Thompson Fishing Guide Service

February 21, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Walleye fishing has picked up the last couple of days as a result of a little warmer weather. Walleye haven't really begun to spawn yet, due to the fact that in most parts of the lake, water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30s. The way my clients have been catching walleye now: first we look for warmer water temperatures, and then locate the bait fish. We have been successful with this by using a jig head (size depending on wind and depth), tipped with a minnow. These fish will be deep, 30+ feet; the bites are very light. However, I feel that it would violate my guide client relationship to divulge any more information. If you are considering booking a guided trip, do it now, I am getting booked up through March and April. Largemouth bass: These fish are still deep, and they are not going to expend any more energy than necessary to survive. When water temps are this cold, mid-30s in many areas, a bass can get by with one meal every week to ten days, easy. So the bait that stays in his face the longest and laziest, is the one to use. I mean pig n jigs, tube jigs, plastic worms. Try using light line on a 7 foot spinning rod and finesse fish these baits or do a drop shot rig. Think small. The more convenient the meal, the more bass you'll catch. That's what the "real fishermen" call the "winter pattern." Stay with the bluffs that face the sun. Crappie: We have done very well for crappie on Stockton lake this week. Probably 90% of our fish are 10-13 inches long. Very few short fish. How do we do it? Like bass fishing this time of year, think small. Small minnows, Aberdeen hooks, or jigs. The good fish are deep. How deep you may ask? I'll give you a hint: at least 30 feet, believe it or not. White bass: The white bass are also deep and slow. Most of our fish have come on crappie jigs...green crappie jigs. Use your sonar and find the bait starting at any main lake point and you'll find white bass. The key is to fish slowly, fish deep and concentrate. Many times you will not even feel the fish pick it up, and that includes on your braided line. Caution: there is A LOT of timber floating in the lake. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 14, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Slow trolling minnow type crank baits along the main lake bluffs is still producing walleye action. Some fish are also being caught along the dam using the same technique. My clients have been catching fish, however, around Ruark Bluff by slow trolling minnow baits and Wiggle Warts. This is a main staging area for the upcoming spawn and you can find good numbers of fish in the river channel. A second technique that seems to be effective is slow drifting a 1/2 oz jig head with half of a night crawler. Follow the contour of the river channel on your sonar. Largemouth bass: Main lake bluffs are still your best bet for consistent bites by slowly working a Pig n Jig or slowly rolling a spinner bait with a single Colorado blade. Colorado blades are good for the winter months for several reasons: the bait can be fished more slowly, the blade creates more vibration in the water, and the bait falls more vertically. The spinner bait was originally designed as a bait to be fished vertically, but the slow roll technique has taken hold and the original technique has been forgotten. Particularly in the winter, a bass is more apt to hit a bait on the fall; a vertically fished spinner bait allows you to place the bait slowly in the strike zone. This is excellent when used along bluffs. Remember to position your boat as close to the bluff as you can and work the bait back to the boat vertically (reeling a little bit, then letting it fall). The winter pattern of the bass places them along the bluffs for the simple reason they can move a few feet up or down and change depth and temperature significantly without traveling a far distance. I always put a big pork chunk on the back of my spinner bait which causes the bait to sink even more slowly. Make sure that your spinner bait blade spins properly as the bait falls; this is the reason for a Colorado blade. Fishing slowly is the key. Crappie: Crappie are still being caught throughout Stockton lake off of the marked crappie beds in around 20-25 feet of water. Small minnows seem to be the best bait, followed by crappie jigs. Turkey Creek arm is still producing crappie in the deeper timber. Don't overlook the Twin Bridges area. Guide tip: when you fish timber, don't overlook the trees that are completely submerged because if you cannot tie up to it, nobody has fished it, so you should catch bigger fish. Anchor your boat so that you are approximately half a cast away from the submerged timber, and see how fast your bobber disappears. Whether it is crappie fishing or tuna fishing, use different techniques in different areas and you will be among the 10% of fishermen who catch 90% of the fish. That is guide tip of the week! Safety issues: be sure everybody on the boat wears a life vest whether you're underway or tied to a stump. No matter how great of an athletic swimmer you think you may be, when you hit the 40 degree water, things will change in a hurry. Can you climb back in the boat? If you've never tried, it's harder than you think. Do you have dry clothes on board to weather the sub zero chill factor on the way home? On these cold days, water on the boat ramp freezes quickly. How will you get your boat out of the water? I carry cat litter to put in front of my tow vehicle's back tires. Always remember: fishing in extreme cold weather is far different than fishing in 80 degrees. If you fall in the lake, you better have a plan that can be accomplished in no more than 2 minutes, or your fishing days are over. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 7, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Trolling has been the most productive method for winter walleye. I use a removable rod holder in my bass boat that can hold up to four rods and with the two outside rods on planar boards, you cover a great deal of water. My lures of choice have been Wiggle Warts, the Lucky Craft Pointer 100 crank bait, or Rapala RapShad. Shad colors seem to be the most consistent, but I would experiment with colors. I troll approximately 1.5 mph along the main lake bluffs and in the dam area. Fish are being caught with this technique around Masters boat ramp, Hawker Point, and Old State Park. Walleye are also being caught around the Twin Bridges following the river channel. Another technique that has been good this winter is slow drifting minnows on 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz jig heads. As usual, find the bait fish and stay with them as long as you can. As the spawn approaches, I would check out the main tributaries such as Little Sac, Maze Creek and Son's Creek. A few of the fish have started to stage in these areas to run up the rivers to spawn. With all of the snow and ice melt, and rising water, this should contribute to an excellent spawning year. For bank fishermen, I would spend time in the CC bridge area. Crank baits such as Husky Jerks and the Excalibur XS4 work well in the shallower water. Casting small curly tail plastic jigs in white, yellow or chartreuse works well also. As the spawn turns on, bigger fish (5 lbs - 10 lbs) will show up. My clients have caught plenty of legal fish, which are the smaller males, and those are the eating fish. I make it a practice to release the bigger females because they support the population. Largemouth Bass: The best action this time of the year when the water is so cold is to slowly fish the bluffs by dragging Pig n Jigs or plastic worms. I like to get as close to the bluffs as I can and pull the bait parallel. The bluffs are good winter habitat for bass because the fishes' metabolism is very slow, they don't travel far and they can change depths by only moving a few feet up or down. Try suspended jerk baits in the same locations. I let the jerk bait suspend for 15 or 20 seconds before I move it again. If you have a series of warm days (which we haven't), seek out warmer water in the backs of coves early and late. The shad will be drawn to this slightly warmer water, which will in turn bring in the bass. Remember, you can't fish too slowly this time of the year. A bass may feed once every several days and his bite will be very light. Bass can also be found in deep water timber 25-30 feet deep. In this situation, I like to use a Texas rigged 4 or 6 inch worm and fish it through the branches. A drop shot rig works well with 8 or 10 pound test line using finesse plastics. Crappie: Look for deep timber in close proximity to the crappie spawning beds which consist of isolated pea gravel banks. Fish are still relatively deep (25 - 30 feet) and small crappie minnows or crappie jigs seem to work the best. Places to start: creek channel bends in Price Branch, Turkey Creek, and the Sac River. If you still have a lot of limbs frm the ice storm, now is a good time to put them out; by spring they should have attracted fish. The good thing about staking out your own crappie beds is that nobody knows where they are except for you and your trusted fishing companion, providing that he doesn't tell all of his trusting fishing companions where they are. White bass: The white bass spawn will basically coincide with the walleye spawn, which is not far off. These white bass run up the same tributaries the walleye do to spawn. At present, white bass are being caught around Crabtree Cove, Masters and Orleans Trail. Small spoons and tail spinners, like the Little George, have worked best by making long casts and allowing the bait to drop to the bottom. Most of your strikes will happen on the fall, therefore you need to keep a tight line and stay focused. As we push further into February, the white bass fishing will continue to get better and most of the fish caught will be 2 - 2.5 lb females. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

