Thompson Fishing Guide Service

June 13, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Guide’s warning: Stockton Lake has come up at least a foot in the last 48 hours. As of today, it is 874.27, therefore there is a tremendous amount of debris in the water. However, the debris in the water that I am concerned about right now is not a stump or a log, it’s a very large ski boat that makes dangerous waves and is usually driven by a completely selfish, lawless jerk. I have been fishing in Old State Park, Hawker Cove, Googer Cove, and many others and have been rocked around on 5 foot waves like a cork. I saw one boat with a lady in it almost get swamped, I’ve had water slop over the side of my gunnels on my 21 foot boat as these selfish, lawless boaters drag their kids within feet of fishermen as they fish in these coves to get out of the wind. Will this be another Lake of the Ozarks (which ranks in the top 3 most dangerous waterways in the United States, surpassed only by the Pacific Ocean and the Colorado River)? I hope not. Not only is this inconvenient, it is dangerous for us fishermen and it is against the law. We need to stand together as anglers or we will be literally washed out of the lake. Write down boat registration numbers and carry your video camera, ready to record evidence; it may come in handy if you have to go to court or testify against a lawless boater. I have had to apologize to my clients on numerous occasions for them being slammed around in my boat. The direct phone number to call if you need the Water Patrol on ANY Missouri waterway is 573-751-3333; program this number into your phone and do not hesitate to contact the Water Patrol to tell them about dangerous boaters. Walleye fishing has been fair; slow troll crawler harnesses along the bluffs on each side of the 215 bridge or drift minnows and jigs. The fish will be deep on sunny days, so you’ll have to find them with your sonar. They’ll come up a little more shallow on cloudy days, but they’ll be in the same locations. I would also concentrate on main lake points using the same technique. Check out the flats across from Mutton Creek because the walleye have started to gather here to feed on shad. Another place to look would be the bluffs directly across from State Park. Rule of thumb: the more water you cover, the better chances you’ll have in finding the walleye. The summer pattern dictates that they follow the shad throughout the lake and can be anywhere. Largemouth bass: with the lake on the rise, you need to be on the move. These fish have been spreading out along the shore and are scattered. Spinner baits or crank baits fan casted along the banks have been catching some fish. On bright, sunny days, these fish will be deep in the brush, so I have been flipping creature baits. Color doesn’t really seem to matter. When you are flipping or pitching, boat control is vitally important, meaning: if the fish knows you are there, he won’t be. Position your boat so the fish can’t see you. Top water is still iffy, but I would give it a try with something like a Scum Frog that is weedless due to the fact that you will be fishing in brush. I keep my plastic worm rigged to drag over secondary or main lake points to catch bigger fish. For you jig fishermen, I can only say three words without giving too much information: orange, brown, green. The rest is up to you. Crappie fishing is good on Stockton Lake. The spawn has concluded for the most part, and the fish are in their summer pattern, which is a neat way of saying you’ll find them off of deep secondary lake points. The old jig and minnow is the way to go for me, but that’s just one opinion. Crappie jigs with crappie niblets are catching fish, but the jig and minnow combination catches bigger fish. Forget the marked crappie beds, and look for brush 25-30 feet deep off secondary points, and you’ll catch very few sublegal fish. Remember: to catch big fish you have to fish where big fish live. White bass fishing has been somewhat slow because the fish are scattered and deep. The top water bite is hit and miss, but hopefully that will get better soon. Look for white bass 30+ feet deep off main lake points. The easiest way to get these fish is vertical jigging spoons or jigs. Trolling crank baits works late in the day when the fish come up shallow chasing shad. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Thanks for the good words. We had fun doing the Don Berry fishing show. Hopefully a TV show is next. Reference blue gill: fish any of the bridge pillars, particularly HWY 215. You'll have to experiment with depth, because sometimes you can't get close enough to get a good picture with your sonar. These fish will move up and down depending on the light, particularly. Use red worms if you can find them) or crickets and you should catch some BIG fish. The state record green sunfish was caught on Stockton and like bass or walleye, you'll find your bigger fish a little off the beaten path. 215 bridge seems to be the better bridge because it has square pillars instead of round ones. Fish like the square ones better. Look on your sonar for brush along deep main lake points and you should catch big fish.

