Illegal Fishing On Crane Creek

[Coldspring]

I've did a LOT of hiking trail work on MDC property, and a bit of stream cleanup elsewhere. Not sure how you put a dollar value on the work, when you consider all the office paper pushers and their bureaucracies involved, equipment costs and expenses it has saved MDC, and they don't even appreciate it, all I got was a $2 water bottle and cheap handkerchief for thanks. I'm sure they wouldn't let me work for them doing menial labor, since I don't have a biology degree, but they sure like volunteers. LOL I'm sure if you added it all together, it would make up for a lifetime of trout stamps and fishing licenses. I'm C&R anyway, and do buy licenses and stamps. I'm not like a bunch of locals in my neck of the woods that keep everything legal or what they can get away with. There are a LOT of fish fries here...we got more baptist churches than we have river fish.

[Outside Bend]

If I had someone willing to mow my lawns and trim my weeds for free, I'd jump on it too...

And to be fair, a water bottle and a cheap handkerchief isn't all that far from what some of the MDC biologists and technicians make

[Sharps4590]

Good for you outside. Admirable and honorable efforts. I did most of the same things when we ran cattle. Still ain't buyin' a trout stamp. I provide more than reasonable efforts and monies for the resource, more than my fair share and I don't begrudge that at all, I don't keep and eat them, no stamp. I don't believe in paying according to ones ability to pay. You wanna buy one, good for you. I'm not.

[ozark trout fisher]

I don't think a fly fisherman who releases nearly 100% of his trout unharmed can really be called irresponsible or unselfish for not buying a trout tag... I choose to buy one because I like to fish the winter season at the trout parks and I think it goes to a good cause, but I don't begrudge those who chose not to. And Eric, there is no reason in the world someone who mainly fishes Little Piney and Mill Creek's Blue ribbon area should have to pay to help trout stocking-those are wild fish, and the MDC doesn't have to replace them. Nature kindly takes care of that. You said that Little Piney would have far fewer fish without stocking efforts-that may be true in some areas of the stream, but where I do most of my fishing, in the Blue Ribbon area, the vast majority of the trout I catch are smaller than 9 inches, the minimum stocking size for Missouri trout.

As for the bait fishing in Blue Ribbon areas- that's a problem that I see a lot, and it annoys me to no end. Just about every time I fish at Lane Spring, I have to pick up a couple empty worm cans, and sometimes jars of powerbait as well. This wild trout creeks really can't handle bait fishing pressure, and those who understand the regulations, and bait fish anyway are truly selfish. To those who don't understand the regs, it's up to us to do what Sharps did, and explain them to those who are violating them accidentally.

[Outside Bend]

there is no reason in the world someone who mainly fishes Little Piney and Mill Creek's Blue ribbon area should have to pay to help trout stocking

Really? I think the Little Piney and Mill Creek are two prime examples why folks should cough up and buy the $7 stamp. Bohegan CA on Mill Creek was purchased with trout funds, and has opened up much more of that stream to the public. The fund has helped to pay for stream revetments and other erosion-control structures. It has also paid for artificial structures to increase fish habitat and holding areas on Mill Creek. When MDC biologists sample those streams, their pay is coming from trout program funds.

Again, the money isn't used solely for stocking. Although those streams are managed as wild fisheries, they're still benefiting from the funds.

[ozark trout fisher]

Really? I think the Little Piney and Mill Creek are two prime examples why folks should cough up and buy the $7 stamp. Bohegan CA on Mill Creek was purchased with trout funds, and has opened up much more of that stream to the public. The fund has helped to pay for stream revetments and other erosion-control structures. It has also paid for artificial structures to increase fish habitat and holding areas on Mill Creek. When MDC biologists sample those streams, their pay is coming from trout program funds.

Again, the money isn't used solely for stocking. Although those streams are managed as wild fisheries, they're still benefiting from the funds.

I guess you have a point about Mill at Bohigian. I hate to admit being incorrect, but I just hadn't thought of that.

I can't think of any way the Little Piney has benefited from the funds though, at least in the Blue Ribbon portion, but that may be beside the point.

[Wheatenheimer]

I'm angry at this entire thing. I've been demonized, accused of being selfish, all but called unethical and you might as well throw immoral and quasi illegal in the mix too. And not a one of those are based upon ANY fact with the only knowledge being that I fish the Little Piney occasionally and don't buy a trout stamp. How feeble, imprudent and immature. What a few whining wallydraigles.

Close the thread now and you can blame it on me....for not buying a trout stamp.

Vic

I thought you said that Eric's opinions didn't matter to you. Apparently they do some, seeing how you have allowed his opinions to upset you.

I believe that the majority of the people here could care less what you do with your funds and whether you feel the need to buy or not buy a trout stamp, as long as you are within the law, that is your business.

In my opinion, it is 7 bucks well spent. I don't balk one bit every year forking over the cash. It is a very small price to pay for the privilege it allows, whether you utilize it or not. There have been many years that I did not utilize the legal end of possessing a trout stamp, but I still had it just in case.

My two pennies to all of us.........grow some thicker skin, bitch less and fish more!

[Chief Grey Bear]

I don't think a fly fisherman who releases nearly 100% of his trout unharmed can really be called irresponsible or unselfish for not buying a trout tag...

There is no such thing as releasing a fish "unharmed". That fish still has a hook wound in its mouth. I have caught numerous fish that you can still see the red, inflamed area around the mouth from a hook set a few days earlier. A mortal wound? No. Unharmed? No.

Would it be irresponsible or unselfish for all C&R anglers, regardless of species sought, to stop purchasing a fishing licnese? Certainly it shouldn't just be flyfishermen fishing for trout.

[lizard]

Eric congrats on the new arrival and hope all is well with you and the family. I think that most feel that its a good idea to buy the stamp if they are going to fish for trout and do, I just don't think I should be told to do so. I enjoy fishing with a fly rod. My wife likes the spinning gear. Its just a preference. I don't like watching people bate fishing just because I feel they are not catching fish, rather the fish are catching them. With that said I've never told someone not to bate fish just because of my views. I have carried a stamp every year for the past 15 as my wife and son have, so as a family that $21 from us. Rarely do we keep a fish,and where I go, I don't need a stamp. As some know I own property on a private trout stream. The mdc has not stock it in over 40 years or done anything in helping the "water-shed". Its private, so they can't. I do still support there efferts as I fish elsewhere in the state. Pleae just don't tell me I have, should, or need to do so.

[ozark trout fisher]

There is no such thing as releasing a fish "unharmed". That fish still has a hook wound in its mouth. I have caught numerous fish that you can still see the red, inflamed area around the mouth from a hook set a few days earlier. A mortal wound? No. Unharmed? No.

Would it be irresponsible or unselfish for all C&R anglers, regardless of species sought, to stop purchasing a fishing licnese? Certainly it shouldn't just be flyfishermen fishing for trout.

Chief, I buy the stamp every year, and personally I think it's a good thing to do. And I wouldn't be that opposed to making it mandatory.

I just don't think it's right to call Sharps selfish for not doing so-it sounds like he has contributed his fair share to conservation.