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Lake Stockton, MO
July 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Current lake level: 882.28
Normal pool: 867
Water clarity: stained
Water temperature: 80 degrees main body
Walleye all of my efforts in the last week have been focused on walleye, therefore that is the only fish I am going to report on. Walleye are being caught off main lake points throughout the lake on jigs and night crawlers, crawler harnesses and Road runners. Fish are approximately 20-25 feet deep, the best way to use these type baits is to slow drift across the points. Another good tactic is to slow troll crank baits such as bandits and deep diving bombers. Shad imitation colors seem to work well, also lures with bright colors such as orange and yellows because they stand out better in the stained water. Cedar Ridge is a place to start, as well as Masters and Crab Tree Cove. Fish are also being caught around the Ruark Bluff area. Night fishing has also been successful with the same tactics in the same locations. Your best night trips should be planned around the full moon phase. The fish are biting lightly to a degree. They are not extremely aggressive probably because of the vast amount of bait in the water, so a slower presentation seems to work the best. If you troll, the maximum speed should be about a mile and a half an hour.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
June 25, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Lake level: 881.24
Normal pool: 867
Water temp: approximately 83 degrees
Water clarity: clear up by the dam, stained below 215 bridge
Walleye: we can move walleye off of the fair list to the real good list. Walleye are being caught throughout the lake on jigs and night crawlers and crank baits late in the evening. Fish around 20-25 feet deep off of main lake points. If you want to know exactly where walleye care being caught, you need to call me and book a trip as soon as possible. I have some dates open the last two weeks of July.
Crappie are being caught in Turkey Creek arm in the timber, Price Branch, and Son’s Creek, to name a few. Crappie suspend over deep water this time of year; they are suspended 15 feet over 30-35 feet of water as a rule. They are somewhat scattered, so drift medium sized minnows on a jig or Lindy rigged with an Aberdeen hook.
White bass fishing is still hit or miss, however the guys who have been catching them seem to be doing pretty well. Main lake points above the 215 bridge are a good place to start. They are constantly on the move in search of bait fish. Troll deep diving crank baits or vertical fish jigs with plastic bodies (white or chartreuse) or vertical jig spoons. Top water bite has been hit or miss. I’d tie on a Pop R top water type lure just in case.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good with a lot of 1 and 2 year old fish being caught, which are sub legal, of course. I have been catching bigger bass (4-5 pounds) off deep creek channels or main lake points with plastic worms. Jigs would work ok too. The top water bite has been hit or miss, but the backs of coves around 7-8:30 pm would be the time when and if they turn on.
Channel cat fishing is still good about anywhere on the lake. The fish seem to move to the backs of coves before and after dark where you can catch them on night crawlers or fresh cut shad, providing you have a throw net and know how to use it.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
June 18, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Water level: 881.40
Normal pool 867
Water temperature mid to high 70s
Water clarity on the southern end of the lake is stained, north end of the lake relatively clear
Guide’s tip: Because of the high gas prices, if you are serious about fishing, and you want to learn the lake, I can save you a whole lot of money. For what it would cost you to drive around, and search for fish, you’ll save a lot of money by hiring a highly skilled and professional guide like me.
Walleye: I like to remind my readers that the information that I provide on my fishing reports is an accumulation of my experience and the information that I receive from other fishermen who spend a great deal of time fishing on Stockton Lake. Walleye fishing is fair throughout the lake. Fish are being caught above the 215 bridge on crank baits either trolled or cast to the shore. This technique seems to be most effective in late afternoon and early evening and after dark. As of this writing, the moon has been coming up as the sun is going down, which contributed to a good night bite. This is probably your best bet right now for walleye. A couple of other places to try out are Turkey Creek arm, around Cedar Ridge boat ramp (one of the very few boat ramps that you can still use due to high water). Crawler harnesses or jigs tipped with minnows slow trolled across main lake points in between 20-25 feet of water is good for mid day. You need to cover a lot of water to expose your bait to as many fish as you can. They always say “find the bait, find the fish;” it is obvious that those “pros” have never fished Stockton Lake because the bait will be everywhere you go. Some will have arches and some will not. Just cover a lot of water on main lake points. Mud flats around Mutton Creek will produce fish late in the afternoon and early evening with the same technique. Try this also: if you find a large concentration of fish arches on your sonar, try vertical fishing pepper spoons, Cast Master spoons, Dare Devils, etc. I use the word “arches” because a lot of fishermen don’t realize that fish symbol on your sonar represent any object in the water…fish or clumps of algae. Don’t use the dumb fish symbol, it is pretty near useless.
Crappie: for the most part, crappie fishing has been good throughout the lake. Try the mouth of Price Branch, Turkey Creek, or Birch Branch, to name a few. The fish that we have been catching are suspended in the river channels in about 35 feet of water. Believe it or not, the large majority of the black or white crappie are still full of eggs. I believe the large amount of rain, up and down lake levels, and cooling temperatures in early spring have contributed to this. The fish will be suspended and their depth will be determined by water clarity, wind, and cloud cover. You need to experiment. Drift slowly with a jig and minnow and you should catch fish. Later in the afternoon when the sun begins to go down, small spinner baits or small crank baits cast to the shoreline brush will be productive. I prefer small spinner baits due to the fact that they get hung up less.
