Lower Wire 4/6

[pruett417]

Bamboozle, thanks for not getting offended because every effort was made in my post to keep that from happening, and I think you made a very valid point, the thing that keeps coming into my mind is how we fisherman that use the resource the most impact the resource. Now granted we may take extra care of the fishery, pick up trash, use barbless hooks, handle fish as little as possible......is it not us die-hard Crane Creek fanatics that by our own practice pressure the hell out of those fish, I know I can honestly say yes, I'm probably one of the ones doing the hammering. I try to make excuses not to go, to wait a week, to give it time, but there is something about that place that draws us back. I know I have participated in the education of those trout significantly more than any novice to the stream will do in a dozen visits, I think it's just the nature of the beast, persay.

And I would like to wrap it all up with the fact that I, like most that enjoy what is offered up by Crane Creek, do get somewhat annoyed when I see several other anglers during the day down there? I would have to say yes, a little, but not because I'm anti-social, elite, better than thou, but because they might of got the first shot at a hole I wanted to fish, lol.

Do I avoid coming into contact with other fisherman down there, yes I do. If I see a novice angler struggling with fishing the creek, just like the one I watched in the park the other day? Nope, I don't. Am I selfish, nah, most that know me know better than that. I feel that Crane demands a learning curve that most don't want to put out the effort to obtain, if you choose to learn it then by all means be my guest. Maybe eventually we can share some secrets.

[pruett417]

I can understand and appreciate everyone wanting to "protect" the resource but keeping a couple of fishing reports off a forum isn't the way to do it I believe. But maybe I am wrong? I understand the logic but not on a regionally and nationally known fishery like Crane. If you wanna protect the resource, keep buying fishing licenses and trout permits so MDC can buy more public land, donate to TU, or just let people know why ur in Crane when u r getting food or gas so that the locals r reminded of the resource they have that is bringing revenue into their town so maybe they will help protect it themselves.

That is also a very good point Chance, I think that action from groups such as TU, agencies such as MDC, and we citizens ourselves are absolutely vital to ensure the survival of this little gem. It goes far beyond, some novice pressuring a few fish and losing some flies in the brush. Places like Crane Creek are vanishing as we speak, it's the product of our times.

Just the other day, in the wee hours of the morning, just outside the park, I surprised two individuals fishing, upon noticing me, they chucked their spinning rods in the brush. Then spent the next several minutes acting like they were looking at the stream. Was it a case of no fishing license, or a case of using an illegal means to pursue the fish...It really doesn't matter actually, because when I exited my vehicle to pleasantly confront the individuals, they grabbed the rods and scampered upstream, at a pretty good pace. I have to argue that these instances offer far greater impact on the fishery than a fisherman new to the stream.

Chance, I think that last sentence, is very vital to what's going on down there, let's show them that the stream is worth protecting. How many times have you had a conversation with a non-fisherman about a fishing trip, or whatever and Crane gets brought up? How many times have you heard, Wow, I had no idea. In this case does exposure actually offer vital education that may provide additional resources and provide for a mentality that this fishery is worth protecting? I don't know I could go on forever, and I'm sure no one wants to read my rants, I'm to much of an idealist. But education is vital in the struggles that we are going to be facing in the future, education requires exposure, and the education is forefront in turning this fishery into something other than a dumping ground.

Just my usual 10 cents worth.

[Lancer09]

OK, seriously, crane is not a secret. just a few years back, ESPN had it listed in like the top 100 trout streams in the country. It's not a secret. If someone sees the pictures or videos and wants to hit it up, more power to them. More than LIkely, they'll leave, without having caught that fish. They will come back to try again, and get connected with the place like so many of us have, in turn hopefully picking up a bit of the trash, and cleaning this little gem up.

The fish that the creek puts out is remarkable for what it is, and I think anyone trying to keep it a secret is being selfish. The place is so well known across the state, and it's still as nice as it is. I dont think it's going to change much if someone see's these pictures or video and decides that they want to fish the area.

If we want to keep the place a secret have Phil pull this page off the board, remove blue ribbon status so it's not listed any where, and pretty much NEVER talk about the creek again... then maybe no one will know about it in a few years.

Also, I have spoken with andrew about trying to catch this fish, and he shared some ideas that he and pruett had, and I as well think that fish is going to be very hard to catch, but that's part of the allure of the whole thing.

