Thompson Fishing Guide Service

June 6, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: A lot of walleye have been taken in the Turkey Creek arm off of main lake points around the State Park marina. Fish have been caught early and late in the shallows on lipless crank baits. The majority of the big fish, however, are being caught in the deeper water (20-25 feet deep) on crawler harnesses fished with a weight system and 1/2 oz jig head tipped with a 5 inch minnow. Cedar Ridge area is producing some good walleye. Fish the main river channel just north of the 123 bridge with the same presentation. Big walleye are being caught off the flats in the Googer Creek area at night. Deep diving crank baits with a wide wobble, such as the Wally Diver and the Big O are your best choices after dark. Largemouth bass: Chunk rock bluffs on the main lake which have a long gradual taper at both ends are the places to fish for bass. Plastic worms and jigs work well during the day and top water like Chuggers and ZaraSpooks work well in the evenings along these same bluffs. There is also good top water action in the shallower coves early and late, but your bigger top water fish are caught off the bluffs. White bass: the coves in the CrabTree Cove area are showing good top water action early and late for feisty white bass. Rebel Pop Rs seems to work well, especially if the rear hook has a white bucktail attached to it. You should have no trouble catching a lot of small males on top, but if you are willing to sacrifice the visual appeal of watching a fish strike your bait on top, back off in the mouth of the cove in deeper water and try casting a white 1/2 oz curly tail jig. Remember to watch your line as you let the bait fall because if you are not ready, you'll miss the fish. Slow trolling deep diving small crank baits in shad colors during the day in the Masters ramp area has been productive. Crappie: from Price Branch to Birch Branch, find the timber and you'll find the crappie. Your bigger crappie will hold to timber in deeper water and can be caught under a bobber with medium sized minnows. A consistent but smaller bite can be found in the backs of timbered coves in from 7 feet of water to the shore. Small white or chartreuse crappie jigs fished in these areas will no doubt produce fish. The marked crappie beds will also lead you to action. If you can keep your minnows alive, they are the recommended bait either hooked on a jig or an Aberdeen hook. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com

May 31, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye : Warm weather has pushed the walleye into deeper water, therefore the best advice is the basic rule #1: find the shad and you'll find the walleye. Walleye tend to hold on the thermocline this time of the year and travel aimlessly in large schools throughout summer until the water starts to cool. Bigger fish are caught on bigger baits, therefore I have been tipping my 4 inch white or chartreuse twister tail jigs with big minnows. When you go to the bait shop, buy large minnows. Most of my targets have been above the 215 bridge in the area of the dam and in the points off of Masters Cove area. I use my trolling motor to stay on stop of the schools that I mark on my sonar; fish about 2 feet above the depth that you mark the schools of fish. Crank baits such as WigglWarts, Big Os and the like are catching fish early and late off main lake and secondary points above the 215 bridge. Good bass are showing up off main lake points in the Twin Bridges area. For midday action, I have been using my old reliable purple 11 inch ribbon tailed worms fished off main lake points in about 20 feet of water. Crawdad colored jig n pigs will also catch good fish (3-5 pounds). Early and late produces a good top water bite in the Hawker Point and Old State Park coves with anything from PopRs to Devil Horses. Bigger bass can be caught in the mouths of these coves early and late on deep diving crank baits as they chase shad. Crappie fishing has been hot throughout the lake, but I have been concentrating my efforts on fish in the Turkey Creek arm. We've been catching nice crappie (10-15 inches) on medium sized minnows in about 20 feet of water in the timber. Find structure within the timber and you'll find fish. This is the most consistent pattern not only in the Turkey Creek arm, but throughout the lake. White bass: focus your attention on the rip rap on the bridges and you'll find a good white bass top water bite early and late. For midday white bass action, fish deeper water around the rip rap with Tail Spinners or white or chartreuse 1/4 oz jigs. Remember the fish will stay on the shady side of the bridges, so concentrate your efforts there. Reference the jig presentation, most of your bites will be on the fall, so be ready for that electric impulse when it comes up your line. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com