Largemouth bass: Spinner bait fishing is still hit and misses, but it is worth a try because you won’t know until you experiment. Crank bait fishing is hit or miss, but the problem with crank bait fishing is that there is so much submerged brush that you get hung up a lot. As I have stated in other reports, plastic worm fishing has been the most consistent for me and my clients for both numbers and quality of fish (4-6 pounds). Top water bite has been slow, but always try it late in the evening. I know everybody is crazy about buzz baits, but I find Hula Poppers or other loud baits work best because of the vast amount of cover. Unless the fish are on top of the brush, your buzz bait will go on by long before they ever figure out where it is. Pop Rs, Skitter Pops, or the like work well when you leave a long pause in between jerks. Main lake coves are the best places to be. Here’s advice to you power fishermen: the fish are fat, and extremely well fed. If you fish fast, you fish failure. Slow down.
Channel cat fishing continues to be very good. Night crawlers, hot dogs, whatever you like to fish with for catfish all work. If you are patient and in the right place, 5-7 pound fish are not rare.
Guide’s note: A large percentage of your bass are still full of eggs. So are the catfish, and even large crappie. It is advantageous that these egg laden fish be returned to make more fish. That is a fact of life in this day and age in which we live. My friend caught a 39 ½ pound flathead a week ago, and he turned her loose for this very reason. Those fishermen who like to hang the big flathead heads on their fence posts are taking away from our resource. You can catch more eater fish than you can eat in a short period of time. I can’t state how important selective harvest is.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
June 11, 2008
Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Lake level 879.54
Water temp 75 degrees
Walleye fishing is still slow, but a few fish are being caught in the mouths of coves off the main lake such as Price Branch, Orleans Trail, and Greaser Creek. The crawler harnesses, along with a jig and medium minnow combination slow trolled or drifted in these areas will produce fish if you spend enough time at it. To say find the bait, find the fish doesn’t apply on Stockton Lake because of the mass amount of bait that you find just about everywhere you go. I think the abundance of bait attributes to the slow bite, thus the slow presentation. Why drive to town to get pizza when you can have it delivered to your doorstep any time you want?
Guide’s tip: fish use their mouths in the way that you use your hands. In other words, hunger is not always the main motive. A fish investigates various items by putting them in their mouths. Fish can use their mouths as defensive or offensive mechanisms. Fish use their mouths to move objects from one place to the other. Fish do this because of course they do not have hands. So when you understand the many ways a fish uses his mouth, it will help you adjust your presentation. A few walleye have been caught on crank baits fished close to the shore, particularly at low light levels such as early and late or at night with a full moon. You need to experiment with the type of lure/bait that you are going to use. Light conditions and water clarity and wind direction should be taken into consideration at all times.
Crappie fishing has been pretty good lately. We have caught fish in shallow water (5-7 feet) and suspended over deep water (35 feet). The majority of your crappie caught around wood and brush will be black crappie, and the majority of white crappie are being caught suspended in deeper water where rocky structure is present. Jig and medium sized minnow still works, as well as a Lindy rig with an Aberdeen hook drifted behind the boat with a medium minnow. You need to cover a lot of water to catch a lot of fish. They haven’t really bunched up yet. Turkey Creek arm, Maze Creek, the area around the 215 bridge and Mutton Creek are some good places to fish to mention a few. Night fishing seems to produce better quality catch in size and numbers by using a crappie light.
Largemouth bass: in my last report I said that spinner bait fishing has been hit or miss. Well, for me on my last two trips, it has been a definite hit. I landed two bass on two consecutive casts, one weighing 6 pounds and one weighing 4 pounds. Both were stuffed with eggs. I took a photo and immediately turned them loose. They will appear in my web site in the near future. Crank bait fishing has been fair, and top water fishing has been slow. With so much extra water, and so much extra cover, you need to cover a lot of territory. Target brush that stands out from the rest of the cover, like willows or cedar trees as opposed to the buck brush that you see everywhere. These fish will be deep in the forests on sunshiny days and will move out to the edge of the brush as the sun sets.
White bass fishing has been iffy, but a few are being caught either when they bust the top (which lasts all of about 20 seconds) or deep trolled around 30-35 feet of water. This means you’ll have to add weight to your lure to get it down that far. It is easier to put weight on the bait than use the mega deep diving plugs that feel like a bull dog is pulling on the other end of your line, and besides they don’t get deep enough anyway. I use a clip on weight system; clip it about 24 inches above the lure, and slow troll. You can use any kind of crank bait you want to accomplish this.
Catfish: channel cat fishing has still been good, and I expect that to continue. My clients have caught several 5-7 pound catfish while crappie fishing a jig and minnow in the backs of coves. Night crawlers work well, along with the secret guide bait which is wienies rolled in strawberry flavored jello. This concoction may be banned from tournaments. Take your wienie, remember to leave off the bread and relish, chop it in 1 inch sections, roll it in powdered strawberry jello, put it in a plastic bag and let it set; the catfish love it. This is an old guide school recipe that is just now beginning to leak out to you amateurs.
Fishing overall on Stockton Lake has picked up considerably and will continue to do so as we go into the summer. I predict that the rest of the season will be better than normal.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
May 28, 2008
Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Crappie are being caught shallow (8-10 feet) in the Sac River arm and the Son’s Creek arm. Fish are being caught on jigs and minnows under a bobber and they are being caught by throwing small crank baits in the backs and on the edges of coves. Crappie are also being caught around Cedar Ridge, but these fish are in deeper water (20-25 feet). The fish in this area are deep for the most part because a lot of them have already spawned. Jigs and minnows work well, along with small spoons. Fish are also being caught in the mouths of coves off main lake points. Night fishing under a crappie light has also been good.