January 24, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Good numbers of legal walleye are being caught throughout the lake. Prior to the ice storm, I was centering a lot of my attention around the Master's area. The walleye will be around the deeper shad schools (25-35 feet deep). Drift two or three inch Road Runners in white, chartreuse, blue/white, or black/white; tip these with a small night crawler. Walleye are also being caught by trolling or casting a variety of hard jerk baits; experiment with color, but it appears that anything with orange seems to get more bites. A few four or five pound fish are being caught, with several fish that are barely legal. I would concentrate my efforts around the CC bridge, you can fish from the shore or when the ramp thaws out, just follow the shad schools with your boat. The lake has been rising as a result of the precipitation, therefore, you have more access than before around the CC bridge. We are entering the pre-spawn stage and the rising water will enhance and hasten the spawn. As of today, most if not all boat ramps are covered in ice and snow. For more information on walleye fishing on Stockton, refer to the January 2007 issue of Missouri Game and Fish, page 12. Crappie: Crappie fishing is good for this time of the year. You can find fish in the Master's area, and the timber or Crappie beds around Cedar Ridge, Small minnows seem to be the best bait, but don't overlook crappie jigs, particularly small Road Runners tipped with crappie niblets. The fish are deep (25-35 feet or deeper) and the bite is light. A good ultra-light crappie rod with braided line, works the best in these winter conditions. Big Crappie (12-15 inches) are being caught over Crappie beds in the mouths of coves; these fish will also be deep. Largemouth Bass: Bass are where you find them, depending on the weather, but most of my fish have been caught in deeper water. Pig n Jig is a good winter time bait, when dragged laboriously slowly across the bottom. Guide tip for bass: try a Carolina rigged four inch tube jig; fish the same way. The jig will float a little above the bottom and when fished slowly, is as deadly as the Pig n Jig bite. I also use this technique when fishing vertical bluffs; position your boat as close to the bluff as you can, and use a parallel presentation, working it very slowly. Pay attention because you won't get many bites this time of year, but with this technique, the fish that do bite will be good ones. Everybody knows about the suspended jerk bait for winter pattern bass, but try this: take a deep diving suspended Rogue or other similar hard jerk bait, root the bottom, letting the bait suspend for about 10 seconds (or longer). Your bigger bass are deeper and slower (because of water temperature), and this deep diving suspended Rogue technique works very well. There is no doubt it is a different look than what the fish are used to. Remember, 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, so always think outside of the norm. Just because everybody does a certain thing, doesn't mean they are all catching fish. Pay attention to structure off of south or southwest facing shore lines. Late in the afternoon, work these coves and shoreline areas because the warmer water will draw in bait, which in turn, call in bass. Slow is the main ingredient no matter what you use. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

