The Accidental Trout Creek

[fishinwrench]

There was some obvious & undeniable stocking between 1987-1998 

[ness]

22 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

I can’t wait for AI to start adding this BS to search results. 

Well, you just talked your way out of an all-expense-paid guided trip! 🤪

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

It sure is nice to get another piece of the Ness family lore.   It sure has been a while since the last telling.  I really do hope we get the view from Paul Dallas, including the information thats supposed to be kept close to the vest.  It will be like old times.  

[ness]

2 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

It sure is nice to get another piece of the Ness family lore.   It sure has been a while since the last telling.  I really do hope we get the view from Paul Dallas, including the information thats supposed to be kept close to the vest.  It will be like old times.  

He has been summoned🤪

[ness]

Welp, I heard back. The boy is down on the Current with the gang doing the annual winter float. At least that's what he said. He'd better not be over at my creek!

[ColdWaterFshr]

On 1/2/2026 at 4:29 PM, ness said:

Well, now that the cat's outta the bag, I'll give you the rest of the story.

My great-great grandfather, Zebediah ness, was conductor of that very train.  A couple days after the hijacking, under the cover of darkness, he went back to Crane Creek. An accomplished fly fisherman and early proponent of catch-and-release fishing with barbless hooks (homemade), he caught a couple dozen of the fish, placed them into milk cans and transferred them to the steam at the old family farm a couple counties over. The trauma of the two moves led to only two of those fish surviving - the very largest, strongest and smartest of them all, according to family lore. Fortunately, they were cock and hen (That terminology is rarely used these days, but was common in fisheries management in the 19th century). Through some miraculous genetic mutation and decades of adaptation, a thriving population of supertrout developed in that creek. The family farm was sold years ago, but Zebediah put on a 500 year conservation easement for the benefit of his direct descendants. I've fished many times and they're really something to behold. I have petitioned for the recognition of this subspecies (I suggested O. mykiss ness) but haven't heard back from those guys. It's a closely held secret, and I have only allowed one other person to see and fish the stream: @ColdWaterFshr. If he'd like to chime in and substantiate, even embellish this story, I'm fine with that. He knows what not to say. 

Its all very true.  We all owe a debt of gratitude to Zebediah Ness for his actions, but more than that . . . his vision that provided us with the blueprint for wild-trout angling in Missouri. I've written letters to my congressmen asking for a casting of a 60 foot tall bronze statue in his likeness and image to be made and presented to the mayor of Crane, to be proudly displayed at the city park or better still, directly adjacent to the Chinese Chef Inn where he was a frequent customer.  As you may know, Chinese laborers were the backbone of the railroads construction, and without them, the redbands could have never made it to Crane Creek.  Many died along the way, and the few that did survive, were able to open small businesses in the area, most prominently of course was the Chinese Chef Inn, where some of the best Cashew Chicken in the world is served (Tues-Sat, closed Sun/Mon) and is a Michelin star restaurant.  But I digress.  

[ness]

3 hours ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

Its all very true.  We all owe a debt of gratitude to Zebediah Ness for his actions, but more than that . . . his vision that provided us with the blueprint for wild-trout angling in Missouri. I've written letters to my congressmen asking for a casting of a 60 foot tall bronze statue in his likeness and image to be made and presented to the mayor of Crane, to be proudly displayed at the city park or better still, directly adjacent to the Chinese Chef Inn where he was a frequent customer.  As you may know, Chinese laborers were the backbone of the railroads construction, and without them, the redbands could have never made it to Crane Creek.  Many died along the way, and the few that did survive, were able to open small businesses in the area, most prominently of course was the Chinese Chef Inn, where some of the best Cashew Chicken in the world is served (Tues-Sat, closed Sun/Mon) and is a Michelin star restaurant.  But I digress.  

Thanks for the additional details. In his autobiography, Zebediah did mention he liked the Inn, but he boycotted it when he walked in and the blue plate special was "Sweet and Sour Rainbow". The original Inn burned to the ground just days later, but he always denied responsibility. 

[BilletHead]

51 minutes ago, ness said:

Thanks for the additional details. In his autobiography, Zebediah did mention he liked the Inn, but he boycotted it when he walked in and the blue plate special was "Sweet and Sour barn cat". The original Inn burned to the ground just days later, but he always denied responsibility. 

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