Walleye fishing is still a little tough, however fish are being caught. Now that the water temperature is in the 70s, focus your attention on main lake points. Remember that this time of the year the walleye follow the shad throughout the main part of the lake and are always on the move, but they seem to congregate around main lake points. Fish will be around 28 feet deep, because that’s where the shad are, because the microorganisms and algae are pressed between the two layers of water in the thermocline. Crawler harnesses work well now, if you slow troll them at the appropriate depth. Also jigs and minnows and jigs and night crawlers have been successful. Late in the evening these fish can be caught more shallow (5-10 feet) in the backs of adjacent coves. I find that deep diving crank baits work best in the thick cover because the elongated bill deflects the limbs better. Wiggle Warts, Rapalas, anything that mimics bait fish seem to work. Try night fishing for walleye; your best bite is 3 days before and after the full moon. Try trolling these same deep divers around the dam, Crab Tree Cove, and Masters Cove. Also you might want to note that walleye move on to the mud flats this time of year to eat emerging insects like mayflies. Check out your lake map, find the mud flats, and work that area for awhile.
Largemouth bass: I caught 3 bass in 2 days that were between 5 and 6 pounds. These fish were in about 25 feet of water and had already spawned. I used twelve inch plastic worms. There are still plenty of fish in shallow water, a lot of them are in the nesting mode and will give you a little more action, but considerably less size. Crank baits and spinner baits have been somewhat productive, the top water bite is hit or miss, but it seems like these shallower fish will more readily take small plastics, like finesse worms or drop shot rigs. You need to equip your lure for the brushy conditions; for example, fish lighter weights to keep from getting tangled every cast. Flipping and pitching is successful to a degree, and remember this one note: concentrate your presentation on different types of cover…not all cover is the same. With the vast amount of brush in the water, it is obvious there is not a fish by every bush. Also remember (and this is true for all species) you need good cover plus good structure.
Cat fishing has been good; my clients have caught several nice channel cats and the word is out that a lot of other people have been as well. Channel cats like night crawlers. The best presentation is to slow drift the backs of coves late in the evening until dark. Hot dogs are good too. Because of the uproar that was caused last year by individuals that thought you used the whole hot dog bun, relish, onions and all, I’ll say here cut the hot dog wiener in one inch sections. The cheaper the better. Chicken makes a difference. I don’t know the scientific reason for this, but it is nonetheless true.
White bass have been turning up around Cedar Ridge, Maze Creek, and Masters boat ramp area. It is not as good as it should be, but fish are being caught in these areas by using jigs or small spoons like Cast masters with white bucktails. A few fish have been breaking the top, and have been taken on small Zaraspooks, and Pop Rs. This has been hit or miss, but I always keep a rod loaded just so I’ll be ready.
Carp: for you bow hunters, try Cedar Ridge area in the backs of coves and if you are a very good shot, you should have a lot of fertilizer at the end of the day for your tomatoes.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
Maybe imitated…never duplicated. Fish
May 24, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Lake level 879.43
Water temperature 68-70 lower end of the lake
Crappie fishing has picked up in the last 3 days due to the stable weather that we have had. Crappie are being caught in 10-15 feet of water; the main reason for this is that when the lake goes down, crappie (along with all of the other fish in the lake) will move slightly into deeper water. Fish are being caught around High Point, Cedar Ridge, Crabtree Cove, and Orleans Trail cove and in the Son and Sac creeks. Medium minnows on jigs seem to be the most consistent; however, small (1-2 inches) crank baits are also catching some nice fish. Crank baits can be either slow trolled or fan cast to the bank. Experiment with color, it really doesn’t seem to matter. Some days will be better than others, but it’s a lot better than it has been.
Note to snake enthusiasts: while crappie fishing last week in a cove, I was viciously attacked, almost assaulted, and really scared (even though I am a tough fishing guide) when a 3 foot water moccasin risked its very life to climb in my boat. When the snake got close, I started beating it with my fishing rod, to no avail. The snake flattened out its head and proceeded to strike the air violently as he launched himself closer to my boat. It wasn’t until my client in the back of the boat hit the vile viper on top of its head with his rod tip that the snake retreated back into the jungle canopy. Just so you know. This snake was no doubt in attack mode. I was a hunting guide in Colorado for 15 years, and I have never witnessed an animal that went way out of its way to inflict damage and mayhem on a human. Be alert.
Walleye are being caught in the same areas that I mentioned above for crappie. To say “I am going to go walleye fishing” is kind of a misnomer this time of the year because the walleye are intermingled with the crappie and the best technique for them is the one mentioned for crappie. It’s a hit or miss proposition, but on a good day, you should catch a few walleye mixed in with your crappie.
Largemouth bass fishing has picked up considerably…I haven’t had as much time to go bass fishing as I would like because I have been busy with guide trips, but I did have an enjoyable trip Friday. And speaking of enjoyable trip, your water skiers and the big boats are back, so be careful of the large wakes they produce, especially in the large coves that they decide they need to ski in. This was a problem last year because of the dangerous water these wakes produce, and the lack of attention to water safety rules. These boats have been congregating in various coves like Hawker, Old State Park and Googer. About ¾ of the way back into Googer, is a large pile of submerged logs which ought to be about 3 feet below the surface now. I am amazed that one of these boats hasn’t collided with it yet. We caught a lot of small bass (which is a result of last year’s excellent nursery year) on small plastic worms fished above the submerged bush tops along the shore. That was fun for a little while, and then we decided to go after bigger fish, so we went deeper with larger worms (9-12 inches) and caught two real good bass. I lost a large bass by the boat that would have gone about 6 pounds. I did have a good day. The spawn is on in some places and not on in other places. I don’t pay that much attention to spawning bass because I don’t like to disrupt their reproduction cycles, so I concentrate most of my bass fishing in 10-20 feet of water where there will always be bigger bass no matter what the spawn is.