May 24, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing is still good, but you are going to have to fish deeper due to the warm water temperatures. Locate the shad along the dam and slow drift a white plastic curly tail jig with medium to large minnows. The thermocline has developed and is approximately 23 feet deep; this is where the fish will be most of the day. Rattle Traps are another good choice along with deep diving crank baits. Cast out the Rattle Trap and let it sink on a tight line; many times the fish will hit the bait as it falls. Rattle Traps can also be used in vertical presentations. Guide's tip: top water walleye (which you don't hear anything about) can be caught on Buzz Baits near the large swarms of mayflies as they congregate on the surface late in the afternoon. Largemouth bass: With water in the mid to high 70s in most of the lake, your bigger fish will be found in the summer pattern in around 20-25 feet of water off of secondary and main lake points. Fish the points that are adjacent to the spawning beds with crawdad imitator jigs fished slowly along the bottom contour. Spinner baits and crank baits are effective early and late in the shallower water and in the backs of coves in these areas. Top water bite is good early and late with Buzz Baits and Zara Spooks; I've caught a lot of nice top water fish using a Devil Horse; unlike Buzz Baits, which sink when stopped, Devil Horse type lures will float and you can keep them in the strike zone longer. A stop and go retrieve works best. For fishing timber, find the creek channels and probe the depths (10-15 feet) with plastic worms or tube jigs; purple, blue and black are good colors for plastic worms and white or crawdad colors for jigs. Crappie: the best Crappie locations are brush piles off the main lake points in the Twin Bridges/Ruark Bluff areas. Minnows and crappie jigs are getting a lot of attention. For a change, try white or white and chartreuse Maribu jigs. The feathers on the Maribu jigs give it a more pulsating action than the plastic curly tails, plus it is something the fish don't see that often. If you fish the timber in the Cedar Ridge area, concentrate your efforts on the cedar trees on the edge of the creek channel. Remember two key elements: cover and structure. Catfish: channel cats can be caught from the shore or by boat in the mouths of secondary coves about anywhere on the lake, for example, Mutton Creek cove, Old State Park cove are good places to start. Night crawlers, chicken livers or fresh cut shad will catch fish. 10 to 12 pounders are not uncommon. I suggest using a slip bobber which will hold your bait 2-3 feet above the bottom out of most of the moss. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 17, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing is still considered quite good on Stockton Lake as the water temperatures average about 65 degrees due to recent cold rains. I have been targeting the areas above the 215 bridge such as the mouth of Orleans Trail cove, The Wall and the coves between The Wall and Price Branch. Casting white jigs to the bank is still the main bait; 1/4 oz or 1/2 oz works best when there is either no or light wind. A significant percentage of your catch should be legal fish. For bigger fish, tip the same jig with a medium minnow and slow drift across the points on the down wind side. Remember when you are fishing in deeper water, find the shad schools before you begin fishing. Crawler harnesses are catching fish from time to time, but this time of the year walleye prefer minnows, particularly your larger fish. Walleye are also being caught off the points in the Ruark Bluff area with the same technique. Large mouth bass: in spite of popular belief, not all bass have spawned. Because of the large cold rain storms in the last month, water temperatures remain in the mid 60s on the majority of the lake; this seems to have extended the spawn. You can still catch smaller males on the pea gravel banks as they prepare nests. My preference, however, is to target the bigger fish off the secondary points that lead to the spawning beds. Deep diving crank baits, and spinner baits work well, but jig and pig combos are producing most of my clients' bigger fish (3-5 lbs.). Plastic worms are also a good choice. Why do soft plastics and jigs catch more big bass than any other lure? These baits imitate living creatures and can be worked more thoroughly in the areas where the bigger bass live. Anybody can throw a crank bait and catch small fish in the shallows. Deep water plastics or jig fishing is more of an art form than the throw it out and crank it in technique. More large bass have been caught on plastic worms than any other artificial bait. Crappie, like bass and walleye, have also been affected by a month of cold rains. That means you can catch spawning fish in the shallows with pea gravel bottoms, or you can catch post spawn fish over the marked crappie beds throughout the lake. Further up the lake, such as the Sac Arm and the Son's Creek Arm, you'll find that a lot of fish have already spawned, but on the main body, towards the dam, you'll find bigger fish staged off the secondary points getting ready to spawn. I tend to leave the spawning fish alone, and target the bigger, deeper fish. A client recently caught a 17.5 inch crappie suspended over 50 feet of water. We were slow trolling WigglWarts and the fish were very obliging. Soft plastic white jigs or Road Runners seem to be my main stay at whatever depth the fish are. The vast majority of the fish my clients have caught have been on white plastic jigs. Once again I'd like to stress selective harvests due to the fact that the big females guarantee quality Crappie fishing on Stockton Lake for years to come. For bow hunters interested in Carp fishing, now is the time to get in on the action. Just about any shallow cove with a pea gravel bottom will hold Carp as they thrash around in the shallows looking for a place to deposit their eggs. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 10, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Bigger fish in the 3 to 5 pound range are being caught off the main lake in the Turkey Creek arm. Use your electronics to locate the schools of shad. Slow drift or slow troll a large minnow on 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz jig head. Minnows are the best live bait in the spring due to the fact that the walleye are putting on weight after the spawn. Crank baits and jerk baits work well early and late in the day in the coves. Try casting 3/8 oz to 1/2 oz white/chartreuse jigs to the bank as you would with bass fishing. This presentation works best on cloudy days. Deep diving Wally Divers and shad imitators work well trolled with planar boards. Remember to follow the shad and you should catch keeper walleye anywhere on Stockton Lake. Crappie: Guide's tip: Remember not all fish (crappie, walleye, bass, etc) spawn at the same time in a given body of water. Target the upper portion of the lake and work your way to the dam. In early spring the spawn begins in the warmest water (around 65 degrees). As of this report there are still areas in the lower part of the lake (around the dam) where the spawn is in full swing. These fish target the wooded coves with pea gravel to spawn and can be caught on anything from crappie jigs to small spinner and crank baits. During spring I target the bigger fish off the points in around 15-20 feet if water. I choose to target the deeper areas because you catch bigger fish plus you let the spawners do their business. Large mouth bass: Bass fishing has picked up since the last series of cold fronts passed through. If you like pitching timber, try the Turkey Creek arm. Locate the creek channels and fish the cover closest to the channel bends. Early and late has a good top water bite on the flats and in the backs of coves. Ruark Bluff area has a lot of top water action. Fish are being caught off secondary points above the 215 bridge in 15-20 feet of water during midday. Because I'm a worm fisherman, I go with 7" to 11" ribbon tail type worms. Purple always works well. Slow rolled spinner baits and deep diving crank baits will also produce good fish. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