January 9, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing has been spotty for the last couple of weeks, but fish are being caught around the points in the dam area, and also off the points in the Ruark Bluff area. Crank bait fishing seems to be the most consistent; hard jerk baits like the Rogue, and other minnow shaped baits work the best. Trolling has been producing some fish, mostly sub-legal. You can also try casting across the main lake points on the wind swept side. A few fish have been caught on crawler harnesses and minnow/jig combos, but I think your best bet is a crank bait. Don't overlook the Mutton Creek area. Largemouth Bass: As most bass fishermen know, in this part of the country, your go to baits are the pig n jigs and the suspended hard jerk baits. During the winter I also use 4 inch tube jigs, rigged Texas style, pulled very slowly across the bottom. Another technique, wind permitting, is to position your boat 3-5 feet from a rocky bluff and parallel that bluff with either the jig or the jerk bait. I think the biggest problem with jerk bait fishermen this time of the year is that they don't pause long enough, There's been a few fish caught on spinner baits, late in the afternoon, in the backs of coves. Smallmouth bass: A drop shot rig is very productive for smallmouth on Stockton this time of year. I use finesse worms like the french fry type, about 4 inches long. Color doesn't seem to be an issue, it's just something you have to experiment with on a day to day basis. Look for chunk rock shoreline and work the points. Here's a tip: for a drop shot weight, instead of the round ball or tear drop shaped weights, try a walleye snag-proof weight. They cost a little bit more, but you lose a whole lot less. Crappie: There are still good stringers of crappie being caught over deep brush piles (20-25 feet deep). The best approach is to anchor a cast away from the brush pile and use a slip bobber. Remember to position the bait 2-3 feet above the brush pile. Small crappie minnows on ultra light tackle seem to work best. Most of your bites will be very subtle; if you have a problem with playing with your cell phone while fishing, you may as well stay at home and watch Bill Dance, because you'll miss the fish. Concentration is the key. For shore fishermen, try the rocky bluffs off the 215 bridge on either side and use the same technique (crappie minnows and a slip bobber). Fish are also being caught on crappie jigs with fish attractant, but the minnows are more consistent. Check out the Turkey Creek timbered area, and also Price Branch. Note: deeper cover is better cover this time of year. White bass: Fish the windswept points from the twin bridges to the dam and you should find white bass. Metzger and CastMaster spoons work really well, particularly in the wind where you need to maintain contact with the lure. Many times the fish will strike the lure as it falls through the shad. Other baits like Beetle Spins or chartreuse and white curly tailed jigs work well too. Seek out these windswept points and use your sonar to zero in on the fish. Shore fishermen: if you have a south wind or a west wind, fish in the area of the dam; the wind will blow in microorganisms, which in turn entice the filter feeding gizzard shad, which in turn will bring in white bass. The above mentioned spoons work well here too. You may even hook into a hog walleye this time of the year. Mutton Creek marina has an enclosed fishing area where for a small fee (a few dollars) you can fish indoors. On windy cold days, it is much more comfortable than stumbling around in the cold. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

It depends. On bright days, chrome works the best, cloudy days and at night gold or chartreuse. If the fish are finicky, sometimes no blade at all works the best.

October 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Despite the cold fronts, I have been able to catch walleye in the Ruark Bluff area on weighted crawler harnesses trolled about 15 feet deep across the points. Crank baits have been working pretty well too. Rattle Traps are a good choice, trolled around the Mutton Creek area. The dam is also worth your while, use the same techniques and lures as above and you should catch fish. Troll the faces of the bluffs with deep divers, preferably shad colored, around State Park marina. Bass: for numbers, spinner baits and crank baits cast to the shore should still provide action, but your bigger fish are going to be deeper. Plastic worms are what I use to fish deep (and slow), but jigs will work well too. Darker colored worms and crawdad colored jigs are producing fish; secondary points are a good place to start. Fish are also being caught in the mouth of Price Branch and Birch Branch, by probing deeper (20-25 feet) cover. White bass have been busting the top, usually later in the day, but they can appear at any time. Zara Spooks and Chuggers will catch a few on top, but most of the fish will be caught on half oz spoons, preferably with a white bucktail. Look for the birds, and you should find bait fish on the surface; whether you can see the white bass break the top or not, they are in the area, guaranteed. Crappie fishing is still good, in spite of the cooler weather. Try the timber in the Sac River arm, or Maze Creek with small minnows or jigs. Most of my clients' fish are being caught on the minnows, but the jig does produce from time to time. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