[pruett417]

If we want to keep the place a secret have Phil pull this page off the board, remove blue ribbon status so it's not listed any where, and pretty much NEVER talk about the creek again... then maybe no one will know about it in a few years.

I think the consequences of actions like this, put this fishery in far greater jeapardy than fishing pressure.....it's definitely time to look at the big picture, good point Lancer.

[mic]

I had the same complaints with Blue Springs Creek. Providing and reading reports is why I joined this forum.

[pruett417]

I had the same complaints with Blue Springs Creek. Providing and reading reports is why I joined this forum.

And you speak for the majority, forums are used by most of us to gain knowledge, strategies, friends, networking........I'm pretty sure that's the intent, not what we watched on television last night, or grocery prices, that's a different forum all together. The funny part is, is let's say in my case, I choose to back-pedal now, and from this day forward choose to refer to the places I fish as Stream X, Z, and Y. I'm sure that the majority of you that frequent this category would have a pretty good idea where we are all talking about, by simply reading the post. I used common sense to figure out a unnamed stream referred to in a different topic area, because I have knowledge of the subject. We are going to talk about our fishing, it's what we do........

[Arofishing]

I am extremely thankful for those of you who have not practiced the art of "discretion" so eloquently and admirably put forward by Bamboozle. If it weren't for your reports and advice I likely would have found Crane too intimidating of a place to fish and enjoy, let alone catch any McCloud. Given that I will be leaving MO in a few months I am all the more thankful I got to experience and enjoy such a magical place before I (likely) leave it forever. If I were at a different stage of my life I'd likely be more willing to heed Bamboozle's well-intentioned caution. But in addition to being a novice and having benefited from those who've made Crane a possibility for me, I have a pretty deep and pervasive skepticism about the impact that OAF can have, at least negatively, on Crane creek.

We are 1) anglers of an obsessive sort that actually care about it enough, and find it interesting enough, to talk about at length, anonymously, over the internet. Individuals that 2) just happen to live in (roughly) a 200 mile radius of one another. People that would fish Crane additionally are (very likely) 3) fly fisherman who 4) invite the challenge of fishing in quite difficult conditions to 5) catch few and 6) (generally) small fish. I think we've weeded out a great deal of the population and the fishing pressure threat already, and as others have stated, if OAF didn't exist but you still satisfied all the criteria above, you'd likely find out about Crane anyway. I take it that our near irrational concern for Crane's well-being only serves to exemplify our admiration of it, and our appreciation of it as a precious and exhaustible natural resource. So if we are going to practice the art of discretion, I hope these are our motives, and not the selfish desire that one of my favorite fishing destinations become less prosperous for me because of the purported pressure it has received.

This is where I would agree with Bamboozle's diagnosis of any inconsistency between "1) Guys posting pictures of the nice fish they have caught and 2) Guys commenting on how much pressure the public sections of creek seem to get." Insofar as 2) can be, and often is, motivated by a desire to catch more fish oneself, 2) is utterly without merit, because what you're actually saying is "I couldn't care less if Crane were just as pressured as it already is, only I wish I was the one doing all the pressuring (and catching all the fish)!"

Finally, if our motives for discretion really are admirable, then I don't see how discussing it on OAF can harm Crane, but I can see how silence could. Discussions concerning Crane on OAF have only served to inculcate and reinforce my respect and admiration for the place. Posters are continually trying to leave it "better than they found it," people like Andrew are raising awareness of bait fishermen on Crane (as both comical and sad as that is). In effect, OAF is, as far as I can tell, encouraging us to be more vigilant, better stewards of Crane.

That is the best case I can make against discretion as an unabashed proponent of non-discretion. It is not in any way meant to discredit the fact that Crane is small and the fish relatively sparse. We should remain ever cognizant of both those facts.

[Justin Spencer]

Well put! Doubt the people on OAF are the ones leaving worm containers, they are who we need to worry about. If people aren't using it or talking about it MDC won't care about it and it could be lost. I understand the thought that pictures or good reports might lead to more pressure, but like others have said most of the fragile places take too much work and give up too few fish to make many come back. For every good report we see there are a dozen bad ones that never get reported. Keep up the pics and reports, I may never fish Crane, but I like seeing the results of everyone's effort.

[OKFlyFisher44]

Justin...anytime u wanna make the trip, just let me know. We will put the sneak on some McClouds!

[Justin Spencer]

Justin...anytime u wanna make the trip, just let me know. We will put the sneak on some McClouds!

I would enjoy that!