May 3, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Smallmouth bass: concentrate your efforts above the 215 bridge and fish small deep diving crank baits off the chunk rock banks. Small spinner baits work well in these areas also; crawdad and natural browns and green seem to work the best. Chunk rock banks are holding fish because they hold the crawdads; small mouths' favorite food are crawdads. Half oz crawdad colored jigs hopped off the bottom in about 15-20 feet of water will produce bigger fish during midday. Walleye fishing remains good throughout Stockton Lake, however, most of my efforts are spent fishing the main lake points and coves near the dam. White curly tailed grubs catch walleye early and late in the coves. 1/2 oz white and chartreuse jigs produce fish at midday slow drifting though the shad schools suspended over deeper water off the points. Walleye also are being caught off the points in the Ruark Bluff area by using the same presentation. The number one forage for the walleye, particularly this time of year, is shad, as they replace weight lost through the cold winter months, therefore I suggest tipping your jig with a large minnow (3-4 inches long). For bank fishermen, fish are being caught in the Greenfield ramp area and Springfield Cove. Anglers are casting curly tailed jigs and also minnow type shallow running crank baits early and late. Don't think because you don't have a boat that you cannot catch walleye. Anywhere you can get to the water will give you an opportunity to catch fish. Crappie are being caught in the wooded coves in the Sac Arm and the Son's Creek Arm by casting crappie jigs or Road Runners along the pea gravel shores from 2-8 feet of water. The crappie are in full swing in the spawn, in the Son Sac and Turkey Creek areas of the lake. To catch bigger crappie, fish the points adjacent to these spawning coves. Big crappie (10-15 inches) are being caught by slow trolling small crank baits such as WigglWarts in crawdad colors. The fish will be staged in deeper water off main lake points; be sure you find the fish before you waste your time dragging your lure through empty water. When the wind permits, try casting 1/4 oz tube jigs to the dam in from 3-15 feet of water and you'll also catch crappie. I had a client last week catch a 17 inch crappie doing this. Large mouth bass: Now that the water has settled from the rains and the temperature has stabilized in the high 60s in most parts of the lake, start fishing on the secondary points in the large coves with deep diving crank baits; weather will determine color. Find the points that connect to the shores that are conducive to spawning areas: I'm not much at disturbing bass while they are trying to produce more bass, therefore I concentrate my efforts in these locations. The bigger fish are going to be off these points in a little bit deeper water anyway. Slow rolled spinner baits along with plastic worms dragged along the bottom structure is what I am doing to catch the majority of my bigger fish (3-5 lbs). The top water bite is good throughout the lake, and good places to check out are the gravel flats and coves between the mouth of Price Branch and The Wall. If you can find a cloudy day, top water bite could happen at any time, so be ready. BuzzBaits and Devil Horses (which I think are more productive sometimes than BuzzBaits because they float, keeping them in the strike zone) and Zara Spooks are very productive. These areas and techniques are just a few of the many opportunities to catch bass on Stockton Lake this time of the year. Guide's tip of the week: If you like to flip and pitch the timber, as I do, remember one important thing: fish the timber just like you would ay other area of the lake, by utilizing your electronics. Look for creek channels, humps, drop offs, etc. and fish the timber nearest this structure. Not all trees hold fish; read the bottom and you'll find the fish in the timber. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

No, it is not.

