time. He wasn't pissed, but his point was clear. He blames me every time there's a MO license plate in the parking lot, I'm sure.

So, like I said earlier - to each his own, just follow the rules. And if you enjoy some success, maybe think twice before putting it on the Wide Wide World of Web. I'm not trying to change the world, but if a few think twice about the effect a post here might have, I'd consider that progress.

Happy holidays all.

John

[Poke 'Em]

Well, at least I know how to start a discussion...

IMO - and I'm admittedly selfish when it comes to fishing spots - there's no benefit to posting up fishing reports, unless you just want everyone to be jealous of you. (Now I'm not saying that's necessarily why those that post reports think that way - that's just how I think). While posting up a fishing report (for any spot, not just Crane) may not hurt the fishery and may not significantly increase fishing pressure, it also does run that risk - I don't think that can be denied. It's happened too many times, if not on Crane, then on other waters. So when I look at the risk/reward of posting up a fishing report, I don't see any reward, but I do see the risk of ruining a good spot. But like I said, I'm selfish when it comes to sharing fishing spots with people I don't know.

[jefly77]

Hey Ness

Last time I was there, a couple seedy looking characters were fishing spin tackle, and although I didn't get close enough to see what was up, it was pretty big stuff they were launching. If I had to guess, it wasn't single-barbless.

I take a little bit of offense at that statement. I do not fly fish, I spin fish and I always follow the regulations. Crane is not a single-barbless stream. It is a hard lures and flies only stream, the regs say nothing about barbless. Don't lump all spin fishing guys into one basket. Some of us just like spin fishing too much to take up the "art" of flyfishing. That doesn't mean I care about the stream any less than a flyfisherman. I love fishing Crane, it's truly a gem of a trout stream.

Jefly

[timsfly]

You know you are right, I enjoy spin fishing on there once in awhile, if fact somedays a spinning rod is a much more effective tool.

I have caught a zillion trout on my fly rod using small spoons and jigs, and I use small jigs and spoons over at crane on a spinning

rod, sometimes, and it is very effective. In fact caugth one of my largest ever a few years ago using a 1/32 oz woolybugger jig.

Rapalas are great on crane, and on the lower sections where it is brushier than all get out a spinning rod is the better

tool.

I know several people that use nothing but small spinners and do very well, I like crankbait rebel crawdads but they

really suck to lose, those things are over 5.00 each now.

My comment about many have tried to screw up crane came from the magazine articles and books that have mentioned crane for years,

each time an article came out, I heard well that is the end of Crane, but so far it hasn't really changed any.

You know maybe we are talking to much about Crane right now

there wasn't a soul down there yesterday, the bitter cold keeps people away in the winter and

the man eating snakes and otters keep people away in the summer, along with the ticks and chiggers

[DD'sMC]

Well, at least I know how to start a discussion...

You certainly picked an appropriate sign on name.

[ness]

Hey Ness

I take a little bit of offense at that statement. I do not fly fish, I spin fish and I always follow the regulations. Crane is not a single-barbless stream. It is a hard lures and flies only stream, the regs say nothing about barbless. Don't lump all spin fishing guys into one basket. Some of us just like spin fishing too much to take up the "art" of flyfishing. That doesn't mean I care about the stream any less than a flyfisherman. I love fishing Crane, it's truly a gem of a trout stream.

Jefly

Hey Jefly,

No offense intended, man. I wasn't lumping you or anybody into anything based on spin fishing. I spin fish too - it's a method, and as Tim said - it's often more effective that others. Now, if you're 'seedy looking', I apologize. My point was (and I know this is a bit of a stretch) these guys just didn't look like the types to worry too much about following the rules. I'll leave it at that, before I get into any more trouble.

Tim:

Ok - I see what you were getting at about the TV shows, magazines etc. My point was that I guarantee a couple posts here could really increase the traffic. For example, say I blew in here bragging about catching 40 fish, with 3 of them over 20-inches. You know the word would spread, and traffic would increase. And it wouldn't just be clean-cut, hard-working, conservation-minded, upstanding, principled men like Jefly, would it?

Fact is - Crane is some tough fishing, and it will always be a small stream with smaller fish and that won't appeal to nearly as many people as some other places. An when you factor in the man-eating (rabid) otters, rattlesnakes, disease-carrying ticks...oh, and that meth lab down on the lower part, it's really not worth it to fish for those 6-inch trout. There's much better fishing over at Hickory Creek in Neosho. But, that's for another thread.

[MarkinKC]

The biggest threat for Crane is the locals. And posting reports here has nothing to do with them. Any fisherman driving most any amout of milage, is just coming to experience fishing Crane Creek and the chance she might give up her special magic. And anyone taking the time and money to do that, has a much deeper respect than to trash the creek.

I think you've nailed it Chief, and you've certainly described me. I drive 6+ hours roundtrip for a few hours of that "special magic". My Grandpa taught me to fish some 45 or so years ago, and one of the lessons was to bring back my trash.......and someone else's. I've adhered to that and bring along a plastic sack to bag up my little contribution to keeping the stream clean. This has certainly been a lively discussion!

[Phil Lilley]

Well, at least I know how to start a discussion...

IMO - and I'm admittedly selfish when it comes to fishing spots - there's no benefit to posting up fishing reports, unless you just want everyone to be jealous of you. (Now I'm not saying that's necessarily why those that post reports think that way - that's just how I think). While posting up a fishing report (for any spot, not just Crane) may not hurt the fishery and may not significantly increase fishing pressure, it also does run that risk - I don't think that can be denied. It's happened too many times, if not on Crane, then on other waters. So when I look at the risk/reward of posting up a fishing report, I don't see any reward, but I do see the risk of ruining a good spot. But like I said, I'm selfish when it comes to sharing fishing spots with people I don't know.

I understand what you're saying. I've gotten in trouble with some of my best friends for posting a report on a good crappie hole or "the whites are running" just to have a hundred people show up the next day. But it's a mindset I don't necessarily agree with, but respect.

But reporting and educating is why I started this site in the first place. It's built on that premise- to share information on fishing, something we all cherish. My hope is that more people start fishing, not less. More kids learn the sport, not less, which is the trend by the way.

We all dream of having a nice trout or smalley stream all to ourselves but in this day and age, it's almost impossible, except of course you're fishing Taney in zero degree weather.

[ness]

Yep - those were some good points too, Mark.

I also wanted to mention Poke em's sentiment: I'd agree - I see nothing to gain, and plenty to loose by talking about it.

Funny, I fished with a guy earlier this year. We're both active in a e-mail list and he posted a pretty generic report about our weekend. I knew when I started reading it that I had nothing to fear, and sure enough - he artfully glossed right over the very best part.

[Buzz]

I also wanted to mention Poke em's sentiment: I'd agree - I see nothing to gain, and plenty to loose by talking about it.

So, I guess we shouldn't expect any fishing reports from either Pokem' or Ness?

Phil, maybe we should only talk politics on this forum. I know how much you like to referee. I've learned countless things from reading this forum, from fishing techniques to how to tie several different flies, and even different places to fish. Maybe we shouldn't post some of our favorite flies on here because someone might take it out and catch more fish than we do. I know this is a little overboard, but you get my point. Post if you want to. Don't post if you don't want to. There is really no need to criticize others for doing so. It's a little like Catch and Release VS. Catch and Keep. It will always be an issue, but these are just a few of the many talking points that make this the best Forum on the net.

Buzz