October 18, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing has been somewhat slow the past week. Points around the dam have been producing some fish, mostly sub-legal. Trolling Rattletraps across these points is your best bet. White or chartreuse grub tailed jigs are another good choice. Tip the jig with a piece of night crawler or a medium sized minnow. The fall transition has started and walleye fishing should pick up soon, especially if you can dodge the cold fronts. Fish are still being caught on the flats near Mutton Creek and the points around the H and Y bridges. Crappie fishing is good and will get better as fall progresses. Last week my clients caught more keepers on small minnows than jigs, however jigs with crappie niblets caught fish also. For numbers, the marked crappie beds are fine. But for the bigger fish, scope out the cover off the beaten path. Hint from the guide: look for unmarked brush piles 25-30 feet off the ends of bluffs in the State Park area or Orleans Trail cove. The fall has turned on the largemouth bass throughout the lake. Smaller fish can be caught all day by casting crank baits to the shore. Your bigger fish are deeper (15-20 feet) most of the day. Deep divers in browns, oranges, and greens seem to work best. The spinner bait bite is off and on. For bigger fish (3-5 lbs), I use my old reliable plastic worms; 9-11 inches in purple work best for me. Try worm dragging in the timber of the deeper secondary points. Top water bite is good early and late, but it's worth keeping a ZaraSpook or Buzzbait tied on all day. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

October 11, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report The fall pattern for walleye has begun and the fish are being caught in shallower water (8-10 feet deep), particularly on cloudy days. Troll or cast Rattletrap or Wiggle warts, and you should catch fish. Experiment with color...it really hasn't mattered. Concentrate your efforts around the flats in the Mutton Creek area or the dam. The fish are still on the shad, so remember to locate the bait, which should not be hard, they're everywhere. As a result of this mega bait phenomenon, locate the bait that is surrounded by arches on your fish finder; this will show you where the walleye are feeding. Try a medium minnow on a bare jig head and stay on top of the schools with your trolling motor. Keep the bait above the depth of the fish. Another secret I have is to vertical spoon these fish with a pepper spoon, which is about 1/2 inch long. You'll need a light rod to yo yo the spoon down through the school of shad. Keep this tactic confidential because I usually charge for it. Largemouth bass: Crank baits are the number one tool of the trade at this time. Deep divers work best in shallower water (5-12 feet); if you bump, you'll get bit. Crawdad colors are the most consistent colors; secondary points should be your primary targets. Fishing guide tip of the week: throw out that deep diving crank bait, let it rest on the surface for several seconds...it works as a good top water bait as well. I have picked up several 3-5 lb bass with this unpolitically correct technique. A deep diver wiggles on the surface like nothing the fish have ever seen. Now watch some bait company figure this out and make millions! It's kind of like the swimming jig idea....everybody does it, but nobody calls it anything. Spinner baits have been catching fish, as well as the deep diving crank baits, but not as consistently. I try to throw both in each area I fish. I had a client land a 5 lb spinner bait bass and I lost a crank bait bass at the boat that was quite a bit bigger. That is the truth. My friend the plastic worm will never leave my side because it will find big bass on a consistent basis. Try the backs of coves early and late with top water plugs, the top water bite has been fair. Crappie: as usual, crappie are being caught on the brush piles throughout the lake on crappie minnows and crappie jigs. Try adding crappie niblets to your crappie jigs and see what happens. The bigger fish are still on the deeper crappie beds (around 25 feet deep). They are entering the fall pattern and are worth your effort. I saw an unfortunate incident at Ruark Bluff the other day when I discovered a pile of about 30 large crappie on the shore...half of them had not even been cleaned. Bad deal...need I say more? Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

September 14, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: walleye fishing has picked up due to the fact that the water temperature has dropped 8 to 10 degrees throughout the lake. Trolling crank baits (Wigglewarts, Balsa Bees and the like) has been quite effective. The key here is to cover a lot of water. Fish have been taken in this manner around Crabtree Cove and Masters. When you catch a fish, stop and fan cast the area. Crawler harnesses or jig/minnow combinations are catching fish also. Troll or slow drift through the schools of shad and you should catch fish. The dam holds a lot of good fish and don’t overlook the bluffs in the State Park area. Largemouth bass: Like walleye fishing, bass fishing has picked up since the water has cooled. For numbers, try casting to the shore with crank baits or spinner baits. Experiment with design and color. I have caught fish on crawdad or bluegill colors. Oranges and browns seem to be the most consistent. Most of these fish will be 13-15 inches, but if you are after bigger fish (3-6 lbs), deeper is better. Plastic worms 9-11 inches in blue or purple are good choices. I have been catching some nice fish in around 20-30 feet of water. The top water bite has been hit or miss lately. One day will have lots of action and another day no action at all. Try the coves with cover for a better top water bite. Crappie: The crappie bite is on. Crappie jigs are catching fish along with small minnows. Mutton Creek cove, the timber in Turkey Creek are areas that seem to be producing more legal fish. Don’t overlook the CC bridge area for bank bound anglers. Fish under the bridge with a slip bobber adjusted at 10-12 feet with a small minnow or crappie jigs. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