April 26, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Big Walleye on Stockton Lake have slowed a bit since the spawn, however a lot of legal fish are being taken in the backs of major coves throughout the lake on plastic jigs. White seems to be the best color, but it's always good to experiment. Look for the coves with sandy banks on the down wind side. These walleye are in a pre-summer feeding mode, which means they are where the shad are, and the shad are spawning in these areas. They're also biting on main lake points on anything from Rattletraps to BagleyBs in around 8-10 feet of water. What can I say, fishing's really hot now. Crappie fishing couldn't be better than it is right now. Timbered coves with pea gravel shores are a guarantee right now, due to the fact that the crappie are spawning. I like to use small white jigs; throw toward the bank and drag it back to the boat in about 12 feet of water. Your bigger Crappie seem to be deeper. Another good Big Crappie location is main lake points. Use your depth finder to find suspended fish and use white or chartreuse jigs at that depth; the weight of the jig depends on wind conditions. White bass have slowed down a little after the spawn, but your bigger fish can still be caught from the 215 bridge to the dam; the closer to the dam the better. Try jigging small spoons off main lake points and in the mouths of coves in the dam area. White or chartreuse jigs will also work well. Large mouth bass are being caught all over the lake off secondary points and in the backs of coves. Early and late is good for a top water bite; find the shore facing south in the morning and try BuzzBaits, PopRs, or Prop Baits and you'll catch fish. As the sun comes up, fish the points in the same area that you caught the fish on earlier. Small males can be caught by casting crank baits or tubes along pea gravel shores, however if you want bigger fish, try plastic worms, or Colorado blade spinner baits in about 15-20 feet of water. The Sac River arm anywhere below the 160 bridge is producing decent sized fish (3-5 pounds). It's doubly good if you like fishing timber. I've been catching fish with plastic worms and jigs by dragging them through the creek channels in the timber. A lot of guys don't like to fish this way, but I do, because I'm tough and I'm a fishing guide. Marty Thompson 417-424-BASS www.fishstockton.com

Walleye: Yesterday I had another client land a big walleye, this one a 7 1/2 pounder. This shows there are still some pre-spawn females around Stockton Lake. Concentrate your efforts above the 215 bridge. Look for rock bluffs that have points sloping into deep water. Spoons and white 1/2 oz jigs work well. Another good location is rocky banks with a 45 degree slope close to deep water. I've been catching good fish by casting tail spinners like Little Georges. Position your boat at least a long cast away from the bank and bounce the lure off the bottom back to the boat. Stay focused, most strikes will occur on the fall as soon as the lure is picked up off the bottom. Large mouth bass: In the Sac Arm area of Stockton Lake large mouth have already started to spawn. These fish can be targeted with Carolina rigged lizards in shallow water with pea gravel bottom. Spinner baits as well as crank baits all produce fish. However, my preference is to target bigger fish in deeper (10-15 feet) water. Spinner baits and plastic worms will catch quality fish in these areas. Look for rock bluffs connecting to long points sloping into deeper water. Try deep diving cranks on flats early and late. A word to the wise: big females need to be released if you expect Stockton Lake to remain a top bass lake. Crappie: Timbered coves are the ticket for good crappie. I've been casting Road Runner and Beetle spins around the cover to catch a limit. Traditional methods, like minnows and crappie jigs work well also. The marked crappie beds are also producing fish. A minnow/bobber combination seems to work best on these brush piles. White bass are still hot all over Stockton lake. A lot of fish are being caught in the Master's cove area. Cast white 1/2 oz plastic jigs off the points in the middle of the day and small white/chartreuse spinner baits in the backs of coves early and late. Wherever you fish on Stockton, if you find shad, you will find white bass. Ruark Bluff, Mutton Creek and Orleans Trail cove are good spots, just to name a few. Marty Thompson 417-424-BASS www.fishstockton.com

The lake remains at 858.8. Since the three pumps at the dam are broken (repair costs at $500,000 each), I expect lake levels to stay the same and hopefully rise if we get some rain.

