A Day At The Crane

[timsfly]

There is a spawning going on right now, I try to avoid spawning fish right now if I can, if I see fish that are activily spawning I just pass them by right now.

But there were several above town and in town and below town all going thru the motions. The spawning fish are very visable right now because of the low

water.

There should be a good spawn this year if the floods don't come again like last year, I don't think it was all that good last year because of all the high

water we had in jan, and feb, but so far so good this year.

[ness]

Hey guys,

New to this forum, not new to fishing or the internet though. I wanted to weigh in on the subject of talking about fishing spots on the web.

Those of you that say it's a public place and well known are spot-on. That being said, anybody that has been there and given it any thought, probably realizes it's a fairly fragile place, and really couldn't take a lot of pressure. Of course posting a fishing report is going to increase awareness and most likely increase pressure, especially when there are big numbers tossed out there for all to see. In that regard, Poke em was also spot-on.

Crane is some of the most difficult trout fishing there is in MO, so it won't ever end up looking like a trout park. But, it wouldn't take too much to ruin the place.

Not being critical at all, Greybear and Tim - to each his own. Follow the rules and talk about it all you want. But my advice (and I know no one was begging for it ) is this: if you find a place you like, and part of the reason you like it is that you didn't have to deal with other people, you may want to weigh that into your decision to talk about it - especially on the internet.

[fishinwrench]

Hey guys,

New to this forum, not new to fishing or the internet though. I wanted to weigh in on the subject of talking about fishing spots on the web.

Those of you that say it's a public place and well known are spot-on. That being said, anybody that has been there and given it any thought, probably realizes it's a fairly fragile place, and really couldn't take a lot of pressure. Of course posting a fishing report is going to increase awareness and most likely increase pressure, especially when there are big numbers tossed out there for all to see. In that regard, Poke em was also spot-on.

Crane is some of the most difficult trout fishing there is in MO, so it won't ever end up looking like a trout park. But, it wouldn't take too much to ruin the place.

Not being critical at all, Greybear and Tim - to each his own. Follow the rules and talk about it all you want. But my advice (and I know no one was begging for it ) is this: if you find a place you like, and part of the reason you like it is that you didn't have to deal with other people, you may want to weigh that into your decision to talk about it - especially on the internet.

I absolutely agree, with a slight exception. I don't believe Crane to be one of them, but there are a few good fisheries in our state that need more "friends". You have to have enough people that love a certain stream and care enough about it so that if any disaster, or rediculis government oriented discision threatens it you have more than just a few guys fighting for it.

Does that make sense ?

In the case of Crane cr. I believe it is represented well.

[timsfly]

I don't want crane to be over run, but the more legal fisherman down there the better I think, I see signs of poaching on a lot of my trips down there,

cans of corn, nightcrawler boxes and stuff like that, the occasional powerbait bottle.

I think that most of the guys fishing crane go to extreme measures to make sure the fish are returned quickly and carefully. I think it would be hard to over fish crane creek

if everybody follows the rules.

It is never going to get the pressure of the parks. The fish are actually bigger where people have been taking them out from time to time (private property) I know the are

not supposed to do this but it gets done by a few of the people that live and own land on the creek.

In town where it is fished hard, that is where some of the biggest fish are living, and they see a lot of people, it makes them more

wary the more they are fished for, if we fish for them and keep them looking up, then the herons won't be as hard on the trout, maybe.

So fish crane if you want to and talk about it if you want, don't if don't want to, but it will always be a good little creek.

I think we should worry more about pollution and low water than to many fisherman.

[Flysmallie]

I don't want crane to be over run, but the more legal fisherman down there the better I think, I see signs of poaching on a lot of my trips down there,

cans of corn, nightcrawler boxes and stuff like that, the occasional powerbait bottle.

I think that most of the guys fishing crane go to extreme measures to make sure the fish are returned quickly and carefully. I think it would be hard to over fish crane creek

if everybody follows the rules.

