February 2022 Ozark Anglers Crane Creek trip

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Try some fly fishing at Crane Creek in winter when there are far less snakes out and about. 

When - Wednesday February 16th

Where - Crane Creek

Meet at Dollar General at 6am. Rain or shine.

Hopefully there is enough water to be found on Crane Creek - I will scout it out a few days before to make 100% sure.

If you plan to be there, sign up below.

Questions ? 

Links - 

Map PDF file - https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/CraneCreek.pdf

Special Regulations Apply - https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/special-waterbody-regulations/crane-creek

2017 Springfield NewsLeader Story - https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2017/11/02/rare-mccloud-rainbows-crane-creek-get-unusual-ally-new-bridge/727448001/

[Phil Lilley]

Sounds fun.  I'll go.

[Gavin]

Wouldn't your tourney be better at a trout park? Put more than two or three out on a creek that size and nobody has a good day.

 

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Gavin said:

Wouldn't your tourney be better at a trout park? Put more than two or three out on a creek that size and nobody has a good day.

 

Better yet, just go ahead and turn Crane into another trout park.  The community would benefit, and it's high time for everyone to face reality and let go of that "McCloud" fable.    There's already more than enough BS feel-good tales in everyday society for people to believe in if they need to.   Why do we have to keep that one going in the world of flyfishing?  🙄

[Gavin]

Think the Gateway TU folks are gonna do some genetic testing. The truth is out there.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Thanks for vote of confidence Phil.

Maybe just come out and enjoy a day on Crane.

 

[fishinwrench]

59 minutes ago, Gavin said:

Think the Gateway TU folks are gonna do some genetic testing. The truth is out there.

😂 The TU group is likely responsible for perpetuating that story in the first place.  

If not them, then who?   

Just out of curiosity, what was the earliest date of that tale being told?   Was it told in the 1950's?  

1960's?

1970's? 

1980's?

I know when I first heard it.  When did you?   

I first visited the place during a drought period.  And as far as historic droughts go.....that one wasn't nearly as severe and long lasting as several before that.     Honestly the "stream" was reduced to a damp ditch with a series of isolated puddles.  Nothing but pollywogs, a few  crawdads, and some water bugs.  I can only imagine what it was like during the 1930-1940 dust bowl era. But yet those fish have been in there since the '20's ?    No friggin way. 

[Gavin]

I think there is some truth to the story. Spence Turner compiled all the old stocking records from the U.S. Fish Commission when he was one of the trout biologists for MDC. There are records out there, maybe a report, and Chuck Tryon used it for most of the information contained in his Missouri Trout book. I'm sure someone has access to those records in some format. It is cited often, but I've never seen it. There is another book out now about Missouri trout history or something to that effect. Hargrove tried to stuff one in my hand at the shop a couple months ago, but I declined. I really don't give a crap where a trout came from anymore. It's a trout...OK, stop talking, that's enough. Speaking of Chuck T, I did find a box full of BUB Flies that I got from him years ago when packing for the winter float. Gosh he was a horrible tier! 

[fishinwrench]

2 minutes ago, Gavin said:

I think there is some truth to the story. Spence Turner compiled all the old stocking records from the U.S. Fish Commission when he was one of the trout biologists for MDC. There are records out there, maybe a report, and Chuck Tryon used it for most of the information contained in his Missouri Trout book. I'm sure someone has access to those records in some format. It is cited often, but I've never seen it. There is another book out now about Missouri trout history or something to that effect. Hargrove tried to stuff one in my hand at the shop a couple months ago, but I declined. I really don't give a crap where a trout came from anymore. It's a trout...OK, stop talking, that's enough. Speaking of Chuck T, I did find a box full of BUB Flies that I got from him years ago when packing for the winter float. Gosh he was a horrible tier! 

😂. That BUB fly in a #10-12 is a killer bluegill fly.  

I'm not denying that trout were put in Crane during the '20's anymore than I'd deny that trout were put in Bennett Spring then too.   But to believe that no stockings have been done since, is rediculous.  Neosho and Rockbridge are not that far away.

[Gavin]

Genetic testing should provide some insight on that, one way or the other.  The premises is that an unaltered/very lightly altered legacy population  of trout would be very different (genetically) from a population of trout raised in a hatchery where man can select for traits/rush evolution.