April 13, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: fish are still being caught off the main lake points in the dam area. Try casting spoons or jigs to the shoreline early and late. As the morning moves on, slow drift white or chartreuse jigs or weighted crawler harnesses in deeper water down the points. Shore fishermen are casting minnow type lures and catching good fish around the Greenfield ramp and Springfield Cove. Guide's tip: scope the fish on your sonar before you start fishing, then work the area slowly. If these fish won't bite, move on. Black bass: Legal male bass are moving up to build their nests in shallow water. Pea gravel banks that lead to points with structure are the prime locations; plastics such as lizards or tube baits work well. Experiment with color. The bigger females are deeper in 10-15 feet of water. Concentrate on deeper water down the points. Carolina rigged lizards are hard to beat along with deep diving crank baits. Remember, it is important to release these females due to the fact they are getting ready to produce a new generation. White bass: Action is heavy and hot for 2+ pound white bass. On windy days fish the down wind shore and it won't be long before you find action. Where to start? Mutton Creek area, the points around the twin bridges, Price Branch and Turkey Creek just to name a few. Use white plastic jigs or small chartreuse spinner baits. Crappie are moving up on pea gravel banks to spawn. Find these areas and you'll find crappie. Minnows or jigs under a bobber work well or cast small jigs or spinner baits to the shore. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

April 5, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Your best bet for big walleye right now is to fish early and late in the backs of the coves adjacent to the dam. Minnow type jerk baits and soft plastic jerk baits are working best. You'll have to experiment with the colors because the fish seem to be picky. Best conditions are a cloudy day with a slight breeze. Fish can be scoped in the mouths of coves such as Orleans Trail, and the cove at RB boat ramp. White curly tail jigs have been very successful for my clients, however, once again, you need to experiment with the colors. Also experiment with night crawlers and shiners. Remember the key point: look for bait fish. No matter how great structure or cover may be, no bait, no walleye. Hint for bait fish: gizzard shad this time of the year naturally gravitate to warmer water. Large mouth bass: a few legal males are starting to show up on pea gravel banks that face the south. Slow rolled spinner baits are good choices in these areas long with suspended jerk baits. I've been catching legal bass consistently in around 6 feet of water in these locations. However, to target bigger fish, you still need to work deeper water with jigs or plastic worms. Scope the points adjacent to the spawning areas and you'll find fish. Fishing slowly is still the primary presentation with the water just now approaching 50 degrees in most areas of the lake; look for warmer water. White bass are still very active and can be caught at the CC bridge on Rooster Tails and curly tailed jigs. Experiment with color. The mouths of the coves around the Mutton Creek area are also producing good numbers of fish. Good crappie are being caught around the timbered coves on minnows, crappie jigs or small crank baits. Color for crappie jigs is white and shad imitator crank baits seem to be the best. Your most consistent bait for bigger crappie is still over deeper crappie beds in around 20 feet of water. Once again, look for the warmest water temperatures. I've had the opportunity to fish with a number of fish biologists in the last several months, and all have agreed that whatever species you are fishing for this time of year, it is critical to release the females due to the fact that spawning time is near. Most fishermen say "let the big one go so somebody can catch her another day", but I say, "let her go so she can produce enough fish that a whole lot of people can catch fish another day." Marty Thompson 417-424-BASS www.fishstockton.com

March 29, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye fishing is good on Stockton Lake north of the 215 bridge to the dam. Fish soft or hard jerk baits in the backs of coves early and late in the day. I put clients on fish in the back of Orleans Trail cove and we netted 6 fish from 4lbs-7lbs all caught on soft plastic jerk baits white in color. As the morning progressed, the same fish dropped into deeper water at the mouth of the cove. Also look for fish cruising the dam. White or chartreuse jigs are your best colors tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows. Largemouth bass are getting more active as the water reaches 50 degrees. The backs of coves early and late are a good place to start. Jerk baits as well as spinner baits are good choices. During midday, fish the points with tube jigs or Pig and Jig in greens and browns. The fish hold to structure in around 25 feet during the day and still require a slow presentation. Look for main lake points that connect to banks with pea gravel. Bass will start to stage for the spawn soon and when they move up to spawn they will search out the pea gravel banks. Crappie fishing has been good all winter and is getting better. Your bigger fish are still deep for the most part and can be caught on crappie jigs tipped with minnows. Experiment with color. Don't overlook the backs of timbered coves. These areas warm faster and draw fish. Spinners or small lipless crank baits will catch fish in these areas all day. White bass are hot throughout the lake. Slow troll small shad colored crank baits to locate fish. When you find the fish, fan cast the area with 3 inch white plastic jigs and if you're any kind of fisherman at all you should fill the boat; we stopped counting at 30 yesterday. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

No Stockton Lake fishing report this week due to the guide having a ruptured appendix. Hope to be back soon!

