Catfish?

[jtram]

Maybe I am an idiot but you can alway find someone who regularly catches catfish out of shoal creek they say any ways, but I have always enjoyed fruitless days and nights usually with non-fish related "incidents". Can anyone steer me in the right direction????? I really enjoy catfishing but hate OK, and dont wanna drive up by Nevada to get to them any sw mo creek, stream/info would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

[Chief Grey Bear]

Spring River, Elk River, Center Creek, and North Fork chocked full of them.

They are in Shoal, but I don't think in the same numbers. I saw about a 2lb flathead on a limb line last year.

You may hate OK, but a 30 minute drive to some excellent catfishing ain't bad.

[jtram]

You make an excellent point about the drive... got a buddy thats begging me to take the fly rods to OK for some white bass and i dont really have a reason to hate it, just do? I guess i have just been stuck on mac county smallmouth, shoal creek, and capps too much to ever give the joplin/sarcoxie/lamar area a shot guess i need to get myself out from under a rock! Thanks Chief

[jtram]

O ya, North Fork??? Of the Spring River?

[fishinSWMO]

I would also suggest Spring River. I have caught a few out of Shoal, just not worth the effort.

[Taylor Briley]

I've caught numerous catfish from shoal creek. Little ones all the way up to 45lb flatheads. 

It's all about the bait and timing. Usually between midnight and 4-430 in the morning is best time to see any action. 

Use soft she'll crawdads or live chub and they will tare them up.  Black perch is also alright to use but I've not gotten near the bites on them as I have the other 2. 

Scenic rout is a good spot but you have to do some walking to find a good spot. 

About a mile up creek from undercliff there's a bend with a big spring fed pond on train track side. There's a underground cave at that bend that holds some monsters. If you got a boat you can reach it otherwise ull get trespassing from everyone out there. I can't fish that particular spot any more but if you can get there i suggest it.

[ollie]

Yea, I bit the bullet on that license this year and forked over the cash for one. Glad I did now. From Neosho I can be on Grand within 20-30 minutes easy. Went three times when the whites were running and slayed them. Been to a couple of crappie docks as well and did fine. Tons of good catfish in there as well. If you want to stay in this area without spending the dough for that OK license then Shoal does have them in there, but like Chief said I don't think as many, although I did see someone last year haul out 2 five pound plus flat heads out of there. Now I think about that was first thing in the morning and he was checking limb lines from the night before. Go below Noel on that stretch of Elk and there are plenty.

[MoCarp]

Traditional cat methods for some reason not as productive, drifting cut suckers on a bobber by brush Or ledges works, lots of flatheads as well,