Word of caution: be careful going under the bridges, especially the H street bridge; our future leaders of America (teenagers) are diving off of the bridge right next to the sign that says “Don’t Dive off the Bridge.” They are jumping right into the main lane of boat traffic. Also, for extra fun, they do not wear life jackets, so their bobbing heads are very hard to see. For extra extra fun, it seems like the road crew took the loose pieces of concrete (10-20 pounds or so) and laid them on the very edge of the bridge. It is only a matter of time before the continuous vibration of vehicles will cause these blocks to fall on your head or in the middle of your bass boat.
Back to the bass, top water bite has been slow and so has the crank bait bite, however that does not mean that they won’t bite top water or crank baits. My partner used crank baits and spinner baits for about 3 hours and never got bit. He then put on a plastic worm and applied the special Thompson worm technique and caught 8 of our 13 fish.
Channel cat fishing has picked up a lot also. These fish are located in the backs of coves; slow drift a gob of worms and you ought to have some cat fish for dinner. A couple of my clients have caught nice channel cats (up to 8 pounds) while crappie fishing with a jig and minnow.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
May 14, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Current
lake
level
881.59
Normal
pool
867
Water
temperature
60-63
degrees
Twin
Bridges
area
The
lake
situation
remains
the
same
as
it
was
in
the
last
report…about
14
feet
high.
However,
my
clients
have
been
catching
a
few
crappie
and
walleye
in
around
17-20
feet
of
water
using
jigs
and
minnows
on
the
inside
edges
of
coves
(just
outside
of
the
submerged
brush
line).
The
presentation
has
been
slow,
and
the
bites
overall
are
light,
so
you
have
to
stay
focused.
You
are
going
to
feel
your
jig
bounce
the
brush
from
time
to
time,
and
you
need
to
differentiate
between
that
and
the
fish.
I
combine
the
walleye
and
crappie
reports
together
because
during
the
spring
they
inhabit
the
same
locations.
Walleye
are
in
these
areas
primarily
to
eat
and
the
crappie
are
moving
in
to
spawn.
Small
crank
baits
used
early
and
late
along
these
brushy
shore
lines
will
produce
walleye
and
crappie.
The
weather
should
continue
to
be
warm
and
stable
through
next
week,
so
fishing
should
pick
up
for
all
species.
White
bass
are
being
caught
around
Master’s
and
Crabtree
Coves,
and
the
Turkey
Creek
arm
of
the
lake.
Spoons
such
as
Cast
Masters
are
catching
fish
off
the
main
lake
points
in
these
areas.
The
fish
tend
to
move
a
little
shallower
in
the
day…you
can
catch
them
on
anything
from
jigs
to
Rattle
Traps.
Like
everything
else,
the
white
bass
action
has
been
spotty,
but
if
you
hit
the
right
day,
you
should
catch
fish.
Largemouth
bass
has
been
slow,
but
it
has
started
to
pick
up.
Fish
are
being
caught
on
jigs
or
slow
fished
spinner
baits
on
secondary
lake
points.
Remember
the
bass
are
entering
the
spawning
mode
like
the
crappie,
and
will
be
affected
by
the
water
temperatures.
Your
better
fish
are
being
caught
in
around
15-20
feet
of
water,
and
tend
to
move
shallower
(5-7
feet)
as
the
sun
goes
down.
Cover
a
lot
of
water,
because
these
fish
are
just
now
beginning
to
spread
out
before
they
move
into
the
spawning
beds.
There
may
be
fish
spawning
in
some
areas
of
the
lake
depending
on
water
temperature.
Bass
spawn
in
water
between
68-70
degrees.
I
don’t
mess
with
the
spawning
bass
because
it
takes
too
much
time
and
every
time
you
jerk
a
male
bass
off
of
the
nest
(even
though
you
release
him
immediately)
chances
are
you
have
been
feeding
the
blue
gill
population.
I
know
this
subject
(bed
fishing)
is
not
talked
about
much,
but
mark
my
words,
in
the
near
future
it
will
become
an
issue.
The
boat
ramp
situation
is
about
the
same
as
last
week;
nothing
is
officially
closed,
but
most
of
them
you
can’t
launch
a
boat.
Marty
Thompson
Thompson
Fishing
Guide
Service
417-424-BASS
May 7, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
As you all know, water conditions at Stockton lake are high (the highest was 16 feet above normal pool) which is the result of large amounts of rain. The rising water, however, is not really to blame for the hit and miss fishing this year, but it is the unstable weather conditions and the drop in water temperature that affect the fish. The reason I continue to repeat myself (reference the conditions) is in order to catch any fish at all, you as a fisherman or fishermanperson, need to adjust your tactics. Slow and small still seems to be the rule of thumb for bass, crappie and walleye.
Largemouth bass: I was able to have a day off with nice weather, therefore I went bass fishing. In about 1 hour, I caught 4 good bass on a small ¼ oz white jig in the area near Miller Cove. Small plastic worms, Carolina rigged or Texas rigged, are another option. The fish were suspended over about 25 feet of water chasing shad.
Another technique that you need to utilize during this present condition is to vertical fish main lake bluffs with a spinner bait and a Colorado blade. Position your boat close to the bluff, throw down the bluff, let the bait helicopter down and by all means, watch your line. Colorado blade spinner baits sink more slowly and uniformly than willow leaf blades. Also, particularly in the upper or mid section of the lake, the water is stained at best, therefore the extra vibration helps the fish zero in on the bait. When the bait hits the bottom, reel about 3 turns, let it sink again. I find that in stained water conditions, a bigger trailer on the spinner bait will help. Dark colors seem to work well in these water conditions.