June 6, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: If I was looking for walleye, I would begin my quest in the area around the twin bridges. I would troll small deep diving crank baits back and forth under the bridges. Get as close to the concrete pillars as you can, and let the plug deflect off of the cement. This is one trick that has been successful for my clients in the last week. Another technique is to start at the back of large main lake coves and slow drift or slow troll a jig (1/4 oz + depending on wind) and minnow. There will be a weed line about 10 feet deep, approximately one cast from the shore. Find the weed line on your sonar and fish the outside of it. These fish get in the brush and when the bait goes by, they’ll fire out and grab it. On sunny bright days, I would fish secondary points in these large coves with the jig and minnow technique in about 25-35 feet of water. This has been very successful for my clients in the last several days. Fish are also being caught above the 215 bridge and off of the main lake points in the area of State Park. Early and late these fish will be shallow, anywhere from 1 foot to 15 feet of water. When they get up real shallow, the only presentation is to fan cast the shoreline with a jig (no minnow cause it flies off) in white or chartreuse. Largemouth bass have completed their spawn, so I would begin by fishing shallow early and late along the shore of secondary coves with anything from Buzz Baits to shallow running crank baits. Shallow running crank baits are effective because they run just above the submerged brush. Bass lay in the dark shadows of the submerged brush and will fire up as the plug goes overhead. Try ripping a weedless crank bait across the top of the brush as well and you’ll catch fish. Top water early and late has been good in these same locations. Due to the fact that the lake is 4 feet above normal pool, fish will be spread out so the best approach is to cover as much ground as possible. My clients have been catching decent bass (3-5 pounds) during the middle of the day off of structure in anywhere from 15-25 feet of water. Plastic worms, Carolina lizards or jigs work best in these locations. Color hasn’t really been that big of a deal, but you can experiment and see if one produces better than the other. Bass fishing has been superb from one end of the lake to the other, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find fish if you cover enough ground. Crappie: The best crappie fishing is on deep, isolated cover (25-35 feet deep). Jig and minnow is your best bet. You’ll need to spend time with your sonar to find these deep, out of the way crappie beds. When you do, the majority of your fish will be well over 10 inches. Remember a rule of thumb: it’s like finding a big buck…you have to hunt where they live. Night fishing is starting to pick up well in these same areas. Hold your boat over the crappie bed with the trolling motor and if your buddy makes a lot of noise by stomping on the bottom of the boat, make sure he does that long before you start to fish. This is very critical. Most people think that they have to whisper to keep from spooking the fish, but it’s the stomping on the bottom of the boat that causes the big problem. It is interesting to note that I have clients who will wait to get over the cover to begin slamming compartments on the boat. If this happens, you need to move. Center your efforts around the Masters boat ramp. Catfish: channel cat fishing is good as usual on Stockton. Since the water is up in the brush, a boat is the only way to go, unless you fish some of the grassy shores around the various campgrounds. Secondary points in around 15-20 feet of water are where the fish are hanging out. Night crawlers have been the best for me, but chicken livers, chicken hot dogs or the gross smelly stink baits all work well too. White bass are not as hot as they should be, but you can find fish if you cover enough water. Deep diving small crank baits or chartreuse and white Rooster Tails will catch fish when you find them. Main lake points are the best places to look. The fish haven’t really started breaking the top yet, to any real degree, but I always a rod loaded with a top water plug, like a Pop R. It doesn’t really matter what kind of plug you use, if you can find them busting the top, they’ll grab anything. I expect this year to be a super top water bite like the last two years, but that hasn’t really produced yet like I expect it to. For real fun, when you do see them busting the top, use 2 white or chartreuse plastic trailers on a hook only, one tied above the other, and you’ll catch two at once. Do this in front of your friends and they will think you are really something on the proverbial stick. Plus it’s a blast to catch 2 highly agitated 3 pound white bass at the same time. Guide’s tip of the week: If you love water moccasins, you’ll be glad to know that they are everywhere. For you bass fisherman who like flipping and pitching in the brush, like I do, keep your eyes on the trees and also the back of your boat. These little buggers want to get in your boat by climbing up the transom. I have watched them many times. They go right for the tail end of your boat, and if they get in the ventilation holes, no telling where they will end up. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 23, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Most of my walleye fishing in the last week has been from the Ruark Bluff area to the 215 bridge. These fish have been deep for the most part (around 30 feet) and I have been slowly drifting minnows on a ¼ oz jig. It is very important to bump the bottom with the jig as much as possible. As of this date, the walleye have been biting very lightly so you need to stay focused. Walleye seem to be hanging out in the mouths of main lake coves in the above areas. Late afternoon and early evening we have been catching keeper fish in around 15 feet of water. At this time of day the walleye will move up and cruise the brush line that you’ll be able to pick up on your depth finder; back your boat approximately a cast out from the brush line and fan cast the area with Husky Jerks, Rattle Traps or any other type of minnow bait and you should catch fish. Fish are also being caught around the dam and around State Park marina according to other fishermen I have talked to. Crawler harnesses with a ½ oz weight have also been working by slow trolling them over the fish you mark in the deeper water. Largemouth bass: Old State Park, Googer Creek, and Son’s Creek arm of the lake have been producing nice sized fish (2-3 pounds). These fish are caught in the backs of coves by flipping creature baits in the thickest cover that you can find. I use a 7 ½ foot flipping rod with 20# test mono to get the fish out of the brush. Dark colors such as greens, blues and blacks work the best. Fish are also being caught in deeper water off the main lake points as the post spawn fish move into the summer pattern. In these areas I use deep diving crank baits to bounce off the bottom or 10” plastic ribbon tailed worms; again, dark colors seem to work the best. The top water bite is still hit and miss and it seems that I get more bites with a top water bait that can stop and then be started again. These seem to be a little more effective than Buzz baits. A Devil Horse is what I have been using lately to coax top water bass, but it is a good idea to experiment. Bass fishing overall has been fair. Another place to look is the bluffs around Cedar Ridge boat ramp. Crappie fishing has been good from CC boat ramp down to the twin bridges. Most of the crappie in this area have already spawned and have moved back out into deeper water (around 25 feet). Find brush on secondary points and drift a minnow and ¼ oz jig. Like the walleye, these fish have been biting very lightly for the most part and if you are not focused on your rod tip, they will be there and gone before you have a chance to set the hook. Crappie are also being caught at Price Branch and Maze Creek in the deeper timber. When you fish Price Branch or Maze Creek, don’t overlook the small coves in these areas; fish will move up in shallow water here early and late to feed on shad. Then you can use small crank baits, or chartreuse or white in line spinners. White bass fishing has been slow, but fish are being caught off main lake bluffs in deep water by slow trolling Rooster Tails or Panther Martins or vertical jig Cast Masters or Pepper Spoons. These fish have been spending the majority of their time in deeper water (around 30 feet). They haven’t really started to spread out and chase the shad in the shallows yet, however, I always carry a rod loaded with a top water lure such as a Chugger so I’ll be ready when they do bust the top. Channel cat fishing has been good just about anywhere you want to fish. Because the lake level is up about 4 feet, bank fishing has become limited, but if you’ll look at the map, there are still places you can fish from the shore. Night crawlers are the best bait now, but they are being caught on chicken livers, fresh cut shad, and stink bait if you’re into that. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 9, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing has been good, to say the least, as far as catching enough legal fish for a fish fry. I have zeroed my clients in on the water south of the 215 bridge, but fishing in the dam area has been good too. These fish have been coming up into the shallows early and late, particularly late, to chase shad. White curly tailed jigs have been the most effective, casting towards the bank and retrieve back to the boat. Troll Rattle Traps, Wiggle Warts or spinners across secondary points and you should catch fish, however, things will soon change when the water temperature gets warmer, so enjoy it while you can. Crappie are in the spawning mode in areas above the 215 bridge, but for the most part, have finally finished up on what has been an up and down spawning year. Remember, bigger crappie are in deeper water. Look for secondary or main lake points that have cover and try minnows and jigs fished above the cover. Whether spawn, pre-spawn or post spawn, crappie fishing is good throughout the lake. Cedar Bluff in the Turkey Creek arm is always a good bet, as well as points around the twin bridges. Guide’s tip of the week for the minnow man: I have experimenting for some time on how to keep my minnows alive longer. Try adding a cup of salt to every ten gallons of water; this will help preserve the slime coat on the minnow and reduce stress. This same recipe is also effective for fish caught in tournaments. Another tip for the minnows in hot water conditions is to freeze a gallon jug of water and place the jug in the bait tank. This obviously helps keep the water temperature down. These are just a few tips that I have tried; some work and some don’t. If you have any information reference the proper care of bait, please let me know. When you talk about crappie fishing, try to keep your voices low, due to the fact that if your minnows hear you, they will become overly stressed and stroke out. Largemouth bass: I have been noticing male bass on nests, so there’s no doubt that they have begun to move up and spawn. I have also observed (with my underwater camera) that the blue gill are thick in these spawning areas. When Mr. Bass is pulled from protecting the nest, Mr. Blue Gill and all of his friends are waiting to invade, therefore I do not target nesting fish. I target the fish that are deeper (anywhere from 8-25 feet), which are usually bigger fish anyway. Plastic worms of course, but if you like the jig and pig, that’ll work also. Best colors for this time of year, whether it’s a crank bait or a jig, are orange, blue, green and brown. These are the predominant colors of bass’s favorite foods, blue gill and crawdads. Top water action is hit and miss, but that should change soon with rising water temperatures. With all of the brush in and near the water, this should be an excellent year for the spawn and for great top water action. If you like to flip and pitch, you’ll find quality fish back in the deepest, most tangled debris you can find. As the leaves begin to sprout on the willows and other brush, this action should get even better. With so much submerged cover on virtually every shore of the lake, these bass will be more spread out than they are at low lake levels. Here’s an easy rule of thumb reference which bushes to concentrate on: look for the brush that has close access to secondary points and deeper water (12-20 feet). Because of the high water this year, I predict that this will be a very productive season, not only for fishermen, but for the fish themselves. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 2, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Stockton Lake fishing has slowed somewhat in the last couple days because of the cold rain we have been getting this spring. The water temperature starts to rise and then it will drop 4 or 5 degrees, which postpones crappie and bass spawning. I fished every day for the last week, so I’ll give you my report as I see it. Walleye have been caught off of the secondary points around the Ruark Bluff campground on jigs and minnows. The fish will position themselves in shallow water (8-10 feet) or deeper water (15-35 feet); this is primarily determined by the sun. I have noticed that light wind/sunny days means these walleye will be around 35 feet deep. I have been using a ¼ oz – ½ oz jig head when they are down this far. An important factor in catching these fish when they are deep is boat control. You need to fish the jig as vertically as possible to stay in the strike zone. Whether the fish are deep or shallow, the most consistent bait for me has been the jig and minnow. These fish come up shallow early and late and can be caught on virtually any kind of crank bait, but this has been hit and miss. Reference your jigs, remember this rule: light colors on light days, dark colors on dark days, but avoid tunnel vision and experiment because you don’t know what they may want. The problem with the walleye on Stockton Lake is there is not one single fish that has ever read the Walleye Insider, so fish with an open mind and experiment, no matter what the species. Crappie: I’ll begin this part by being politically correct. The crappie have spawned and the crappie have not spawned. The crappie are deep and the crappie are shallow. With the peculiar weather patterns this spring, the crappie seem to be everywhere doing everything or nowhere doing nothing. The fish have already spawned in the main river arms of the lake. As you move further north, they are spawning or beginning to spawn. I have seen fish in 10 feet of water staging and then after two inches of cold rain these same fish will pull back to deeper water. I have caught fish this spring in 35 feet of water, so there is no hard and fast rule. Jig and minnows have been my best bait. Mark the fish off of secondary points and slowly drift while keeping your eye on your rod tip. One day the fish will grab it with such fury that a 3 year old could catch one on a Barbie pole, and the next day they bite so lightly that you hardly know they are there. I have been centering most of my crappie fishing in the lower portions of the Son’s Creek and Sac river arms. Largemouth bass: Like all of my other aquatic friends in Stockton Lake, bass have been riding the roller coaster as well. The majority of my bigger fish (3-5 pounds) have been caught off of secondary lake points by dragging a worm, either Carolina or Texas rigged. Color doesn’t seem to matter, but I have been using purple or black in the stained water and pumpkin seed or watermelon in the clear water. One day spinner baits will outdo crank baits and the next day vice versa. I have also caught good fish by flipping tubes or creature baits in the backs of coves, deep in the brush. I use a 7 ½ foot flipping rod with at least 20# test mono. The result will be shocking. With just a few feet of line out, and a stiff rod, Mr. Bass will give you a jolt. For the most part, experimenting is the most effective method for contacting bass in weather conditions like these (cold front with heavy cold rain). Catfish: channel cat fishing has been the best overall due to the fact that there are a lot of night crawlers and various other appetizing creatures being washed into the lake in droves. The best place to go is in coves that have steady running water. These fish are congregating in these areas because of the abundant food. If I was a cat fisherman fishing from the shore, I would fish the Old State Park cove around the boat ramp. Night crawlers are a go to, but they’ll bite anything from chicken hot dogs to the dipped bait you have to apply with a 4 foot stick. Guide’s tip of the week: Remember to watch for trees and any other woody debris. I have seen chunks of wood the size of your arm and trees you could hang a swing on. If you take care of your lower unit, it will take care of you. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

