Any Carp?

[Big Brown Trout]

I know this might put me in the doghouse with some people lol, but i was wanting to give carp fishing a serious go this year. Anybody know if Shoal has any?

[Chief Grey Bear]

It sure does.

And some real hogs too!

[ollie]

I don't fish Shoal, but I know there are some pretty big ones in there like Chief said.

[Amery]

You talkin carp on the fly??? That is my goal this year.

[Big Brown Trout]

any specifics on where Chief? I was thinking the run between Neosho and Tipton ford looked promising especially at the limekiln access and out on old scenic.

Yep definitely with flies Amery, i actually just tied a Algae Pattern. From my experience though i'm sure this fly would catch trout too though.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That is the exact stretch that I would work.

Especially the first long pool passed the poop plant.

But you're right in that whole stretch any of those long pools along through there are holding big carp.

There used to be some big ol Koi in there too.

[Big Brown Trout]

You just brought up my very next question Chief. I am aware of the Koi that the city puts in Morris park and the fact that the ones in the pond in big spring park eventually wash to hickory which eventually runs to shoal. So.....you've seen some koi

Did you fish for carp out there Chief or did you just see them as you chased smallies?

[Chief Grey Bear]

I don't think the city has ever put Koi in Hickory

I think they are pets that have gotten too big and has been turned loose. I've seen goldfish in there occasionally as well. And somebody found an iguana a year or so ago.

Ahhh those crazy Islanders!

No I have never fished for them in Shoal. I thought about it many many times though.

I'm not sure how you do it,you may be going to do it on the fly, but I like to bait up a hole in catch them on doughbait with a rod and reel.

Which you could still bait the hole and then use the fly rod.

If you do that I would bait the bottom end of the riffle. It will draw every one of them up out of that long pool.

[Big Brown Trout]

thanks for the advice Chief.

As for the city stocking it was my assumption. i went to hickory 2 days in a row the first day the pool had no fish whatesoever. the next trout had been stocked but there were also five or six of those big goldfish and probably another five koi mixed in with the freshly stocked trout so that was my assumption. Plus the ones in clarks spring (big spring park) do wash thru town past caseys road and race, pass the jail, and on to hickory. so my info is all based on assumption.

[Chief Grey Bear]

The MDC does the stocking for the city under an agreement. I think it just happen to be a coincidence.

But there is no doubt like you say some could have come from Big Spring park.

And you are right, there are some really nice trout between Big Spring and Hickory! And they ain't too spooky!