Crappie fishing has picked up from what it was 30 years ago. Well, not really, but it seems that long. Anyway, we have been catching crappie right on the edges of the brush line, which can be from 10-15 feet. Males are starting to turn up, which means the females will be laying a little bit deeper. Small Road Runners, small Beetlespins, small curly tailed (by small I mean crappie sized) jigs, fished along these edges, either with or without a minnow, have produced fish for my clients. We are a month behind and you need to consider that in your quest for where the fish will be and what they will be feeding on. Instead of fishing in early May, fish like you do in early April and in the same locations. That’s the same for walleye, bass, crappie. Check water temperature carefully. These fish will congregate in coves due to the fact that largely, the water temperature will be slightly warmer. Crappie spawn in approximately 63-65 degrees (sustained temperature, not this up and down stuff). If you are fishing in water temperatures up in the 50s, fish deeper. If you can find 60+ degree water, the fish will be more shallow. Look for 4 days of stable weather and the fishing should take off. As of right now, as in the days of Noah were, we are facing a great deluge. In Lamar MO, it is possible they’ll get at least 7 inches. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Remember the boat ramp issue. Most boat ramps on Stockton (even though they claim they are open) are unusable. Getting a heavy boat back on the trailer in shallow water is a whole lot harder than getting it off. Make sure your motor is trimmed up a little higher than normal or you’ll gouge out a hole in the parking lot. I have been using Ruark Bluff and RB. On weekends, these parking areas can get congested.
Walleye: Some walleye are being caught in the same areas that the crappie are being caught. Remember that this time of the year (early April, remember you’re a month behind), the walleye move into these areas to feed on shad. By using the same technique as crappie, you should find a few walleye. Added to the list of jigs, try minnow type jerk baits (Rapalas or Rebels), or lures like a small WallyDiver and WiggleWart. The crank baits will work a little better later in the day.
I would concentrate my efforts at least north of the twin bridges, because if this rain produces what they say it will, the Son and Sac arms will be very muddy. With the fishing slow because of environmental conditions, coupled with muddy water, the odds are not in your favor. At least if you fish in clear water and don’t catch fish, you can be assured that the fish at least saw your bait.
All jesting aside, I believe that when the weather stabilizes, along with the water temperatures, fishing will be incredible. There is tons of bait in the lake, a great deal of cover (which is more important than people realize), and new environments appear that help the fish. Watch for logs and snakes.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
April 23, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Current lake level 881.87
Normal pool 867
Water temperature 64.3 (up 8 degrees from 3 days ago)
According to the Corps, no ramps are technically closed. However, there are definitely some that are better than others. No docks that were pulled (Crabtree, Hawker Point to name two) have been put back. Cedar Ridge and Ruark Bluff are two of the best, along with RB. Both Mutton Creek docks are under water, along with CC. Putting in at the marinas is dicey because of the lack of space to turn around and lack of space to park. Be prepared…bring your tall rubber boots and your boat bumpers because some of the docks that are open are just high enough that after you put your boat in, it will smash up on the underside of the dock.
This year, like last year, because of the cold rain and rising water, the fishing has been very predictable. When the water drops 10 degrees like it did two weeks ago, the fish shut down. When you get 4 days of stable weather, the fishing picks up. This is particularly true in the fall and the spring when major environmental changes are underway. Something a fisherman needs to realize is that the rising water is not what hurts the fishing; in the spring it is quite the contrary. If the rains are warm, they increase the water temperature as opposed to cold rain which makes the water temp drop drastically and immediately.
White bass are being caught in the Aldrich area near the 123 bridge and High Point. Fish are also being caught around Cedar Ridge and a few are turning up around Masters and Crabtree Coves. White and chartreuse rooster tails, road runners and 3 inch curly tailed jigs are catching fish. There are still big females in these areas that have not yet spawned out. When you locate fish, for the most part they should be relatively shallow… anywhere from 3-10 feet deep. White bass (like striped bass) swim up tributaries and deposit their eggs, the males then fertilize the eggs, and then the party’s over. White bass do not build nests and they need a certain amount of current to help in the germination process. I predict that as the weather stabilizes in May, white bass along with crappie, largemouth and walleye will be more predictable and will adjust to their summer pattern.
Guide’s note: 4 things motivate fish activity whether you are a yellow fin tuna, or a channel cat: water temperature, barometric pressure, food and the impulse to spawn.
White bass are where you find them and as the fish filter back into the main body of water after the spawn, I’d search the main lake points with my depth finder, and cover as much water as you can.
Crappie: in the Son and Sac arms of the lake, upper regions of Maze and Turkey Creek, crappie have started to move into the spawning grounds. When the water temperature stabilizes around 60-65 degrees, the crappie are ready to spawn. However, most of the lake is not at that point yet, therefore the crappie are still around 15-20 feet deep waiting for the water temperatures to rise. Not all fish in a system as big as Stockton Lake spawn at the same time. The Corps has been releasing some water, but hopefully the levels will remain high until the spawn is over. The river channel below the spillway is already way up, so they can’t release too much (in theory). Like last year, this should be a productive nursery spawn, which means because the water is way up in the brush, the survivability rate of little fish is infinitely greater than when the water is low. Your large crappie (those bigger than your eater size) should be released to reproduce again. Big females are called brood fish for the simple fact that they are the production machines of a fishery. If fishermen kill enough large trophy fish, over a period of time, it will affect the overall quality of a fishery. Selective harvest is therefore a necessity.
