New To Shoal Creek

[phiber_optikx]

I am new(er) to fishing so forgive me for asking newb questions. I am dedicated to fishing more this year and becoming better at it. So anyway, I have lived in Joplin my whole life but never realized that you could actively catch fish out of shoal creek. None worth bragging about anyway. Anyone care to share some good tips on fishing this creek with no boat and without buying expensive equipment (waders, fly rod, etc.) Also, what can you expect to catch in shoal creek?

[Bird Watcher]

You would be suprised how many different types of fish are in that creek. LM, SM,spotted bass, Goggle eye, channel, flathead,blues, crappie, walleye can all be caught within 5 miles of the Joplin city limits.

Start down around the falls and the low water bridge. There's a lot of access and there's a good variety of species down there. The riffle underneath the old bridge going into Reddings Mill holds good numbers of smallmouth during the summer, maybe all year, but I've caught them there during the summer. Also, upstream of the low water bridge about 200 yards there is a big rock shelf riffle that I've caught a lot of bass out of over the years. Catfishing can be worthwhile below the falls at night. The walleye? few and far between and I can't name any spots for fear of punishment by those who told me, but I'll tell you to look for swift, deep chutes where the river bends between Rangeline bridge and the state line. Crappie will be in the slack water eddies around brush. jigs and minnows will work for them. Shoal Creek is a big fertile creek with lots of fish in it. you should be able to happen into some if you get out and look around a little bit.

[Buzz]

You would be suprised how many different types of fish are in that creek. LM, SM,spotted bass, Goggle eye, channel, flathead,blues, crappie, walleye can all be caught within 5 miles of the Joplin city limits.

Start down around the falls and the low water bridge. There's a lot of access and there's a good variety of species down there. The riffle underneath the old bridge going into Reddings Mill holds good numbers of smallmouth during the summer, maybe all year, but I've caught them there during the summer. Also, upstream of the low water bridge about 200 yards there is a big rock shelf riffle that I've caught a lot of bass out of over the years. Catfishing can be worthwhile below the falls at night. The walleye? few and far between and I can't name any spots for fear of punishment by those who told me, but I'll tell you to look for swift, deep chutes where the river bends between Rangeline bridge and the state line. Crappie will be in the slack water eddies around brush. jigs and minnows will work for them. Shoal Creek is a big fertile creek with lots of fish in it. you should be able to happen into some if you get out and look around a little bit.

+1

[Buzz]

There are many miles of roads that boarder Shoal Creek and many accesses along those roads. Most of which have an area that can easily be waded. Sometimes you can fish from the bank, but just remember if you can fish easily from a spot so can everyone else. It's best to walk upstream or downstream from those areas to find places that don't get camped out on. You will usually find a place where the fish are more easily tricked into biting whatever you decide to throw to them. Like Bird Watcher said, you can expect to catch just about anything in this creek.