September 6, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report From walleye and bass to blue gill and crappie, the fishing on Stockton Lake has really picked up since the last good rains. Walleye are being caught above the 215 bridge on jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head or piece of night crawler. Find the fish on your electronics (which shouldn't be hard) and jig the spoon at their depth. Troll cranks (deep divers) across the points near the dam and you should catch fish. Most are sublegal (15"), but if you can fish at all you should catch some bigger fish (2-4 pounds). Bass, bass everywhere. Turkey creek timber holds good fish (3-5 lbs). Plastic worms and deep diving crank baits will do fine. Mid-section lake bluffs are also showing action. Drag a spinner bait parallel to the bluff or a deep diving crank bait. Browns with orange seem to be the best colors. Top water action is concentrated in the secondary coves early and late; the best coves will have brush. Use Buzz Baits or Zara Spooks. Crappie: the bigger (legal) fish will be caught on deep brush piles (15-25 feet). Anchor your boat about a half cast away from the brush and use a slip bobber with medium sized minnows. This week provides a good moon phase, so don't overlook night fishing in these same areas. White bass are being caught while trolling small cranks or in-line spinners. The bluffs in the State Park area are producing good numbers of fish, however good white bass can be had anywhere on Stockton Lake. Shore fishermen can take their kids to the boat ramp of Greaser Creek and catch top water bass in the late afternoon and a load of channel cats after dark. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

October and November are your best two months in the fall for anything that swims in Stockton Lake. However, we got several inches of rain over the last two weeks, which has raised the water a little and cooled the water as much as 6 degrees in some places. Fishing has been excellent the last week and a half.

August 30, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Rainy days and rainy nights have helped the fishing on Stockton Lake. Water temperatures have dropped as much as 6 degrees and have given relief to the fish, and the cooler days have helped the fisherman. Carp: Carp are everywhere and begging for a fight. Grab your kids and night crawlers or dough balls and head for the lake. From the Greenfield access to the dam you will find carp. You don't need a boat to find fish, but don't forget your lawn chair. These fish are big, hard fighters, and there are far too many of them. More fisherman need to look at reducing the carp population. Walleye: Cooler temperatures have given walleye fishing a boost. Last week was my crank bait for walleye week and I was pleasantly surprised. Try trolling crank baits (Wigglwarts, deep diving minnow baits like Tail dancers or Rogues). Troll along the rip rap under the bridges and you should catch fish. Don't overlook the dam or the main lake point above the 215 bridge. Bucket mouth bass: Like walleye, the cool rains have stimulated positive response from the bass. Crank baits are the go to bait for bass. Deep divers in 3 to 10 feet will do the trick. Crank hard and fast with the first 2 or 3 cranks to get the plug to the bottom and let it bump, bang and gouge the bottom. Crawdad or shad colors are your best choices. Secondary points are the most productive. Spinnerbaits are your second choice. Let the spinner bait fall vertically down the bluff face, pay attention and watch your line. Fish will hit the bait on the fall. Guide's tip of the week: take a 3 inch tube, insert a piece of styrofoam in the tube cavity, then rig the tube as a trailer on the spinnerbait. Insert the hook through the styrofoam. This rig slows the fall, plus it holds the tube on the spinnerbait. Try Carolina tube rig with the foam inserted in the tube and catch bass when your buddies can't. Crappie fishing is getting hotter as the water gets cooler. Fish unmarked brush piles in 15 to 20 feet of water. Anchor a half cast away and watch the bobber disappear. Medium size minnows are best. Don't overlook the timbered areas of the lake. Try Turkey Creek area near the Cedar Ridge boat ramp. Shore fishermen: For channel cats, fish near the access on the Son's Creek arm off Highway 39, Mutton Creek cove, and Old State Park. These and other areas are good for bass, crappie, walleye, carp and cats. Stockton Lake has miles of prime shore fishing, so you can buy your wife that new car instead of that pricey bass boat you've had your eye on. Remember, when Momma ain't happy, you don't get to fish at all. Maybe she'll even drive you to the lake. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-2277

August 15, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Your best bet for walleye is after dark 3 nights before, during, and 3 nights after the full moon phase. Troll deep diving crank baits along the dam and off the main lake points in the area of the dam. The weather is hot, the water is hot, and this is the best approach this time of year. Another good technique during the night, above the 215 bridge is to slow troll crawler harnesses or jigs tipped with night crawlers. Largemouth bass: overall your best time is also at night during the moon phases mentioned above. Use deep diving crank baits along with large plastic worms (8-11 inches long) and 1/2 oz single Colorado blade spinner baits. Find humps off of main lake and secondary points in 15-25 feet of water and you will connect with good fish. Top water action is good early and late; Buzz baits, Zara Spooks and Chuggers have been working well. Crappie: all of my crappie trips have been at night with a crappie light in the mouths of timbered coves in the Turkey Creek arm, Birch Branch and Greaser Creek. Medium sized minnows on Aberdeen hooks are your most consistent approach. Channel cats have been cooperative from about 8:30 in the evening til midnight. The Son's Creek arm and also the Ruark Bluff area are the places to be. Night crawlers, chicken livers and large minnows will work for you as they have worked for me. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