So here's another question. Since we know the MO State Water Patrol isn't going to enforce no fishing around marina docks, say for example the Army Corps ranger gets called to a reported trespassing situation on marina boat docks with no disturbance involved (hard to imagine, but let's say for the sake of argument it's a clean dispute over trespass with no physical or verbal trouble). Does the ranger have a copy of the marina lease or does he just go on what the marina owner says? If the marina leases are all different (according to my water patrol guy), how is the public to know what is lawful and what is not? I can hang sign out that says no hunting or fishing, but if I don't own or have control of that land/water, it doesn't mean a thing. I have to tell you, it is curious to me that no one wants to hang their hat on a firm dispo with this, except for one man with the Corps who basically says it is this way cause I told you it's this way. I, for one, would like some confirmation. For the sake of curiosity, we'll be pursuing this matter with Jefferson City. As I told everyone I spoke with from the patrol and the Corps, it has come down to the point of the matter. It's able to be confirmed or it's not.

To clarify: the Missouri State Water Patrol was the agency where I talked to five people. No one was willing to have their name attached to the dispo that the water patrol would not enforce the no fishing law. The water patrol officer I spoke to said (IN HIS PERSONAL OPINION) that it was an inherent problem in the Corps leases that the actual area of the lease was not well defined, and that the leases vary widely from lake to lake and marina to marina. Tom Long, the Operations Manger of the U.S.A.C.E. Stockton Lake Project Office was the one who said leases would only be produced to the public under a request under the Freedom of Information Act. So I guess we'll be finding out how to do that. US Army Corps of Engineers Stockton Project Office Operations Manager Tom Long 16435 E. Stockton Lake Drive Stockton, MO 65785-9471 417-276-3113

A secondary point is a point on the inside of a large or small cove off of the main lake. Main lake points connect to the main river channel in the main part of the lake. The thing that makes a secondary point a good point is that it is located in a cove that has a deep creek channel (30-35 feet max). This kind of environment gives bass everything they need to survive and never have to travel very far, no matter what the season. I find that my most productive bait for big bass are plastic worms fished off of these secondary points. However, not all secondary points are created equal. You need to find two things: cover and structure.

Ok, here's the long awaited dispo from the Corps. According to Tom Long, Army Corps of Engineers Operations Manager for Stockton Lake, marinas do have the right to restrict fishing on the docks, even when it involves boaters. He said that the marina's lease allows them to do this. When asked if leases were available for the public to see, he stated that would only come as a result of a request under the Freedom of Information Act. According to the Missouri State Water Patrol (of the 5 people I spoke with, none agreed to be named), there is no state law that prohibits this, therefore, the water patrol will not enforce it. According to Tom Long, the Corps Ranger would be the one to issue citations for trespassing or interfering with a lawful order. I did speak with a water patrol officer who offered this example: if you put a deer stand up on public land, you would have no expectation of privacy and no right to restrict people from your deer stand. If a person came and sat under the tree where you put your deer stand, there would be nothing that you could do about it. But what kind of person would do this anyway? His take on it was the Golden Rule/common courtesy way of thinking. He did mention though, that out of curiosity, he read some of the leases and was surprised to see that they are all different with regards to the amount of land and water coverage. I guess we'll never know since it seems getting a copy of the leases would be akin to reinventing the wheel.

The dock across from the Mutton Creek marina is Corps maintained. Their number is 276-3113. Ask for Tom Long.

April 25, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing is excellent now. Most of my clients in the last two weeks have limited out. Depending on the sunshine and cloud cover, I have been finding these fish between 18-23 feet deep. The main method of attack is a white curly tailed jig with a minnow. Main lake or secondary points should be your target. Any other techniques that I use at this time are highly classified, therefore you are on your own. If you are a fly fisherman, this could be for you: every evening when I take the walleye out of the live wells, there are dozens of mayflies. If a person had a mayfly pattern, and tried it in the shallows late in the evening, I bet he would catch walleye on a fly rod. Bass fishing has also picked up considerably. I have caught fish in the backs of coves in the thick brush flipping creature baits and in 25 feet of water on plastic worms. With frequent dramatic weather changes and heavy rains, the bass have been bouncing back from shallow to deep water. Try flipping the shallows in coves and if they are not there, back off until you find them on the secondary points adjacent to spawning banks. You'll have to experiment a lot; these fish have been making major changes...one day it's spinner baits, and the next it's crank baits. Crappie fishing is still somewhat slow for the most part, but fish are being caught in the State Park cove, Orleans Trail cove, and Turkey creek arm of the lake. For the most part, as of this report, most crappie have been deep and scattered, deep meaning around 15 feet or more. We have caught fish drifting 1/4 oz white or chartreuse curly tailed jigs. Fish are being caught around the CC bridge area in the timber, where the water is the warmest. This seems to be your best bet for concentrations of fish. As the water approaches 65 degrees, crappie will begin moving into the shallows on the main body of the lake. Small bass plugs, small spinner baits, or jigs will catch fish when they move up. This should be an excellent year for all species of fish in Stockton Lake, particularly crappie, because the high water provides sanctuary for the nests and the baby hatchlings. Carp: if you want to hone your skills on your archery, you'll find thousands of carp in the shallows spawning. I know some of these fish have got to weigh 30 pounds. I have also observed schools of carp as they feed across the top of the lake gorging themselves on mayflies. Here again is an opportunity for a fly fisherman. I am sure if you laid a dry mayfly pattern ahead of this lip onslaught you'd have your hands full. Who knows? You could develop the world's first carp fly and even have your own place in Bass Pro. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Won't have an official dispo on this til next week. We've talked to some folks at the patrol and the Corps, but it appears the official answer will have to come from someone higher up. It is a jurisdictional pickle, it seems. Til then, I'd avoid a confrontation if at all possible. Always better to have the law on your side (or at least know if you don't). Typically there are 25,000 acres of lake to fish on Stockton, and with the highest water in 4 years, there's probably 40,000 acres of land under water. I sure wonder if some big hawgs aren't hanging out under those docks though...