March 14, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye are being caught up the Sac River arm near Greenfield put in. Fish are being caught on everything from Mepps spinners to Rapalas and Rooster Tails. Shore fishing in this area is a good idea due to the low water levels and launching anything but the smallest, lightest boat is impossible. Fish are being caught in the Ruark Bluff main lake points on jigs with plastic grubs in chartreuse or white tipped with a night crawler. There's a lot of good action around the dam and above the 215 bridge on shad colored crank baits such as Rebels and Rapalas fished in approximately 12 to 15 feet of water. Fish are being caught along the face of the dam by slow trolling Bomber A deep diving plugs in shad color. Also, crawler harnesses are working well fished behind a weight system in about 15 feet of water drifting with the wind. Large mouth bass are being caught off main lake and secondary points adjacent to pea gravel banks. The jerk bait bite is still consistent, try to experiment with colors. Jigs and plastic worms are producing some hefty fish off the chunk rock banks with crawdad colored Jig n Pig combos and purple plastic worms. Spinner baits are good in the backs of rocky coves with timber. White and chartreuse with silver and gold blades are the primary color combinations. Try to find the warmest water possible. Crappie are being caught over the usual crappie beds on minnows and/or jigs, and are also being caught off main lake points that lead to flat, shallow spawning areas. The backs of wooded coves seem to be picking up a little bit due to the fact that the water is warmer; look for coves with timber on the north side and try casting Beetle Spins or Road Runners in white or chartreuse toward the shore. If you can't find fish in the 8-10 foot range, fish a little deeper in the same area. White bass are being caught throughout the lake by vertically fishing tail spin type spinners or slow trolling Rattle Traps or similar crank baits. Fish are congregating in areas where the coves have an active creek flow; you should be able to spot them quite easily on your scope. Don't overlook the rip rap around the bridges. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

We've been catching walleye on Stockton Lake during the day and night, with night being your best chance for a big female on a crank bait. We don't have slicks on this lake that I know of.

March 7, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Your best bet for walleye is in the dam area because the fish are beginning to spawn on the rip rap from now through about the middle of April. The peak of the spawn for March should be around the 14th and the 29th because of the moon phase. If you want to catch a hawg, slow troll Husky Jerks and other minnow imitator baits up and down the main lake points after dark. Another technique that is successful at night is casting the same type lures along the banks adjacent to the main lake points. During the day, fish can be caught on your usual crawler harness set up or by slow drifting a jig/night crawler in the dam area at the same depth you mark your fish. Bank fishermen are catching fish on either side of the river at the Greenfield ramp. Try casting green or white Rooster Tails during the day and Rattletrap after dark. Thompson Fishing Guide Service tip of the week: don't get tunnel vision by the extreme dazzle, dance and flash of high dollar walleye gear. Try slow drifting a plain (no paint) lead head jig with a gob of night crawlers or slow drift a Carolina rigged minnow. Large mouth bass: fish are being caught in the 3 to 5 pound class off of points connecting to main lake bluffs. 1/2 oz to 1 oz jigs or 1 oz Carolina rigged plastic worms fished in around 25 feet of water will show you what I mean. Start at the 25 foot level and fish all the way up the point on both sides to make sure the structure is properly covered. Bass are also being caught early and late in the backs of coves, particularly those with south or southwest facing shorelines. Hard or soft jerk baits work well, along with slow rolled spinner baits. Don't overlook the exposed Crappie beds in the shallower water; try fishing Texas rigged creature baits around the brush piles. Crappie can be found on your warmer days in the backs of wooded coves in 10-12 feet of water. Your usual Crappie jigs cast to the shore or suspended under a bobber are good bets. Minnows work well also. The majority of your larger fish (12-15 inches) are being caught off main lake points with cover in around 20-25 feet of water. Crappie jigs in white or chartreuse work well in these areas. White bass are being caught just about everywhere on Rooster tails, Road Runners, CastMasters and anything with flash that will get down to the depth where the fish are. Schools of fish can be located in the mouths of coves that have running water. The fish are staging to spawn and stack up in these areas. Anywhere in the Ruark Bluff area is worth your efforts. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 28, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Now that the water is starting to warm up again, I would look for walleye on the major points adjacent to the major tributaries on Stockton Lake (Maze Creek, Son and Sac Arms). The fish are staging to spawn in these areas and the best approach would be jerk baits (Husky jerks in shad colors) early and late and drifting white or chartreuse 1/2 oz jigs tipped with night crawlers or minnows during the day. A spawn peak will occur about the middle of March along with the moon phase, so your chance for a big fish is better now than any other time of the year. A lot of nice large mouth bass are being caught consistently on deeper structure; drop shot rigs or Carolina rigged worms or lizards with a 1 oz sinker seem to work in these areas the best. For early and late fishing, suspended jerk baits work well, along the edges and backs of coves that face south. At this time of year, water temperature is from 3 to 7 degrees warmer on the south side than on the north facing banks. Crappie are still being caught in the backs of wooded coves where the water temperature is the warmest. The fish in these areas are around 8 feet deep. Early and late try casting crappie jigs with a light spin casting outfit around the brush and you'll get bites. Crappie are also being caught on main lake crappie beds in around 20 feet of water with crappie jigs or minnows. Try slow trolling small crank baits in shad colors along the bluffs and you'll catch bigger fish. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 22, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye are being caught in the dam area on crank baits such as suspending jerk baits during low light. Cast across the main lake points on the down wind side. During the day, especially sunny days, slow drift crawler harnesses across the main lake points. Locate the shad and rig up a weight system to get the bait in the strike zone. Jigs with minnows work well drifted over shad. Large mouth bass will take 1/2 oz Pig n Jigs off bluff points during the day. Experiment with color and fish slowly. Target the coves facing down wind with suspended jerk baits; look for the warmest water. Crappie can still be found in or near the backs of wooded coves. Cast small 2 1/2 inch white jigs near cover and you'll connect with good sized crappie. Move around to locate concentrations of fish. Look for the warmest water in these areas. Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