Secondary points are where some fish are being caught right now in around 15-20 feet of water before they move into the actual spawning locations. Medium sized minnows on 3/8 oz jig drifted across these points have been catching a few fish for my clients. You need to cover a lot of water because these fish are spread out this time of the year. As the weather stabilizes this next week or two (hopefully) the spawn will begin over a wide scale on the southern end of the lake and as time goes on, progress towards the dam. In actuality, crappie should be in full swing in the spawn now, but the conditions are not right because of the weather.
Walleye fishing has been a little slow, however fish are starting to turn up off points in Mutton Creek, Ruark Bluff, and the 215 bridge just to name a few places. Fish have been hitting on jigs and minnows and just plain jigs without minnows with a curly tailed body white or chartreuse. The stained to murky water (depending on where you are) will have a lot to do with determining the depth of the fish. Late in the afternoon or early evening, fish will move up shallower (8-10 feet) and hang out along the brush lines. Minnow type baits and Rattle Traps in shad colors and clown colors work well at this time. Cover a lot of water.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
April 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
The lake is up to 878.99 (normal pool is 867). The main problems with the rising water and the rain are twofold: when the water rises in the early spring it is usually because of a cold rain, which in turn lowers the temp anywhere from 8-10 degrees and also generally the unstable weather which produces the storm itself. During early spring, it takes about 4 days after unstable weather before the fishing picks up again. Due to the fact that we are now in April, it is only a matter of time before the fishing really turns on. As of this report, walleye are deep for the most part, and can be caught on secondary points and main lake points by bouncing jig and minnows off of the bottom after you locate the fish. The question that you need to ask yourself is “Have the walleye spawned in the area that I choose to fish?” In some parts of the lake, such as the Son’s Creek and Sac River, the fish have finished spawning for the most part and have or are moving back to the main part of the lake where they will do their summer thing.
In the deeper areas of the lake, above 215 bridge, many walleye have not yet spawned. People make spawning such a big deal for walleye, but their spawning habits are quite different from bass and crappie. Walleye do not eat during the spawn and at least a week or ten days after the spawn. The real big advantage to spawning walleye is that you have a chance of catching a trophy class fish because the big females are for the most part ganged up together. Walleye do not build nests; therefore they are only in the spawning mode for a few hours before they return to the main part of the lake. Keep this in mind.
As the month of April progresses, walleye will move into shallower water to feed along the brush line until the water gets into the 80s; then they will drop into the deeper water to follow shad schools throughout the summer. At this time of the year, walleye and crappie can be caught in the same locations because the crappie are in their spawning mode.
White bass are starting to show up at the mouths of feeder creeks; if you have never fished Stockton Lake, find the feeder creeks on your map and what I mean by feeder creeks are those than run all year. Start fishing the adjacent areas with spoons, spinners, Rattle Traps, etc. When the white bass get turned on, they’ll hit about anything you throw at them. If the fish are not right in the mouth of the feeder creek or tributary, back off a little bit, and watch your sonar because they will be close by.
Crappie: Crappie are still in deep water (30 feet or so) but are beginning to show a little activity as spring approaches. I have isolated my crappie fishing on the lower end of the lake above the 215 bridge because the water in the main tributaries (Sac River and Maze Creek) is very muddy. Deep brush piles or deep rock piles are the places you need to continue to look until the fish move shallower to spawn.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
March 26, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
WALLEYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The current lake level is 878.62…normal pool is 867. Water temperature today is 46.9 on the main lake north of the 215 bridge. The rising water, muddied from the runoff from the creeks, has caused a lot of speculation and predictions on how the fishing will be affected. Will the walleye chase shad in the shallow waters of the coves? Or will they stay in the security of the deep waters (especially those close to the dam), and wait for the water to clear and warm up so they can spawn?
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when reading fishing reports online or talking to folks at the boat ramp. The roller coaster of cold fronts and warm days, combined with frequent rains and constantly flowing creeks, has negated the traditional patterns for the prespawn and spawn. You need to try a variety of tactics at this time to be successful determining patterns and implementing them at the right time. You can definitely find the fish on Stockton now, but you have to experiment to determine what they will eat.
The best approach to catching pre-spawn walleye that are still 30-50 feet deep is the most basic, and that is the jig and minnow or jig and night crawler. You need to position your boat right on top of the fish, and fish the depth of the fish. If the fish won’t take these baits, vary the depth and see if you can draw a strike.
If you are working a school of fish that you are staying on with your scope, give them about 45 minutes (switching baits) and then move if you don’t get a bite. The bite for the most part will be very light, so concentrate!
If the walleye are shallow in the coves chasing shad, cast some crappie jigs (chartreuse or white) at them while they are on the move feeding. If that doesn’t work, throw a bright, suspended jerk bait or a swimming minnow at them.
No matter what you do, fish til dark…they have been really turning on in the early evening til after dark.
Things might be a little more unpredictable than usual right now, but when you find the right combination in the right place at the right time, you’ll have more than you can handle.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
March 19, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Guide’s tip of the week: the more stable weather days you have in a row, the better the fishing will be. If you have a week of unstable days, fishing will be considerably slower. Point to remember: even though the majority of fish follow certain patterns, there are a minority of fish that do not. Therefore, somewhere on the lake, there are fish to be caught.
With the torrential rainfall from the last 3 days, the lake is up to 875.9 (normal pool is 867). This will provide excellent spawning habitat for all species of fish. With a few more stable weather days, the fishing should really pick up.