It is never going to get the pressure of the parks. The fish are actually bigger where people have been taking them out from time to time (private property) I know the are

not supposed to do this but it gets done by a few of the people that live and own land on the creek.

In town where it is fished hard, that is where some of the biggest fish are living, and they see a lot of people, it makes them more

wary the more they are fished for, if we fish for them and keep them looking up, then the herons won't be as hard on the trout, maybe.

So fish crane if you want to and talk about it if you want, don't if don't want to, but it will always be a good little creek.

I think we should worry more about pollution and low water than to many fisherman.

Well said Tim.

[ness]

I don't want crane to be over run, but the more legal fisherman down there the better I think, I see signs of poaching on a lot of my trips down there,

cans of corn, nightcrawler boxes and stuff like that, the occasional powerbait bottle.

I'd rather have Conservation Agents police it - not fishermen. But agree with you that legal fishermen are preferable, and more likely to report something illegal when they see it.

I think it would be hard to over fish crane creek

if everybody follows the rules.

Depends on what you mean by overfish, I suppose. To me, one guy a hundred yards ahead of me and it's overfished. But, I'm selfish. But seriously - what is overfished?

So fish crane if you want to and talk about it if you want, don't if don't want to, but it will always be a good little creek.

Always?? That's not a sure thing at all. I'd wager I could screw that creek up for you and everybody else, from right here in this chair...

I think we should worry more about pollution and low water than to many fisherman.

How about we worry about all three, and add poaching to the list?

A few phone calls to the local CA would get the place front-of-mind. As a matter of fact - as soon as I post this, I'm gonna call the Game Thief hotline - 1-800-392-1111 - and tell them I've seen evidence of bait fishing there and see what they say.

[fishinwrench]

It is good to hear from time to time that certain streams are doing ok (fishing well), but in all fairness some really good points are being made here.

[timsfly]

I've asked the MDC to put up a few trail cams in a few places where I find signs of illeagle fisherman. We don't have enough game wardens, and they can't be everywhere.

I doubt you could screw up that creek from your chair, plenty have tried ahead of you and it hasn't happened yet.

Yeh I like it when I'm the only one on the creek, and most days on crane I am, very very seldom do I have to share, you see, I'm very selfish myself.

I think it will always be a good fishing stream, unless the good lord himself decides to dry it up

Those fish are tough, been there for over 100 years and I'll bet when we are all dead and gone they are still in there spawning their little hearts out.

I've talked to some of the higher ups in the dept. they are aware of what is going on, I e-mail them each time I see it happen, and tell them where.

[redbird]

Tim, I sure appreciate all of the info you share about fishing. I have learned a ton by reading your posts. As for Crane I have fished there once a couple weeks ago, and I dont think I did any harm. I picked up some trash, and found a hardly used bottle of floatant (score! because I misplace a couple of these a year) Also I didnt catch any of those illusive trout, so I dont think I harmed them in any way. They are very wary, and that is the allure of fishing for them. I will not fish Crane often, but I plan on trying until I at least catch some! I will use the good ethics of a sportsman that I was brought up with. I will gently nudge those that I see not behaving in such a manner. We are all responsible for our waters. If every one of us picks up a can or couple pieces of paper each time we go, use some common good sense when fishing , and follow the law when we fish, our waters and our fish will continue to thrive. (Unless they are downstream of a pig farm) I dont think Crane will become overrun by fishermen, it is not what many fishermen are looking for. It is a challenge. It is a bit off the beaten path, and It is small. But there are more fishermen than there used to be, and I understand that it is never an easy pill to swallow when more of them fish an area that for the most part has been overlooked. Even a well kept secret is never kept forever. But when that secret is public land, it is to be expected that others will find it and fish it. Lets all hope that they are all like the ones who have posted in this thread. Because what I see is that though some of us disagree with one another, we all care very deeply for our sport and the waters we fish.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and lots of good fishing in the New Year!

[Chief Grey Bear]

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.

While there on my last trip, I noticed some 17 to 20lb line in a tree with two split shots and a #4 worm hook. That has local written all over it.