April 18, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report My departed grandma (bless her soul) used to always say if spring comes too early, there'll be a very bad cold spell, which will freeze everything. Which it did. However, the fishing has been picking up day by day as the lake temperatures recover from their almost 8 degree drop last week. Today should be the beginning of a good spring season. Walleye: Your best bet for consistent walleye (even though it's not as good as it will get) is around the dam, Crab Tree cove, and the Masters boat ramp. Try trolling Lucky Craft pointers, Rapala shad raps, or any minnow or cylindrical type bait. You cover more ground by trolling, but late in the evening or early early morning, I would cast to the shore using these same types of lures. Minnow and jig combos still work fairly well when slow drifted off main lake points. Get as big of a minnow as you can and tip the jig head with it. I'd concentrate most of my efforts above the 215 bridge for walleye or the bluffs around east and west Ruark bluff. Crappie fishing is productive in the area of the CC boat ramp in the trees. Water temperature is considerably warmer there than the lower end of the lake, therefore the majority of the crappie in this area will be in 8-10 feet of water along the banks. For this presentation, I would cast chartreuse Road Runners and white or chartreuse Beetle Spin type jigs toward the shore. Due to the fact that the fish are in shallower water, you'll spook the fish if you try to slow troll over the top of them. Deeper timber in this area of the lake is abundant and I would tie up over water 15-20 feet deep and fish with bobbers. It is interesting to note that a lot of fishermen will try to be quiet by holding their voices down, and at the same time bump or drop something on the bottom of the boat. Sound travels through water quickly, whereas your voice will bounce off across the top. It's always fun when you take a client to a hole that has large crappie to have him drop his tackle box or slam one of the compartment doors on the boat. When this happens, gently tap your friend upside the head with the paddle and move to another spot. Crappie fishing will soon be very productive throughout Stockton Lake. If we get one week of warm weather, things will really take off. Normally by this time of year the spawn is in full swing, but due to the cold, it has been slightly delayed. Guide's tip of the week: To accumulate good fishing records, I would suggest that you copy each weekly fishing report and save it for future reference to develop patterns for all species of fish in Stockton lake. I try to give as much information as I can without giving away trade secrets. Another word of advice: you are going to save money and time by hiring a competent, commercially insured fishing guide rather than trying to figure out a lake out on your own. White bass are being caught around the Cedar Ridge boat ramp, in the Turkey Creek arm, and the Master's boat ramp area off of main lake points and around State Park. These fish are being caught deep (25 feet) by trolling small bass lures with a clip on weight system to get them down to the depths. Try 1/4 oz Road Runners or 1/4 oz curly tailed jigs, white or chartreuse. I say white or chartreuse because these are effective colors in highland clear water lakes, such as Stockton. These are not the only colors that produce fish, you'll have to experiment. Here's a rule of thumb: dark day, dark lure, light day, light lure. You have to remember, that a fish sees color much differently than you do. Largemouth bass have also been affected by the sudden drop in water temperature and most of the decent fish that I have been catching (2-4 pounds) have been off of secondary points in 12-20 feet of water. Plastic worms (as usual) have worked well for me and my clients, as well as crawdad colored jigs (orange, blue, green, brown) fished slowly across the bottom. Late in the evening, bass are turning up in the backs of coves. Look for coves that have running water and access to deeper water (20-30 feet deep). The typical pea gravel banks which are everywhere on Stockton lake are also one of the keys to a good cove. These fish will be staging to spawn very very soon if they haven't already in certain parts of the lake. As of this report, slow is still your main presentation. The suspended jerk bait is still somewhat productive. Top water....you can try it, but it's iffy. When the water warms, the top water bite will also heat up. Smallmouth bass: Stockton Lake holds the current and previous Missouri state record for smallmouth bass. Everybody looks at Table Rock as a premiere smallmouth lake, which it is, but with these credentials, Stockton cannot be overlooked. Smallmouth bass, being more cold water oriented than the largemouth bass, should be close to spawning. Concentrate your efforts above the 215 bridge, fish along the chunk rock shores and main lake points. Finesse presentation is a key for smallmouth. Drop shot rigs are also very productive fished along bluffs or underwater structure. Small spinner baits and deep diving crank baits work well too. Remember: it takes a smallmouth bass 6 years to be able to reproduce. All smallmouth need to be returned to the lake to ensure a world class fishery like Stockton Lake. And while we're on the subject of conservation, reference sight fishing: when you jerk a parent fish off the nest, by the time he gets back to the nest, the blue gill have already wiped out the brood. I have fished with biologists in the past who say if the fish does get back to the nest, in most cases, the eggs or fry, have been eaten by other fish, primarily blue gill. It is obvious when these fish are caught in tournaments that the nest is guaranteed to die. Your big bass publications rarely comment on this...I wonder why? If any of you has any information on this subject, please email me. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

My understanding is that you can legally fish marina boat docks from a boat. From a boat is the key condition... All 3 marinas post "No Fishing within so many feet (yards?)(usually 200) of the docks." I have sent to our heroes at the Corps (I means this, they do an awesome job) for an official clarification and I will post it when I receive it. This might not make me popular with the marinas, but I'm just the messenger...story of my life! Oh yeah, one more thing. My understanding is also that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns this public lake. That is why there is NO PRIVATE PROPERTY on Stockton. That's one of my favorite things about it. I believe that the marinas LEASE this public land, and I'm not sure who the improvements belong to. Will check on this too.

