David Bell

John was very helpful Friday as well, which is how my son Frank and came to fish Eleven point. I mentioned the trout we hooked and netted on Saturday, but there were numerous smallmouth caught as well. They were, however, very small. Also caught were 6 or 8 carp and I think Frank caught a blue gill or two but I didn't see those fish. I plan to fish this again in late January or perhaps February. In Winter, you pretty much have the stream to yourself. In the two one day floats we took, we saw only one other fisherman during the day. A couple of young guys had just pulled in to the greer put in as we were getting on the water, so all in all, it was two fun days(despite the high water on Sunday). David

Often, older patterns are as or very effective than some of the more realistic patterns. I very much appreciate this pattern. It has caught trout from Wyoming and Colorado to Wisconsin and Michigan and down to the midwest streams of Missouri and Arkansas. I used it for steelhead on Lake Michigan as well. I have used 4 color variations, one for the large Golden stone, this one for the large black, and varied off to brown and more olive mixes of dubbing. It was the latter that caught steelead in Wisconsin, especially Door County Penninsula. The think I like about the pattern is simplicity to tie, it's durability. Brooks believed that trout "can't count" and the image of the fly vs. realism was more important, especially for an insect tumbled in current. I am not knocking any other pattern but this particular one has been very effective in my flyfishing. I wouldn't be without it, tied say, sizes 4-10, weighted heavily or slighly depending on water being fished, etc. The smaller pattern does the same thing as the Prince Nymph or the brown. This is the variation of the Brooks stonefly that I tied...you can find this in the book, "Larger Trout for the Western Flyfisherman" by Charlie Brooks, or in Jack Dennis' :Western Trout Flytying Manual". I altered the pattern to fit materials at hand and one of the two styles of aptterns that Brian carries. Due to high water, a heavy fly was absolutely necessary. Size 4 or 6 hook - I used common Mustad streamer hook, 9672, but Tiemco 200R would also be good. For this pattern though, I prefer the former. Weight: cone or bead head or lead weight appropriate to the size of hook. tails: I used a dark green forked quills abdomen: Peacock Herl with gold wire ribbing(I used pretty heavy wire to show through the herl) Abdomen: either black or very dark greenish black dubbing. Gills: Ostrich herl, white or gray legs: Gray and grizzly mixed or just gray hackle. (pull one side of hackle from stem). tie in the tail, attach wire and then peacock herl, wrapping it forward to the bead-head...over wrap with wire for segmentation. tie in the ostrich herl and feather(s). dub the thorax. I think the best combo was very dark black fur. I mixed in some extremely dark green as well but not sure that it made any difference...the color of this was darker than the peacock herl anyway. two tones to the body work in most cases. Wrap the feather for legs, for the length of the thorax and tie off behind the bead. Over-wrap that reverse to the feather with the ostrich herl...this helps trap air bubbles and adds life to the pattern as well as making the thorax section of the life more durable--wiggle the herl as you pass it around the thorax to keep from pinning down the feather fibers...the ostrich herl providing strength to the pattern. Charlie Brooks believed in strong patterns and used a lot of glue during each step of his fly construction. Here is his pattern list: hook 4010, 9672 Mustad thread: Black Mono weight: Underbody, lead wire (or substitute beadhead) tails: Goos Quill-Black or gray... Body: Black Fuzzy yarn ribbing: Brown dyed flat nylon Monofilament Gills: white or light gray ostrich herl legs 1 grizzly and 1 brown dyed grizzly Generally construct as I highlighted above. Best regards, David Bell

I thought I would take the time to post a note on the Eleven Point after two days of Canoe and flyfishing. I had not fished this stream or been on it in probably 30 years. My son and I hooked up with Brian Sloss and did two one day floats Dec 30/31. The second day was absolutely not memorable at all. We put in, the river was up due to rain probably 6 inches or more and it was already high. The river rose along the day and fishing was absolutely miserable. However, the trip was fun, the day breezy with interspersed blue skies behind clouds with the sun peaking through a bit. Saturday was a different story. The day was drizzly and and cold all day. Fishing, however, was very good. We caught 30+ on Saturday(we caught some very small fish as well as larger) and some very small smallies. The water was up so seeking out runs which held fish was a challenge. Fishing the channels along side the top three islands below the Greer Put-in was good, with the run on the East/North side of the 3rd island, prolific. The trout were hitting the stonefly supurbly--We picked up a few, with the black stone hooking most all fish. Crayfish and Buggers accounted for a few more while scud took a couple of fish. Of those caught and released on Saturday, 16 very nice trout between my son and myself that ranged between 12 and 15 inches. Francis caught one very nice Bow which went 16. We did not hook up with anything larger(that we netted). I don't know which pattern of Stone Brian carries, the Kaufman stone or one like it. I tied 20 Brooks Stone Flies(Black), and they did as well or better than the more realistic pattern; Frank fished those while I fished the patterns I tied. We lost a lot of flies due to obstruction, and hang-ups, especially on Sunday. The water was colored with a lot of trash coming down from up-river. When the river gets down I would look for good fishing in January and I have not fished the river at its normal level since the early 70s. Thanks to Brian for all his advice. Note to anyone floating the river...There are obstructions due to the rain and heavy run off at the stone boulders just above the take-out point --the channel which is usually favored on the right was impassable on Sunday. I am curious as to the trout...reproducing? Some of these fish appeared to be streamborn and very strong. We did not kill any to figure that. best regards, David Bell

Changing the question, if you were to fish for bass, lived in Joplin, what stream would you choose 45 minutes or less from Joplin? What I am seeking is opportunity for hookups on an afternoon or morning, not an all day event. If you can point to stream and put in points it would be helpful. This is aside from Shoal Creek. I am curious about Center Creek for example as well. This is all catch and release fishing but if a monster trophy type fish were taken that would be consideration. thanks, David

okay, I know the water below the dam, and have fished that to Galena at one time or another. How about the other direction? Upper reaches should be cleaner. What about put in points for flyfishing in particular? One thing that I do know, is the fishery is not what it was in the 50s and 60s but Shoal creek still holds nice smallies. I caught a 3 lb small above the bridge on about 1 mile by road, where the streams follows the road and makes a hard left to a muggy bottom and high bnks. This is above the bridge at Reddings mill. I am going to post another question related to other streams. David

All, I am a fly fisherman removed from Coastal Tx to Mo. I have flyfished since 1972 and spend time each summer on trout waters, namely the parks or white river tail waters. I am interested in flyfishing for bass in shoal creek -- patterns, locations etc. I tie my own flies, but am unfamiliar with the prey. It is winter now so that is where I will start...there are two of us who fish together, catch and release mostly but looking for sport near Joplin for regular fishing. I know Center Creek also holds fish and Spring River for Ky Bass etc...but assist in patterns and locations would be greatly appreciated. I have one of those small two person fishing craft, but prefer places to wadefish. Thanks in Advance, David Bell