Bassmaster21

hmmm... before last year I have only seen a very few lillys.. From 2008-13 the main lake area barely had any. Putting stuff on them to kill them must have been what they were doing then. They do make for fun frog fishing but they are killing my fun buzzbait fishing

Sorry for the late report but i went out Thursday morning and the fishing was awful. Caught 2 on the buzzbait and 1 on a texas rig. Where did the lilly pads come from? They are new as of the last few years and I have struggled to catch fish ever since they started growing in the lake. Any thoughts?

6/3 Fished out of Masters and started in Maze creek with no luck. Moved over to the flat near cedar ridge campground and caught one smallie and a 6 largemouth. Finished in masters cove and caught 2 more largemouth. Nothing of any decent size and a VERY slow day. Fished c-rigs in 4-12 FOW. Water was 73ish 6/4 Fished out of ruark and started in powerline cove. Had 7 small bass in the boat by 8:00. Moved overtowards mutton creek and fished main lake points and only caught 2 fish doing that until noon. Fished the c-rig early and a jig later. water was pushing 74 when i left for work. Another fairly tough day. Seems like the smaller fish are still up shallower midway into coves but the bigger ones must be moving out... or they are just too smart for me

I went this morning for a few hours and caught 10 bass flipping the bushes but only 2 were keepers. I couldnt figure it out but there seemed to be a pattern inside the pattern.. i caught all 10 in two 50 foot stretches. I was flipping with a texas rigged lizard

I have never had any problems at a boat ramp ever UNTIL... the other evening at Master's boat ramp me and my friends were trying to launch our bass boat and their pontoon at the same time another boat was trying to load up. The ramp has 4 slots so no problem right? Except for that a family of about 6 was swimming around and jumping off of the dock. And were parked in the middle of the ramp with their two seadoos trailered already. As we finally got backed down the boat trying to load told us that they were buzzing their seadoos through the no wake zone by the ramp and right next to people fishing the cove. Some people really do have to try to ruin it for everyone else.

Bass fished Memorial day morning from 6:30 - noon. Never left maze creek and caught about 20 bass in 10-15 fow all on a jig at the base of big trees. Fish seem to be moving out deeper but i still hear of people slaying em up shallow so im not sure. Always an adventure trying to find them. Even when im not catching them well it's hard for me to leave a spot when an 8lber could be on the next stump/rock/etc. Always fun to be out regardless

I was pleasantly surprised. Bass fished again this morning and fished the same areas but didn't do as well. About half the fish and not much size. Water was 66/67 degrees

Fished from 7-12 this morning out of Master's. Had the lake to ourselves. Depth finder was out so no water temp. Caught about 30 fish with 9 keepers. Our best 5 going 13lbs. Caught fish on everything i threw. Crankbait, soft plastics, jerkbait, spinnerbait.. everything. One of the better mornings I have had on stockton bass fishing. Went night fishing in Maze creek a few nights ago and it was cold and windy! We ended with 2 keeper walleye, a few white bass, 1 catfish, and 19 crappie. First time ive never had to throw back a short crappie. Used minnows and fished 35 fow. Most were suspended at about 25 feet. Overall it was a good night.

Fished Saturday from 7-2 and caught about 25 bass between the two of us. Fished around mutton creek and ruark bluff on all different kinds of banks. Water was 63 degrees. Most fish coming on Carolina rig and shakey head. Only three keepers though and all of those were right at 15inches. Still can't catch big ones. Most fish came between 4-10 fow and almost every fish had others following it to the boat (the following fish didn't look like bass though) I did catch one what looked to me a shiner or something - white/silver with a black back- that was about 10 inches long. Any ideas? Whateve they were we all schooled up and running very shallow. Overall a very nice day to be on the water.

Thank you everyone! Knew I could find good info on here

A friend and I are looking to get our feet wet in the tournament fishing world and are looking for some relatively cheap local buddy tournaments. Fundraisers, benefit, whatever the case may be. I've been looking online and have found a few but seems like the best way to hear about them is word of mouth. If anybody knows or hears of any we'd love to try and fish them.