April 11, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing picked up during the recent warm spell; my clients have caught fish off of the points in the Ruark Bluff area slow drifting or slow trolling a jig twister tail combo in chartreuse, white or black. The majority of these fish were between 18-20 inches long. Early and late in the day, we were catching walleye in the backs of coves casting jigs and twister tails to the bank, just like you do in bass fishing. Fish are also being caught in the Crabtree Cove area with this same technique or using jerk baits. For big walleye, night time is your best bet. Troll deep diving crank baits along the face of the dam and adjacent points. Fish usually come up in shallower water (8-10 feet) after dark. Largemouth bass fishing was starting to pick up before the cold front that set in; prior to that front, I was able to spend a little time bass fishing in main lake coves. I caught several decent fish (2-4 pounds) dragging a straight tail plastic worm Carolina style off of the points in these main lake coves. As the sun began to drop, the fish moved up into the shallower water. The top water bite was hit or miss, but my client caught four 3-4 pound bass using a black spinner bait. For those hard core bass fishermen, I would begin my quest from the CC boat ramp and fish north. Crappie fishing has been good around the CC boat ramp, with Road Runners tipped with a minnow or just with a curly tailed jig. The fish will be spread out in around 3-10 feet of water. If you fish from the CC bridge north towards the main lake, you should find all the crappie you need. Slow trolled small bass plugs in the main river channel north of Springfield Cove should catch your bigger crappie. Same technique goes for Price Branch and Turkey Creek arm. White bass are being caught around the Master's boat ramp off of points using pepper spoons, and Cast Masters. These fish will school in about 20 feet of water during midday and get shallower early and late. When they come up shallow, use a fluorescent Rooster tail or Panther Martin, either slow trolled or cast across the points. If you find the fish, these baits will work. If you fish an area, and don't get into the white bass, move. White bass are also being caught around State Park and the mouth of Orleans Trail. Fish the spoon at the depth of the marked fish on your sonar. Cast out and let it fall, or vertical jig if the wind permits. Guide's tip of the week: WARNING to all fishermen who seek to hire a guide. The first question you need to ask your potential guide is if he has commercial fishing insurance. Everybody wants to be a guide these days, but very few go to the expense of making sure their clients are covered in case of an accident. Don't just ask if your guide has insurance. Ask if the guide's insurance covers you as a paying client. In other words, does he have commercial fishing guide insurance? From my experience, this insurance is very expensive and very few insurance companies have even heard of it, much less, have a policy suited for fishing guides and their clients. If a guide is not willing to cover his clients in case of an accident, in spite of expense, he does not deserve your business. Thanks to all my clients that filled up my April bookings; for those of you I turned down, I have the following days open: April 23-26. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS (2277)

April 4, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: The best bet for walleye right now is just before and after dark. The dam will have the best concentration of fish, and we have been catching a few legal fish on deep diving jerk baits on the face of the dam and around Orleans Trail cove. The fishing should get better, due to the fact that these fish shut down for a week or ten days after the spawn and then start up again. During the day I would slow troll or drift a jig/minnow combo in the same areas, but try a little deeper water, in around 25-30 feet deep. Crappie fishing is starting to pick up throughout the lake, particularly in the area around the Greenfield boat ramp all the way down to Birch Branch in the Sac River Arm. These fish up the river are starting to spawn, and in the area of the dam they are getting ready to spawn. I would search out pea gravel shores in coves that have access to deep water. From Road runners to Rooster tails, slow drifting or casting to the shore around the brush should catch fish. I've also been catching crappie on small crank baits; light colors seem to work the best. Largemouth bass: bass fishing has started to pick up quite nicely, with a few still being caught on suspended jerk baits and deep diving crank baits, such as Wiggle Warts. Lures with orange, brown or green work real well in the spring for 2 reasons: they match the blue gill that are getting ready to spawn and crawdads, which have emerged from their winter haunts. Top water bite is good early and late, particularly on cloudy days. If the fish aren't in the brush around 5-8 feet deep, use a Carolina Rig in the deeper water on the points in the area. White bass: are somewhat scattered, but if you can find a school, you should load the boat. Medium sized white or chartreuse jigs work well, along with chartreuse in line spinners, such as rooster tails. I would start my quest for white bass around the Ruark Bluff campground area, either slow troll or cast to the fish that you mark on your sonar unit. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

March 28, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Your best chance for walleye is the Sac River arm, Son's Creek, and the area along the dam right before dark. Stick bait lures like Husky Jerks work (fished along the shore), so do your jigs and jig/minnow combinations with plastic trailers. The spawn has not really come into full swing yet, and the theory that explains this is cold temperatures, a lot of rain and rising water have possibly slowed things down. White bass are being caught up the creek arms (Maze Creek, Son's Creek, Turnback) on anything from jigs to chartreuse rooster tails. If you spend any time at all in these areas, you should catch fish. If it starts slowly, experiment with tackle (jigs and spinners, Rattle Traps, etc) and you will soon catch fish. Crappie: fish for crappie in the same areas as white bass in around 10-12 feet of water with white or chartreuse jigs tipped with small crappie minnows. Pea gravel shores with brush are the places that the fish will spawn and at the upper end of the lake, crappie have already started moving into the shallower water. Largemouth bass: spend time in the deep timbered coves. Here again on the southern part of the lake, fish have started to move up into shallower water as the spawning time draws closer. Black spinner baits have worked well for me, along with a jig n pig, or Carolina rigged lizards. As you get closer to the dam, however, water temperatures are cooler, therefore these fish have not yet begun to stage, but can still be caught early and late on suspended jerk baits. It appears when the water temperature hits 55 degrees, the suspended jerk bait bite is over. This is where slow rolled spinner baits come in handy. You may find a top water bite early and late in the main river arms (Maze, Sac and Son's Creek). With the water up in all of the brush, this will be an excellent year for top water bass. Remember last week's power line warning? According to the news, somebody evidently did not see all of the marker buoys and ran into power lines which sheared off both pedestal seats, the windshield and the motor. Another warning that you need to heed is to watch for logs, limbs, etc floating in the lake. I was fishing with a client Monday and I noticed two objects about 35 feet apart. As I got closer, I discovered it was a log with only the ends exposed. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