February 14, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye are being caught around the Chicken Rock area by drifting white or chartreuse jigs tipped with a night crawler. Fish on the downwind side and always look for the shad. Another good place to fish is around the 215 bridge; try a minnow shaped crank bait and cast it across wind swept points. Around the dam, deep diving crank baits in shad colors slow trolled are producing fish early and late in the day. Also try slow drifting with the wind across the points in the dam area. 1/2 oz jigs with a white or chartreuse tail tipped with a night crawler or minnow will catch walleye during the day. Large mouth bass: try fishing the coves early and late with a suspended jerk bait or white or chartreuse spinner bait; from mid morning to late afternoon fish the points adjacent to these coves by dragging Carolina rigged plastic worms down the points in about 20 feet of water. Right now is the best time of the year to catch a big bass, but you have to be fish slowly and concentrate. Chunk rock banks are producing good bass on 1/2 oz - 1 oz crawdad or black and blue jigs. Remember, not all chunk rock is created equal; cast to the structure that is different from all the rest repeatedly and slowly. Crappie are still being caught in 8 to 10 feet of water in the backs of timbered coves. Cast 1/8 oz jigs (white or chartreuse) in the backs of these coves until you find the crappie. Anchor off of a brush pile in 10 to 12 feet of water and use a slip bobber over a jig or minnow. Make sure your bait hangs about a foot above the cover. On a cloudy day your bites will increase. Look for the warmest water in the area; one degree means a lot more to a fish than it does to us.

Yes, I mean the Greenfield access. A canoe or small boat is a good idea due to the shallow water. I would start by trolling shad imitator crank baits and head up the river (south); stay in the channel. Good walleye are being caught on the points just above the CC bridge. If the trolling doesn't work, position your boat about a cast's length from the bluffs and cast white or chartreuse plastic curl tail jigs along the bank; let them fall to the bottom and bounce the bottom back to the boat. Silver 1/4 oz spoons (Hopkins or CastMasters) with a white buck tail is another good idea. It wouldn't hurt to add a piece of night crawler or minnow on your jigs or spoons. If you get minnows, try to get the biggest you can get; the Trading Post in Greenfield off H Hwy seems to have the bigger minnows. If you don't score on the above mentioned areas, try the stretch of water down from CC bridge to Springfield Cove. Let me know how you did. Marty