Go to school in branson and am not able to check, does anybody know if any of the vegetation is starting to grow/green out there yet. Was there two weeks ago and it was all still brown and dead. Thanks

I fished up by the dam last weekend and caught about 8 bass from sunrise to noon all on jigs and an a rig. only three were keepers though. Water was 45 when I launched but was 52 by the time I left

All of my biggest crappie have come night fishing in the summer. Multiple around 15" with a handful of ones bigger than that. I have never caught a walleye worth bragging about but while night fishing my buddy's dad caught a 30" eye on an ultralite rod with 4lb test! By far the biggest fish I have seen, but I know there are some BIG fish out there

Headed out to Stockton this weekend. Haven't been on the lake in over a month so fishing semi-blind. Planning on putting in at Cedar Ridge and fishing some coves near there and maze creek. I love wiggle warts so will probably throw those predominantly with the occasional shakey head and topwater. Thinking anywhere in the water column between 6'-12' is what my plan was unless someone thinks otherwise. Will report on how the day went and conditions of the lake. God Bless

Caught a nice 5lb 8oz bass out of fellows off of the bank this July on a spinnerbait. Don't get to fish there as much as id like cuz the boat has a 60hp motor so im limited to the bank

It is frustrating anytime I feel other fisherman encroach on "my" spot/space, but if anything it just makes me try that much harder to catch one right in front or right behind them whatever the case may be. Little do those other people know they have just unknowingly entered a fish against me. When I look at it that way it sure helps ease the frustration and makes it a little more entertaining/enjoyable. I often catch more fish when people starting crowding in because I focus and try that much harder.

Headed out to the lake in the morning to bass fish. since school has started havent been able to be out on the water much. Whats the fishing been like? How do you think these back to back cool days will effect that? I can only fish early, 6:15-10:15 before I have to go to work. I plan on throwing a lot of topwaters. Any advice?

I have been in the same situations. I have actually had instances on other lakes where I was fishing down a bank and a guy came down on the bank and cast out right in front of us. We just slowly went around then he walked further down the bank (back in front of us) and continued to cast. That cycle lasted another 200 yards before he left because he realized our wiggle warts were out fishing his grub from "used water". I run into that a lot with people crappie fishing and trolling for walleye while I'm bass fishing. I don't know why but it immediately gets me focused in and I almost always start catching bigger or more fish when people try and crowd me out of a spot. I have never been had someone come up on me and catch fish but it is still very annoying. I think fishing behind someone who is obviously going a specific direction is okay as long as you keep distance. I also think it is okay to fish towards a point that someone is sitting on as long as you peel off before you get too close. Basically comes down to common courtesy and common sense.. which seems like people don't have much of these days.

Now all you need to do is find one that fat and about 22in long!

Fished from 6:30- noon out of Cedar Ridge. Started at maze creek and hit main lake points with a finesse worm. Seemed like id catch two or three in as many casts then no more. Ended the day with 9 bass. No keepers. I was fishing 12-18 FOW. Im sure the size is out deeper on ledges and brush but with no depth/fish finder and limited days on the water I wasn't willing to randomly fish deep in hopes I got lucky, Id rather catch 10 little ones then 0. Water was 82 degrees. Absolutely NO wind on the lake today. Even at noon there was barely a breeze. Ive been out there on calm morning but never have I seen the water that still for that long.

I have done that a few times this year and I have caught more channels than keeper crappie. It's been tough the times ive gone

Yes very nice inside and out. Have gotten minnows there a few times already and was also hard sold on a breakfast biscuit... Which was pretty tastey. My only complaint is they don't open until 6. Makes it tough to get minnows for a sunrise trip. Regardless I am a fan of the place to far

It is the only rig that I troll. The rooster tail idea is interesting. Big Keen - where do get your nungessers? I have had a hard time finding them the last couple times ive looked.

I use about a 12 in leader for the crank and 18 for the spoon. The spoon is so small that as long as the crankbait leader is shorter than the spoon leader then the spoon with just flutter slightly above and behind the crank. I prefer hot n tots for trolling but ive used all kinds of cranks. It is pretty deadly for white bass and walleye. Catch a few crappie and kentuckys on it also. I learned it from my old man. We used to troll fellows with it and when I watched him pull in a huge musky on it I was sold. Ive taken a few trips up north and the pike absolutely love it.