March 21, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: This week's report will be very similar to last week's report in that the big rush to spawn has not yet heated up. I keep saying I predict it will happen in the next few days... well, sooner or later, I am going to be right. We have had warm rain, and now we are approaching the right moon phase. All I can say is I'd spend my time either at the dam, Maze Creek, or the Sac River arm. Crappie fishing is getting better and more widespread as the crappie move in to their pre-spawn mode. The crappie that I have been catching are still in around 15-20 feet of water on jig heads and medium sized minnows. These are bigger than average crappie (12-14 inches), but if you want to catch numbers, go to places like Birch Branch, Price Branch, Turkey Creek, and tie up to a cedar located next to the creek channel and have at it. Mutton Creek Marina reported excellent crappie fishing the last week. White bass are beginning to spawn, but are not as hot as they will get in the next few days. For now, your best chance for white bass on anything from jigs to rooster tails is the Turnback Creek area. And speaking of the Turnback Creek area, I would like to apologize on behalf of my home lake for the incredible, unsightly, embarrassing and downright criminal amount of litter in the area across from the CC boat ramp. You name it, someone's garbage is here. Everything from beer cans to discarded fishing line strewn through the trees like Christmas tinsel. I direct this to the small minority of those of you who I hope never come back. Largemouth bass fishing has been quite good and my clients have been very successful lately. Crank bait fishing is good for smaller fish in and around deeper coves in the shallower water. To catch bigger fish, you need to back off past the main break of a particular shoreline, and use jigs or plastic worms. We have all heard the old saying "10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish." This is true, but an important fact must be realized: 90% of the fish are behind the fisherman. Position your boat further from the shore than you normally would and you'll catch more quality fish because they are in deeper water. If you catch quality bass, you know what I mean. Suspended jerk baits are still effective, along with an occasional spinner bait. I still go to the old fashioned plastic worm, and it has worked for me for a lot of years, but for those of you who think this is outdated, the jig n pig will also produce. I have also caught a couple of good bass while flipping a black jig in the willows. With the water level up in the brush in all of the prime spawning spots, this should be an excellent reproduction year. Guide's tip of the week: all boaters must beware of debris such as logs, stumps, limbs and trees floating merrily along just waiting to be greeted by your lower unit. Just for extra fun, one of the concrete towers that support the large, high tension power lines around mile marker 5 in the Little Sac arm fell over. This is just upstream from the 245 bridge. The 5 high tension lines are still attached to the portion of the tower that is out of the water and are running just under and just above the surface of the lake for several hundred feet on the north and south side of the towers. Thanks to our heroes at the Corps, they have marked this hazard, but you need to be careful. Also, thanks to the Corps, the north Mutton Creek boat ramp is back in full service. Mutton Creek Marina's boat ramp is also in service now. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

March 14, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: walleye have been few and far between for the last couple of weeks. I predict that this will change dramatically in the next few days due to the moon phase. The best place to spend your time is along the dam because a large percentage of the spawning fish will spawn on the dam. With my experience, 1/4 oz - 1/2 oz jigs white or chartreuse will be your first bet. From there, I would look at crank baits, such as your deep diving Rapala minnow type baits. Walleye are interesting in that they are either real hot or real cold fish. But when they turn on, they'll be HOT. Your best chance for a big fish will of course be this time of year. One thing I would like you to remember, that it is necessary to release the majority of the big females that you catch. If you and your kid catch a big fish and you want to get it mounted, that's good, but if you want eating fish, your legal males will turn on approximately a week to ten days after the spawn. When they do, catching a limit is no big deal. Largemouth bass: I had two days this week that I was not booked to guide for WALLEYE, so I went bass fishing. I did quite well, actually. The fish are on the deeper sides of the larger main lake coves that have brush. The majority of the fish that I caught were on a black spinner bait in about 5 feet of water. There has also been some top water activity early and late in the same locations. I won't tell you exactly where I fish, but I will tell you this: I was in water that was 51 degrees. Crappie: Crappie fishing has slowed down somewhat, but I expect in the next couple of weeks that they are going to be real serious about the spawn. At that time, they will be in about 15-20 feet of water as they stage to go make a nest. Everybody says look for pea gravel banks, but it seems like 90% of Stockton Lake's 300 mile shoreline is pea gravel banks! So what do I do? Locate large main lake coves that have depths in excess of 50+ feet and long tapering points that lead into the deeper water. South/southwest facing shorelines...fish the coves that have the most brush furthest out in the cove. You will catch more quality fish. As for now, I would fish the deeper water in these same coves. I still use a slow vertical presentation with a 1/4 oz jig and minnow. You think 1/4 oz is too big? I say "No" for 2 reasons: It takes a heavier jig to keep your line vertical (which is necessary for detecting a bite) and a majority of the fish you will catch will be in the SLAB class. The bigger the bait, the bigger the Crappie. If you want to go dabble a minnow on one of the hundreds of marked crappie beds on the lake, and catch a lot of short fish, that's ok. But if you want to catch the bigger fish, you have to fish where the bigger fish are. One thing I learned as an elk guide in Colorado, is that in order to get a big bull, you have to hunt where the big bull lives. White bass: They are slow right now also. Some people are catching fish up Turnback, which will be a place to be when the walleye turn on. Try Birch Branch, or the mouth of Greaser Creek and you should run into the white bass. The white bass, like the walleye, are ready to spawn, and these would be places I would start. Guide's tip of the month: 3 ways to get your fellow anglers to hate your living guts: 1. When you see a bass fisherman casting along the shore, motor your boat within 20 yards in front of his, both going the same direction, and begin crappie fishing. 2. When you see that a fellow angler is throwing markers to fish a certain secret area, pull up as close to one of the markers as you can, and begin fishing. 3. This one will get you more notoriety than Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction: pick a hot, busy, holiday weekend and load all of your fishing equipment in your tow vehicle. Go to your favorite, busiest boat ramp and back your trailer down to the water. All occupants must exit the vehicle at this time and begin loading the boat; this should take about 20 minutes. Then be sure to have everyone visit the restroom one last time. Voila! Everyone within earshot will hate your living guts and talk about it for generations. If you have never experienced the thrills and spills at the boat ramp, it's some of the best entertainment there is...and it's free! Next week: Advanced lessons in "How to be the Boat Ramp Jerk" (your wife will love this)! Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Both of the Mutton Creek docks are gone. Mutton Creek owner Dan says indeed theirs (at the south end where the marina is) is under water, but he wasn't sure where the Corps maintained dock across the lake is. I called the Corps this morning and they didn't know anything about theirs being either gone or under water, so they are calling their maintenance guy. The Corps guy told me in no uncertain terms "IT SHOULDN'T BE GONE!"

March 7, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: If I was a walleye fisherman, I'd be fishing right now, because if you do, you are going to be at the start of a great walleye season. My clients are catching a few bigger fish (3-5 lbs) with the majority between 15-20 inches. I would start in the Turkey Creek arm or in the dam area and motor around until you find the shad, which for the most part have been anywhere from 30-55 feet deep. Jig and minnow seem to be the most consistent, however RattleTraps, and spin tail lures like the Little George have produced some bigger fish. Cast the lure out, let it sink all the way to the bottom, reel it 3 or 4 feet, let it sink again, repeat process. I would also spend some time in the Sac River arm from Ruark Bluff to the CC bridge. Walleye are starting to turn up in these areas. At this time of the year, as we see the spawn approaching, these fish will start schooling up. A lot of running water, as the result of the wet winter will provide more spawning grounds for the walleye. As you know, walleye spawn in the tributaries and also along rocky shores and bluffs. The dam is an ideal place. I start to follow the spawn at the CC bridge and follow it all the way to the dam. Crappie: last week I had some professional crappie fishermen spend two days with me and we caught 50 crappie. Only three were sublegal and there were several fish over 15 inches. Even though I cannot give you the exact location, I can say this: fish deep, at least 35 feet. Minnows and jigs seem to be the best. Like walleye, find the bait and you can find the crappie. Big crappie have figured out that their careers never last over 10 inches if they live on the marked crappie beds. A recent magazine article was written on Stockton Lake and said crappie fishing is fair and about 50% of your fish are legal. Lesson learned: don't believe everything you read. White bass: the white bass, like the crappie, are deep and occupy many of the same locations as crappie. Matter of fact, the white bass that we have been catching (2-3 lbs) have been so deep that their horizontal stripes have almost disappeared, due to the lack of light at such depths. These fish will be spawning soon, but in the meantime, cruise the mouths of the deeper coves off the main lake, find the bait fish. Jigs and minnows work well, but so do small spoons and tail spin lures. Guide's tip of the week: bounce the bait off of the bottom. Largemouth bass: I have been catching largemouth bass this week off of deeper main lake points connected to a bluff bank line. I start in deep water (50 feet) and zig zag my boat toward shallower water looking for bass holding structure. Black and blue jigs/pork chunk or black, purple or blue plastic worms fished slowly, are producing good fish at deeper depths. Ever wonder why black and blue? These dark colors are more easily seen at deeper depths. Speaking of color, it is interesting to note that according to a recent study, red (and I say this for you red hooks fans) begins to disappear in water no deeper than a foot. Even some line companies are manufacturing red line for its ability to disappear in the water. What does that mean about the bleeding bait/red hook syndrome that has spread throughout fishingdom? Does this catch fish or does this catch fishermen? I wonder about that, however, in this case, color is very important. Common sense will dictate what color to use. A basic rule of thumb: dark water, dark colored lure. Light water light colored lure. The suspended jerk bait is still also producing fish. Pay attention to the water temperature because it won't be long before these bass are staging to spawn. A short note on spawning: I have read several articles lately reference catching spawning bass and the basic consensus is when you jerk a bass off of the nest, chances are the blue gill or other intruders will eat the eggs before you can say catch and release. This is something that we bass fishermen should take into consideration. For you bank fishermen: Stockton has almost 300 miles of public shoreline. There is no private property on the lake, which means you can fish just about anywhere for any species from the shore. I'll give you more information on bank fishing as the water warms up and fish move into the brush, but for now, I would fish Old State Park cove, Hawker cove, and Cedar Ridge, to name a few. These places all have ample parking and you can walk right to the water. Remember to get your daily parking pass if you are going to park on Corps managed public use areas. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 28, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: My experience with walleye this last week is that they are still deep and slow, however that could change during the next couple of weeks due to the fact that with warmer days will come warmer water and the fish will stage to spawn. At present, the fish that my clients have taken are legal and up to 3.5 pounds. Most of the fish were taken in about 50 feet of water, as they suspended over creek channels in main lake coves. Minnows and jig heads (weight depending on wind) have been the best bet. These walleye are still biting slowly and if you miss the first tic, party's over. Watch your rod tip, position your bait at he depth of the arches indicated on the scope, and try to keep your line vertical directly below the boat as much as possible. The reason for this is that the fish are so deep and biting so lightly that if you have any bow in your line, you won't detect the bite, therefore you won't catch any fish. And then the next thing that happens, you begin to think that your Lowrance fish finder is programmed to show you fish arches no matter if fish are there or not. As the fish approach the pre-spawn mode, I'll keep you posted. I predict with the rising water, and the number of big fish that I have caught and released this winter, this will be a great year. Crappie: I have heard rumors that crappie are being caught in around 5 feet of water in the State Park cove. This may or may not be true, however last week, my clients were catching crappie deep, many times down to 50 feet on jigs or minnows and jigs. As with the walleye technique, you need to position your boat above the fish and have a heavy enough weight that holds the bait directly below the boat. These fish bite lightly, but you should catch fish exceeding 15 inches when you find them. In 2 days of fishing, my clients boated 50 crappie and only 2 were sublegal. The next two weeks should enhance the bite. White bass: the big white bass are deep, and are being caught by my clients on jigs fished in the same locations where you catch the crappie, with the same techniques. You should catch fish up to 3 pounds and the white bass seem to turn on after 3:00 p.m. Their bite will also be very light, so don't expect them to act like they do in the summer. Largemouth bass: Due to the fact that I have not fished for largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass in the last week, I don't have any current information. My schedule has been quite busy for the last month with walleye, crappie and white bass fishermen, therefore I have not had an opportunity to take any days off to bass fish. What does a fishing guide do on his day off? Bass fish..... Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Good to know someone is out there reading my fishing reports; sometimes I feel like I am just a voice crying in the wilderness...let me know if you have any specific questions. Thanks again for the feedback. Marty

Thanks for reading my fishing report. In about two weeks I would take my canoe to the Greenfield (CC) boat ramp and start fishing anywhere from a mile below the boat ramp up river past the 160 bridge. This should be the first part of the spawn. My lure of choice would be chartreuse or white curly tail jigs (about 1/4 oz) or a variety of crank baits with the same color combination. During this period of time you should be able to catch large numbers of legal fish which are males and also a chance at a 4-10 pound female. Tell me how you did.