August 9, 206 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: The points and flats around Mutton Creek are a good place to start early morning and late afternoon (from 5:00 pm til dark). Crawler harnesses or Roadrunners trolled in about 20 feet are your best bet. Also, slow drift jig/crawler combinations in the same areas. After dark on the nights with the right moon are your best bet for bigger fish (3-5 lbs). Troll deep diving crank baits in the above areas and along the dam. Crappie: Deep brush piles (20-30 feet) early, late and after dark are the best times for Crappie due to the heat. Try the mouth of Maze Creek with minnows and a crappie light. Turkey Creek and the timber in Son's Creek arm are also worth your effort. If your wife won't let you have a boat you can do well from the shore near the boat ramps in Greaser Creek cove or Hawker cove. Largemouth bass; Sun up, sun down, and after dark are the best times during the hot summer. Top water action early and late in the Masters cove area along with Crabtree cove. After dark, I've been having good action with black or blue spinner baits. Look for humps or sharp drop offs on secondary points. Plastic worms are my choice for these areas, however jigs or creature baits work well too. Channel cats: Take your kids to Hawker cove, Masters, Cedar Ridge or Mutton Creek cove and catch catfish. Early evening until midnight are the best times. Night crawlers, chicken livers, or stink baits are a sure thing. From shore or out of a boat you should catch fish. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

July 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: The walleye bite at night is a delight. Slow trolling deep diving crank baits such as Rapalas in shad colors is an excellent option for night fishing. Main lake points around the dam and also the main lake points in the areas around State Park put in are producing fish. After dark, the walleye chase the shad into shallower water and can be caught by casting crank baits (Rattletraps, Rebels, and hard stick baits in shad colors) towards the bank on the edges of coves. Try slow drifting 1/4 oz white plastic jigs early and late in these same areas and you should catch walleye before they disappear into the depths to avoid the bright hot sun. Your thermocline is approximately 22-24 feet deep, which is where the shad stay, so you'll find the walleye there aimlessly cruising the lake. The water below the thermocline is substantially cooler, so fish deep. Bass fishing is good right at sunrise and right at sunset. During the middle of the day if you can stand the heat, deep water structure such as main lake points and drop offs will hold fish. Plastic worms, jigs, slow rolled spinner baits will be your best bet if you're fool enough to fish when the temperature above the water is approximately 105 degrees. Bring Gatorade and good luck. Fishing after dark is a whole different world. Bigger bass will move up shallower, anywhere from 1-5 feet and be feeding on the shad in the backs of coves and also the flats. Try the flats adjacent to the Googer Creek area. Fat bodied crank baits in silver and black, silver and blue, and Bluegill color are good colors. Fish main lake points or secondary points with 11 inch ribbon tail plastic worms in purple, blue or black. Black and blue jigs is another good choice. Another good night fishing spot is in the timber around Morgan's Bottom in the Turkey Creek arm or the Son's Creek arm. Large (1/2 oz - 1 oz) black or blue spinner baits with a Colorado Blade slow rolled through the timber should result in an electrifying jolt by Mr. or Mrs. Hawg. Top water is good early and late and also throughout the night. Noise makers like the outdated Hula Popper, Jitterbug, or Chuggers will draw top water attention. Most bass in Stockton Lake don't realize that a lot of these old time baits don't work because they are not up to snuff with the bass advertising world's marketing schemes. Remember this: if they ate it 30 years ago, they'll eat it today. Crappie: when it's bright, it's no delight, so fish at night with your crappie light. Cedar Ridge timber area is the place to be. Crappie will be relatively deep (20-25 feet), so you want to fish about 3 or 4 feet above the fish with a medium sized minnow. White crappie jigs work well too, but not as good as the minnows. Guide's tip of the week: when you get positioned over these large ready to bite SLAB crappie, tell your buddy not to stop on the bottom of the boat, drop tackle boxes on the bottom of the boat, or throw empty cans on the bottom of the boat. These sounds radiate directly to the inner ear of the elusive crappie, and it will ruin the bite. If he insists on making a lot of noise, leave him home. People don't realize that it is noise and vibration that go from the bottom of the boat down into the water that spook the fish; think of the bottom of the boat as an amplifier. Channel cats: Old State Park cove, Mutton Creek cove, and the Son's Creek arm near the Hwy 39 bridge will produce 3-7 pound catfish from shore or a boat. Night crawlers, chicken livers, or stink baits (for you stink bait enthusiasts), work well. Guide's tip of the week for cat fishermen: if you use stink bait, be sure you wash your hands thoroughly before bedtime or your wife may make you take up golf. Carp: early and late in the day, try a night crawler or corn or marshmallows about a foot under a bobber. Fish the backs of coves around Orleans Trail, Old State Park or Mutton Creek and you should hook onto a freight train. Hold on and have fun. This is the only fish I don't recommend catch and release due to the fact that virtually every lake in the United States is way overpopulated with carp. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

July 18, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report It's too hot to fish. Fish are not biting and bugs are in triple digit heat at the peak of the day and a low of 84 at night. This is not a good time to fish. We professional anglers call this a "tough bite." Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

