“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”


John Muir

Friday, October 14, 2011

20 Inch Crane Creek Rainbow, a truly rare trout stocked in 1890 by the railroad

Had a great day on Crane Creek in Southwest Missouri.  Landed this 20 incher on a Czech Nymph. What a memorable fish. Won't forget this one anytime soon.


Why ?


Crane Creek is home to one of only three remaining populations of the pure-strain McCloud River rainbow trout — even the McCloud River no longer has this strain of fish in residence. stocked in approximately 1890 by railcar with trout fry from the McCloud River in Northern California. 


A portion of Crane Creek is a losing stream. A losing  stream is one where the flow of water actually disappears underground.