Walleye: You have to remember “pre-spawn” can be a relative term, but to look at the broad sense of the definition, the process begins when the walleye move from the deep basins of the lake and gather on main lake points in preparation for the actual spawning process. For the most part, spawning has already taken place in many parts of the south part of Stockton Lake because of water temperature. There are other areas of the lake, however, where fish are still in their late pre-spawn mode.
The best approach to catching pre-spawn walleye that are still 30-50 feet deep is the most basic, and that is the jig and minnow or jig and night crawler. You need to position your boat right on top of the fish, and fish the depth of the fish and below. If the fish won’t take these baits, vary the depth and see if you can draw a strike. As I stated in my last couple of reports, these fish are still in the slow mode and it takes slow presentation to get them to bite.
Here’s another rule of thumb: if you are working a school of fish that you are staying on with your scope, I’d give them about 45 minutes and then move if you don’t get a bite. The bite for the most part will be very light, so an angler who is concentrating will be the one that takes advantage of the few bites he will get this time of the year. Just because one school of fish won’t bite doesn’t mean another school of fish won’t bite.
An approximate guide to the walleye spawn in Stockton Lake is early spring (March 16) through late spring (April 5). The reason it is important that you know these dates is so that you can adjust your tactics and techniques accordingly. If you are not familiar with the habits of the fish, particularly this time of year, you need to hire a competent fishing guide.
Early and late, walleye are also being caught on suspended jerk baits in shallower water, do don’t get so focused on the deep fish that you forget the shallower bite at the right time.
Crappie: crappie fishing is pretty much the same as it was in my last report. Crappie fishing has been fair in the Sac River arm and in the Turkey Creek arm fished over creek channels that meander through the timber. It seems like a jig head with minnow works better in the trees than a minnow under a weight on an Aberdeen hook because you have less hang-ups. Medium minnows are the best. How the flooding will affect the fish is somewhat uncertain, but I predict after 3 or 4 days of stable weather, crappie fishing should really pick up.
Caution: Look out for logs, hay bales, limbs, dead cows and other debris that has washed into the lake the last few days.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
March 12, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Walleye: if you want to catch a big walleye, this is the best time of the year to do that. In areas of the lake, like the Sac River arm, the Son’s Creek arm, and Maze Creek, these are the places to be to name a few. Fish are being caught down by the dam and around the 215 bridge, but the spawn hasn’t really taken off there yet due to the fact that the water temperature for the most part is in the low 40s (average 41 degrees). At this temperature, however, walleye are staging to spawn off main lake points in about 15 feet of water. Walleye will spawn when the water temperature gets between 45-48 degrees, which is already taking place in the upper regions of your main tributaries. When the water temperature hits 50, spawning is over and the walleye will return to the main body of the lake. Understanding temperature is very critical. Another thing to realize is unlike crappie and largemouth bass, walleye do not build nests. They simply deposit their eggs in a gravelly bottom, males come in and fertilize the eggs, and the party is over. Just for your information, white bass do the same thing.
When the walleye get real shallow, (3-5 feet deep) back off and cast 3/8 oz jigs or Cast Master spoons into these areas and you should catch fish. When the fish are deeper (15+ feet) off of main lake points or along the dam, you can drift a jig and minnow combination or jig and crawler combination, or crawler harness through the area and catch fish. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out when the fish are shallow, you are not going to be able to drift over the top of them without scaring them off. It seems like for the most part the jig and minnow this time of the year work best. Remember to use large minnows, which can be bought at Northshore Sportsfishing Bait and Tackle across from the dam 417-276-6727; wherever you buy bait, it behooves you to call ahead and make sure they have what you want.
Try Masters Cove area, and also Cedar Ridge area for good walleye off main lake points. 20% of the walleye population on Stockton lake reproduce on their own and they return to the area where they were hatched, which not only includes creeks and rivers, but also structure like rip rap on the dam and bridges.
The MDC fishing regulations state that from February 20-April 14, walleye can be taken and possessed only between ½ hour before sunrise and ½ hour after sunset in the unimpounded portions of all streams, except the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The main body of the lake is considered the impoundment, and the streams running into the lake are the unimpounded portions. So don’t fish for walleye in the streams in the dark.
White bass will spawn after the walleye are finished when the water gets into the low to mid 50s. White bass are being caught off of main lake and secondary points with jig and minnows, jigging spoons, tail spinners (like Little Georges) in around 25-30 feet of water in mid-day. Late in the afternoon the fish will move up into shallower water and you can use the same lures, but back off and cast towards the bank to catch the fish. White bass are starting to stage for their spawn off of points adjacent to creeks and main tributaries of the lake. Cedar Ridge is a good place to look, also I would try points round Ruark Bluff boat ramp.
Crappie are still deep (25-35 feet, maybe even deeper), off of main lake points with brush piles. As the water temperature warms, these fish will also be moving up the points into the spawning coves. Jigs and minnows seem to be the best weapon, at least as far as my clients are concerned. The bite will be very light, and you have to watch and feel at the same time. The best approach is to use your trolling motor to stay above the fish. Find the fish with your graph, and if necessary throw out a marker so you have a reference point. Even with a slight wind, you can float a long way off course in the time it takes you to get your tuna fish and boiled egg out of the ice chest. We have caught crappie in water down to 55 feet deep, so I guess deep can be a relative term, but they are where you find them. The gizzard shad, the main forage fish of Stockton Lake, seek warmer water in the winter. Therefore if you can find large concentrations of shad, they will be deep for the most part and crappie will be close by whether there is cover or not. Many times the shad will concentrate around under water springs, which pump out considerably warmer water than the surrounding water. Always remember, to know your fish, is to be familiar with his main food source.
Largemouth bass: no largemouth bass report, due to the fact that my attention has been directed at walleye, crappie and white bass since the last report. However, you can refer to the last report, because the conditions are the same, so the technique will be the same.
Guide’s tip: when you hire a fishing guide, anywhere, the first question you need to ask is “Do you have commercial guide insurance?” Not full coverage insurance, commercial guide insurance. Because if he doesn’t, he is putting you and your buddy in jeopardy. You will not be covered if there is an accident and/or death. Do you want to put your life in someone’s hands that doesn’t protect you?
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
March 5, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Walleye: On the southern end of the lake, in the Sac River, walleye have started to spawn, water temp has reached 45-48 degrees; large jigs and minnows are your best approach, white and chartreuse are the main colors. Slow trolled deep diving crank baits in around 15 feet of water have been catching fish, especially at night. Shad imitators seem to be the best lures.
You have the pre-spawn mode in the main body of the lake, with water temps between 38-42 degrees. The big pre-spawn fish can be taken off of main lake points in around 35 feet of water, for the most part, on a large jig and minnow combination. If you can get minnows 4 or 5 inches long, bigger is better. We have been using ½ oz jigs with a 4-5 inch plastic trailer in white or chartreuse bounced on the bottom. Main lake points are still your place to be, but as water temps approach the mid to high 40s, these fish will move in shallower to spawn. They’ll spawn in the creeks and also rocky shore lines. They really get concentrated along the dam this time of year.
Crappie: crappie are still deep this time of year, believe it or not, our most consistent bite for big fish has been off main lake points in around 40 feet of water. The bigger minnows, the better. Forget the 1 inch minnows that you can see through. In early spring when the water is still cold, the crappie will more readily take larger baits than smaller baits. You need to concentrate on your fish finder this time of the year, and find the fish before you put out a line. Because of the depth of the fish, and the cold water, it is imperative that you vertical fish with a tight line and pay very close attention due to the fact that the bites will be very subtle. Once you get into the hang of this technique, you’ll catch the biggest crappie of the season. I had two clients who were professional crappie fishermen and in two days of fishing in March, they caught 55 crappie, and only 3 were under 10 inches. The water depth was 55 feet deep, the location was the mouth of main lake coves, the surface temp was 37 degrees.
Largemouth bass: because the water temperature is still cold, obviously slow is the only way to go. If you fish too fast, you might as well stay home and watch the continuous replay of the Superbowl. Number one attack is suspended jerk bait. In late winter and early spring, these fish will suspend, and the suspended jerk bait is effective because you can fish it slowly and you place the bait in the strike zone. Jig fishing has been productive, with dark colors being best, or plastic worms. Fish on chunk rock banks in around 25 feet of water, or off main lake bluffs that have slow, tapering points. As the water temperature warms, the bass will move into shallower water and become more aggressive, but until then, the going will be somewhat slow. Whatever technique you use, you need to be very focused, because you may be looking at only 4 or 5 bites a day.
Be sure you get a Missouri Game and fish magazine, April edition (in which I will be featured) in a crappie article. If you plan a guided trip within the next two months, you need to make your reservations now.
Reference the question posted in the last report, about following the walleye spawn to the dam, walleye spawn in 2 areas in highland reservoirs: creeks and rocky shore lines, such as dams and rip raps on bridges. 20% on the walleye on Stockton reproduce on their own. When the water gets warmer in the river arms on the southern end of the lake, the walleye begin to spawn there first. As the water progressively warms as you go north, it brings on the spawn in those places.
Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service
417-424-BASS
January 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report
Walleye: take a Stockton lake map, find long tapering main lake points that descend into a river channel or a creek channel, spend some time with your electronics, and you should find fish. Depths may vary, but this time of the year you are looking at around 30-35 feet of water, on average. Fish may move up a little shallower if you have a warming trend, but walleye winter pattern usually means deep fishing. If you read my last fishing report (Dec 19), in the mouths of many of these larger coves, you’ll find springs. Bait fish will gather in these areas and so will the walleye. Jig and minnow or jig and half a night crawler are your best tools. Bounce the bottom and stay on top of the fish. Concentration is your best asset during this time of the year due to the fact that the majority of your bites will be very light. Watch your rod tip; some bites are so light you can’t even feels them. Small jigging spoons like the pepper spoon, Cast Master, etc. will also work well when vertically fished.
Crappie: Like walleye, the crappie will be found in deeper water (30, 40 or even 50 feet deep) off of main lake points and secondary points that lead to creek channels. These areas may or may not have brush, but hold crappie in the winter. Read my last report on underwater springs. Usually this time of year you will find crappie, walleye and white bass in the same locations. They are there for the same reasons (warmer water, and bait fish). Like walleye, the bite will be very very light, so it is necessary that you are able to find fish in an area that doesn’t have a lot of wind so you can sit right on top of them. If you are fishing in 40 feet of water and the boat is being blown by the wind, you will have a big bow in your line and therefore you will miss most of your bites, except for of course, an occasional frost bite. Jig and minnow (I use a ¼ oz jig to get down that deep) seem to be the most consistent. You can also tip your jig with crappie niblets, or fish small spoons vertically.
Largemouth bass: When the water temperature is as cold as it is (around 40-43 degrees), it takes a bass 10 times longer to digest a meal than it does in 80 degree water. Bass tend to feed less frequently in cold water, and they are more apt to eat smaller, slower moving bait. The key to bass fishing right now is 1) slow presentation, 2) prop