July 12, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Deep and slow are two words that you need to know if you want to catch walleye on Stockton. Preferred depths are 20-35 feet. Find the shad, which won't be hard, and you'll find walleye. Jigs with night crawlers on medium minnows work best. Night time is still your best bet for numbers and size. Slow troll shad or minnow imitator crank baits along the dam. Crappie: Fish deep brush piles or timber with medium sized minnows. After dark you'll find good action, especially with a good lunar phase. Use a crappie light over brush piles in 20 to 35 feet of water. Largemouth bass: Main lake points above the 215 bridge are showing nice fish (3-5 lbs). Find a hump or creek channel and have at it. The bass will be in 20+ feet of water. Plastic worms in purple or blue work well for my clients. Top water is good early and late. Chuggers, Devil Horses or Buzz Baits are getting top water fish. Fish these same areas at night and you'll be surprised what you pull up. Large Colorado blade spinner baits in black or blue work well after dark. Super lines come into play here because feel is now your only human sense to get you through what we professional guides call dark! Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

July 7, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: the best bet for catching good walleye this time of the year is to fish at night. During, prior and after the full moon phase, the best place to start is the dam area. Big walleye chase shad along the face of the dam and main lake coves such as Crabtree Cove and Orleans Trail cove. Minnow type crank baits in silver or gold colors work the best. They can be cast to the shore or trolled. Weighted crawler harnesses work well also. Largemouth bass: Early, late and after dark is the time to go bass fishing. The Turkey Creek arm, along with Maze Creek have been my targets for night bass fishing. 11 inch ribbon tail plastic worms, 5 inch tube baits, (black, blue or purple) and single bladed Colorado spinner baits are my night bite baits. Fishing guide's tip: if you use super lines in your worm fishing, such as a Texas rigged worm or Carolina rigged worm, retie often because your slip sinkers will cause abrasion on these types of lines. Crappie: The Turkey Creek arm around Cedar Ridge boat ramp and Aldrich are producing good night Crappie. Target deeper brush piles (25-30 feet deep) to catch bigger Crappie after dark. Medium sized minnows are the clear front runners in live bait. Until the weather starts to cool off, you'll catch more fish at night. Guide's tip for night fishing: some fishermen may not realize this, but when you fish at night, you will be fishing in the dark, therefore, be careful to have your boat organized and have your route to the fishing grounds well planned. Always wear your life jacket after dark. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

June 27, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye are being caught early and late on the flats in the Googer Creek area by slow trolling Wiggle Warts, Rattletrap and crawler harnesses. Start in water around 25-30 feet deep and fish parallel to the shore line, working your way into shallower water from there. Use the same technique in this area at night; the walleye come up shallow after the shad and can be caught on a variety of crank baits. This holds true for the points in the dam area also. During the heat of the day (if you choose to be out there), find the schools of shad which will be 20-23 feet deep and slow drift a jig head with a minnow or a jig head with half of a night crawler. Fish a foot or two above the fish you mark. Largemouth bass fishing is good throughout the lake, particularly early and late casting crank baits and slow rolled spinner baits to the shore. To catch bigger fish, fish deeper. Instead of casting to the backs of coves to the shoreline for the 13 1/2 inch fish, back off and fish deeper water with slow rolled spinner baits, jigs or plastic worms. Do you ever notice when you catch a lot of little fish, they're all the same size? Big bass like big bucks hang together in more out of the way places. Don't forget top water...early and late obviously is good for top water, but don't forget middle of the day. Cloud cover can bring bass to the surface at any time. For night fishing tips for big bass, refer to the article in the July issue of Missouri Game and Fish. Crappie: like bass, big Crappie hang together in big Crappie spots. Look at cover on structure in 30-35 feet of water. Medium to large minnows are your best bet when looking for your bigger fish (12 inches +). Numbers will be down, but quality will be up. If you want a lot of action, with less quality fish, try the marked Crappie beds. Turkey Creek area is good, fishing deeper timber, along with the timber in the Sac River arm. If you can find brush in around 20 feet of water, along with timber, that will hold big Crappie. Channel cats: like always, channel cat fishing has been excellent throughout the lake. For shore fishermen, Cedar Ridge campground, Masters, and Crabtree Cove campgrounds are good areas to shore fish or to fish from a boat. Anything from night crawlers to chicken livers work well. Try this technique: use a crappie light over the side of your boat, slow drift a jig and large minnow, and you'll attract bigger catfish (4 - 7 lbs). Note: this method will also net you Walleye and good Crappie. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

For blue gill I'd try the rocky bluff at the point entering State Park. Also, try the marked crappie bed across the lake from State Park put in right off the big rocky bluff. 15-20 feet deep with night crawlers or crickets. Good to hear you appreciate the fishing reports. Thanks

July 1 is fireworks display day.