February 7, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye: Spawners are showing up in the Sac River arm around the Greenfield boat ramp on CC. Trolled or cast jerk baits are producing fish; shad colors seem to be the most popular imitators. White or chartreuse jigs tipped with night crawlers are also catching fish in this area. Fish are staging on the points in the Sac arm, anywhere between the 160 bridge area and Birch Branch. If you don't want to wrestle the timber in low water, shore casting is also a good technique, particularly after dark. Fish are also being caught off the main lake points around State Park boat ramp trolling crank baits such as Husky Jerks in shad colors or fire tiger, along with Wiggle Warts, deep diving Rapalas, etc. If they seem hesitant to take a trolled crank bait, slow drift bottom bouncer rigs/crawler harnesses. Black bass: Suspended jerk baits are still working well on your secondary points, particularly if you can find cover. I like to fish Pig n Jig combos (dark greens, blues or blacks) in deeper water off those same points later in the day. Spinner baits (experiment with colors) are productive in your coves on the southwest facing shores where the shad congregate due to warmer water temperature. If there is a breeze, that's even better. If you're a worm fisherman, finesse or drop shot are good choices for creek bends from about 15 feet to 25 feet; white, chartreuse or clear with silver flecks are good colors. White bass: If you can find a cove with water temperatures 48 or 50 degrees, you should catch white bass; make sure the coves have shad. Small white spin type jigs work well. The best place to start is the Sac River arm because they will have spawning on their minds. Trolling small, deep diving crank baits on the points in the twin bridges area in around 20 to 25 feet of water has been producing some decent sized fish The mouth of Maze Creek and further up the Turkey Creek arm are also good spots to try. Crappie: Some crappie have been caught in timbered coves where the water temperature has reached 50 degrees. These fish can be caught in the mouths of the coves in 25+ feet of water or in the backs of coves in 5 feet of water. Wind direction plays a role in which end of the cove they'll be at; the wind blows the microorganisms towards the backs of coves, which in turn draws shad and, you guessed it, crappie won't be far. White feather, buck tail or plastic jigs work best in the backs of the coves. For the deeper (15-30 feet) timbered areas of the coves, minnows work best. Don't overlook the Turkey Creek arm. Whatever you fish for, look for warmer water temperatures (48-52 degrees); at this time of year, this is very critical. When the water temperature reaches 50 degrees, the fish know Spring is not very far. Trivia: What world record fish and what Missouri state record fish were both caught on Stockton Lake? For the answers, email me at www.fishstockton.com.

January 30, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report Walleye are being caught in the Sac River arm all the way past the CC bridge. Fish are being caught by bank fishermen off the CC boat ramp on shad colored suspending jerk baits. Note: don't try to launch your boat on the CC boat ramp due to the fact that the end of the ramp is about where your trailer tires will be when they fall off the edge. Walleye are also being taken along the bluffs next to the Orleans Trail inlet. Trolling jerk baits in shad colors is a good idea; parallel the bluffs and fish out the points. At this time I recommend fishing after dark along the face of the dam and the adjoining points. Your bigger fish (females) are more active at this time and seem to prefer crank baits, jerk baits in particular. Trolling is your best technique after dark, that way you can cover a lot of water without having to make repeated casts. Large mouth bass are being caught in secondary coves early morning and late afternoon. Suspended Husky jerks in shad colors are effective at this time. Later in the day fish the points adjacent to the secondary coves that you caught the fish on earlier and look for structure in around 15-20 feet of water. Black and blue or crawdad colored Pig n Jig combos work well when they're in the deeper water. Try a drop shot rig in the same location with a watermelon green 4 inch tube bait. Reference the jig and tube baits, fishing slowly will get you more bites. Crappie are starting to show up in your timbered coves in around 6-8 feet of water. Make sure the cove has brush; anchor off from the brush and throw a bobber/minnow or bobber/crappie jig over the cover. Chances are when a cloud blows over, you'll catch crappie. White bass are being caught in the mouths of timbered coves throughout the lake. Shad imitation jigs seem to work the best; the majority of your bites will be on the fall, so pay attention. Marty Thompson www.fishstockton.com

Thanks for the feedback; I'll keep posting the reports as long as folks want to read them.

January 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report A good choice for walleye right now is along the dam at night. The number one artificial lure is a jerk bait; try the coves in the dam area casting or trolling Rogues or the like. Fish are still being caught on the downwind side of the main lake points in the dam area by drifting a jig/minnow head or jig/night crawler combination. Fish seem to follow the shad schools in about 25 feet of water; slow troll or drift the jigs off these main lake points. Before you start fishing you need to find the bait fish. When you do, stay with them as long as possible, the walleye should be marked along with the shad schools on your sonar. Large mouth bass: Most bass are still holding deep (25 feet) and can be taken on jig/pork chunk combinations or tube jigs in dark colors (black, purple, blue). Before sundown, good action can be seen in the backs of coves where shad are present. Suspended jerk baits work well when the fish are more shallow. I've caught several nice fish (5-7 lbs) over deeper structure on suspended deep diving crank baits (shad imitators). Crank the bait hard to get it down to depth and use your rod tip the same way you would with a regular suspended jerk bait. White bass are being caught in your larger coves off of secondary points as they chase shad. Find the shad and the white bass is had. Blade baits and lipless crank baits (Rattletrap, Spots) seem to be the best approach. Your bigger fish are beginning to appear as their spawning time grows closer.