Illegal Fishing On Crane Creek

[Outside Bend]

He sort of has a point, though. For the price of a half-dozen of those size sixteen caddises you could be help paying for stocking, area maintenance, habitat enhancement, stream restoration, and protection of the state's limited coldwater resources. To me, it's worth 7 bucks.

[ness]

If he'd have left off the first three sentences his point would have been made and he would have sounded much less confrontational.

[Wheatenheimer]

Well, now that wouldn't be Eric then would it? Are you asking Eric to deviate from his true form? That would be like asking Al to start painting pictures of kittens with pretty pink bow's on their heads.

[Wayne SW/MO]

To me, the immigrants generate no more trash and are no more of a problem than a few of the locals who have been there for generations.

That could depend on where you've been and what you've observed.

[troutfiend1985]

I don't think being responsible for a trout’s death is the reason a person has to buy a trout stamp. And causing a trout to die is not a guarantee that the trout will come home with you. Its illegal to keep a 17' trout from a blue ribbon stream one way or the other. I buy one, but only to fish Taney. If I didn't have to buy one to fish Taney then I wouldn't purchase one. The way I see it, I don't owe the MDC anything as long as I purchase my license and catch and release.

[eric1978]

If he'd have left off the first three sentences his point would have been made and he would have sounded much less confrontational.

Confrontational? I was just pointing out why I believe his refusal to buy a stamp is short sighted and frankly a bit selfish. I doubt my opinion will keep him awake tonight, but I'm sure he appreciates you mediating the thread. I'll go ahead and assume you agree with me, too, since you made no comment on the issue at hand.

The way I see it, I don't owe the MDC anything as long as I purchase my license and catch and release.

MDC isn't lining their pockets and laughing all the way to the bank with license revenues. That money goes to creating a better fishing experience for all of us, yourself included. I release trout, too, and when I see an agent writing a poacher a ticket, or I see a habitat improvement project underway, et cetera, I'm happy to know that I contributed to help pay for those important aspects of what MDC does. It's not just about paying to restock a fish you take home to eat. There's much more that goes into sustaining, improving and protecting a fishery.

Well, now that wouldn't be Eric then would it? Are you asking Eric to deviate from his true form? That would be like asking Al to start painting pictures of kittens with pretty pink bow's on their heads.

You're supposed to just agree with me Wheat. Thanks for trying, though.

[ollie]

Ok, wait a minute. Don't you HAVE to purchase one (trout stamp) whether or not you keep trout or not? I guess I'm getting a little confused on this one. Don't worry, it happens often! If I C&R smallmouth all day long I still need a valid permit. What's the difference? BTW, I got asked to show my license just this past Saturday down on Big Sugar and I was C&R smallmouths. The agent pulled a canoe up next to my yak and said, "can I see your license, I'm a conservation agent and you just look like you wouldn't have one". Talk about profiling! I guess I still have that crazy look about me!

[Mo Mac Man]

Ollie, that was pretty insulting to you. What was your response? Was he polite after that? Was he on duty in uniform? I think I might had accidentally bounced a 1/4 jig off the side of his head.

[jdmidwest]

Trout stamp revenue funds the hatchery programs that raise the trout that are stocked in the streams. It is not about put and take, it is about the put. If revenue falls, trout production will drop and trout numbers will be less. If you trout fish, buy a stamp. Many people purchase Federal Duck Stamps to generate revenue to ensure the survival of the waterfowl. Many people buy steel shot to further insure the safe release of ducks back into the wild, much like a barbless hook.

[troutfiend1985]

Ollie, the way I have understood the law is that you only have to purchase a trout stamp if you: 1)Keep trout, or 2). Fish above 64(?) Highway on Lake Taneycomo.

Eric,my problem is that I don't keep fish. I do buy my trout stamp, but I just don't see the reasoning why and it is not because of the 7 dollars either. I know that there is more that goes into sustaining a trout stream than restocking, but look, I would have to bet (with a total lack of knowledge other than common sense) the majority of all of the trout stamp revenue is used to fund hatcheries. Not knocking the program, but I would think that alot of the work on these streams comes from stream teams such as the one that Ollie created for Hickory.

Just my views. Looks like I am going to have to keep purchasing the tag as I like to fish Taney.