June 21, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: A lot of walleye are being caught in the Crabtree Cove early and late in the backs of coves. I have been catching a lot of fish on small crank baits like shallow running chartreuse Bagley Bs. You'll find a lot of action this way, but a majority of the fish are sub legal. If you fish the middle of the day, I would suggest fishing the mouths of main lake coves above the 215 bridge. The fish will be about 20 feet deep in the thermocline and jig/nightcrawlers seem to be the best combination now, but don't overlook minnows. Bigger walleye (3-4 lbs) are being caught at night along the dam or off the main lake points. I have been slow trolling with deep and shallow diving jerk baits in these areas and have caught good fish. You can also cast these same baits to the shore or along the dam and still catch fish. Most of my walleye fishing at night is slow trolling because I can cover a lot of water, stay in the strike zone longer, and it's safer because I don't have to worry about removing laser sharp hooks from a Husky Rogue from the back of my neck due to a misplaced cast in the dark. Largemouth Bass: I've been concentrating my efforts in the upper end of the lake (from Route Y bridge to Greenfield put in). I like to fish timber and if you find the right structure, in the timber, you can catch big fish (6-8 lbs). Find creek channel bends in the timber; back off and cast Carolina lizards (purple, blue or black) in the bend and let it set several seconds, then move it about a foot at a time and hold on. Crawdad green jigs worked in the same way work well too. Fish the backs of coves early and late with Chugger type baits and you should see good action. The main lake bluffs in the Turkey Creek arm of the lake have been producing good fish as well. Jigs and willow leaf spinner baits fished horizontally to the bluff are the best approach. Let the jig or spinner bait fall a little deeper on each cast before you start your retrieve, this gives you better coverage than the vertical approach. For more night fishing techniques, please see the July issue of Missouri Game and Fish, page 24. Crappie: Deep water + cover + large minnows = big Crappie. Find brush off of main lake or secondary lake points in around 35 feet of water. Tie on a 1/4 oz jig head with a medium to large minnow and suspend the bait 2-3 feet above the top of the brush pile. This is where bigger Crappie live and big minnows are what big Crappie eat. For sheer numbers, the marked crappie beds will produce fish anywhere in the lake. These beds are in about 15 feet of water, so you can slow troll small bass plugs around the beds and catch legal fish. Channel cat fishing is superb on Stockton Lake, as usual this time of the year. Mutton Creek campground, Cedar Ridge campground, are good places to start, whether you are fishing from shore or from a boat. Night crawlers and chicken livers seem to be the most consistent baits, but anything seems to work. Remember one thing: if you fish at night, fish in shallow water (5-8 feet); when the sun goes down, these fish move into the shallows to feed. During the day, fish deeper (15-20 feet). Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Yes, there is some good white bass action in the morning. Try the Cedar Ridge area; there has been fantastic white bass action there, with schools of white bass busting the top to the point it looks like things are falling from the sky!

June 14, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: A lot of walleye are being caught in the Mutton Creek/Ruark Bluff area. The fish position themselves in the mouths of the large main lake coves at the level of the thermocline, which is approximately 20 feet deep during midday. The best technique for these fish is to slow drift a jig and large minnow. Make sure you position your bait a foot or two above the thermocline. On your sonar, you'll be able to detect the thermocline, which appears as a distinct horizontal line. This line is created by algae which is compressed between the two layers of water, warm water on top, cooler water on the bottom. From the top of the thermocline, the water temperature drops half a degree for every foot; the thermocline is usually 4 to 5 feet thick. This cooler water in combination with microorganisms attracts the shad by the millions, which in turn attract the walleye. Unlike northern walleye, southern walleye in Stockton Lake will follow the shad in the thermocline as they move aimlessly throughout the lake in the summer months. This bit of information should be the basis of your approach. The walleye will leave the thermocline early and late to feed in the backs of coves and along the flats in the Googer Creek area. Good fish can be caught by casting or trolling crank baits that imitate shad, such as lipless crank baits. Not only is this principle applicable in the area of the lake I mentioned, but it is the key to catching walleye throughout Stockton Lake. Bass fishing has been good in the timber in the Sac River arm of the lake, from Springfield Cove to Birch Branch. Slow crawl 1/2 oz to 1 oz pig n jig combinations across the bottom and you'll catch quality fish. Slow roll white or chartreuse/white spinner baits with willow leaf blades. Kentucky spotted bass: Stockton Lake has an incredible supply of Kentucky Spotted Bass. Even though the majority of your catch will be sub legal fish, they present a lot of good action, including top water. Provided there is little wind, you can find top water action along the dam rip rap. Smaller baits like ZaraSpooks, Torpedoes, and Chuggers work well. During midday, try motor oil colored 1/4 oz curly tailed jigs and bounce them off the dam rip rap and you should find action, particularly when there is cloud cover. White bass: like walleye, the white bass will cruise the lake along the thermocline following the shad schools. They can be anywhere, but concentrate your efforts in the mouths of secondary coves during midday, where the depth is at least 25 feet. Beetle Spins, small vertically presented lipless crank baits, and Tail Spinners are good baits in these areas. Crappie fishing remains good throughout the lake. I have been concentrating in the Turkey Creek area. Find isolated timber in deeper water 25+ feet, and you'll find crappie. The crappie will be near the thermocline waiting to ambush shad schools as they come by. Medium sized minnows or minnow/jig combinations fished at the appropriate depth will produce legal crappie. Channel cats: Good channel cat action is found in the pea gravel banks in east Ruark Bluff campground area. You can catch them from the shore or from boats on anything from night crawlers to a jig and minnow combination fished slowly. Fish from 5-7 pounds are not uncommon. Another good channel cat hotspot right now is the Orleans Trail cove. Fish any of the points within the cove and you'll catch fish. The first three or four hours early in the evening seem to be best. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS