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Thanks again Marty. Always helpful. I hope adding this to your post will get more looks. There is a new crappie tourney that goes out of Cedar Ridge Public Access every about other Saturday. The next one is July 5th from 7pm to 1 am. It is a 3 person per boat 15 crappie limit $60 per boat 80% pay back including big fish. it is open to all. The more the better. they are also putting there proceeds into an account and having a fish off at the end of the year. Come on out and have some fun. Vince

Thanks for the report Marty. Wae up tue and wed. Tue I ran into a school of Bronze backs while Crappie fishing. What a thrill to fight on ultra lights. Wed went to high points area. found a cove semi out off the wind. Caught 8 Nice keeper Crappie , nicest 15". They were all in 15 to 22' of water and holding right on any hump bush log there was. I do not think it will be long. vince

Thanks for the report Marty. Wae up tue and wed. Tue I ran into a school of Bronze backs while Crappie fishing. What a thrill to fight on ultra lights. Wed went to high points area. found a cove semi out off the wind. Caught 8 Nice keeper Crappie , nicest 15". They were all in 15 to 22' of water and holding right on any hump bush log there was. I do not think it will be long. vince Lake level 881.3 Normal pool 867 Water temperature mid section of the lake: high 50s Water clarity Twin Bridges area and south: stained to muddy As you realize, so far this spring fishing for all species has been spotty at best. My prediction is, however, that after the first week of warm weather and stable conditions, fishing will take off like a scalded cat. My clients and I have been catching crappie between 15 and 20 feet, which means the next movement the fish will make will be in shallow water to spawn. We have caught a few fish in 8-10 feet of water, and most of them are males. The reason for this is that the males are the first to move up and build nests and they have just begun to do that. Fishing on Stockton Lake as well as other highland reservoirs in the Ozark region is a month behind. Walleye are in the process of moving to shallower water (5-10 feet deep) to chase shad before the summer pattern begins. These fish are still a little deeper than normal and the fishing is slower than normal, due to the fact that every time we get a cold heavy rain, water temperatures drop about 8 degrees. Hopefully cold rains are over. Fishermen think that the rising water is what has kept the fishing from taking off, but in actuality, rising spring water stimulates the fish as long as the temperatures rise with the water, which has not been the case this year or last year. Same thing goes for bass, which are also behind schedule, but will move closer to the spawn when the water stabilizes in the mid to high 60s. Watch for warm stable weather. When that occurs, the fishing will pick up for all species. The lake level is dropping, which will eventually expose more boat ramps and easier access throughout the lake. As of now, I have been launching my boat at Ruark Bluff, Cedar Ridge and RB boat ramps. As fishing progresses, I will keep you informed. I expect this year’s fishing to be real good for all species. Guide’s warning: I have noticed water moccasins enjoying the warm sunshine and if you are not careful when you are in the brush, they will enjoy you as well. My experience with water moccasins is that they try to climb up the transom of my boat. While I was in the middle of a large cove last year, I had one snake that repeatedly tried to get in the back of the boat through the ventilation and drain holes. I have an 82 pound thrust trolling motor on my boat, and was finally able to outrun him. Guide’s warning #2: the hazards with stumps and debris floating in the lake are still very real. I’ll give more specifics on the individual species of fish as they continue to become more active. Marty Thompson Thompson Fishing Guide Service www.fishstockton.com 417-424-BASS

Thanks all, no problem getting in yesterday at Cedar Ridge. Put in just as the rain ended. Was cold and windy for about 2 hours, with no fish in boat, but as the sun startred to appear the crappie did too in 29 foot of water. Kept 3 nice males, 1 was 16" and 3lbs.15 oz. Nicest crappie I caught on Stockton. They were the only keepers, with about 8 shorts. They were very soft bites. If you were not paying attention, you lost. Be up tue to thurs. good luck all. Vince

Thanks guys. Marty I really appreciate your post. you always go above and beyond. i've worked 5 months witout taking a day off, so tue through thurs. i'll be on the lake. Hope I hit it right. My freezer has been empty for a few months now and the wife is actually asking me to go. I guess I've got on her nerves enough. Will post how I do.See you on the lake.

Does anyone know if cedar Ridge is accessable? Thanks in advance, Vince

The warmest I found was 49 degrees. As far as the crappie bite, the only ones I caught were in 45 foot deep. Can not see it warming up with temps in the 50s and near freezing over the weekend. Vince

Does any one know if the boat ramp is acessable and what the water temp is in that area? Thanks in advance, Vince

Thanks, Vince

Does anyone know what the water Temp. is below cedar ridge? Thanks in advance, Vince

Hey it's been a while since i've been up. Hows the fishing. Do the Crappie stay or head into the main lke for the winter?

bojack. I hade bass pro dp it. It makes a big difference in controlling the boat in high winds. I also had them put in 2 of the larger batteries. not bass pro brand. They had to turn one of the batteries sideways but they fit.

iF YOU GO TO BASS PRO IN SPRINGFIELD, ASK FOR jIM lOVAN. HE IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEGABLE AND HELPFUL. cAN NOT ANSWER FOR ANY OTHERS. aLSO TRCKER MARINE SERVICE ON SOUTH CAMPBELL HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FAIR AND QUICK ON ANY REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED.

I've owned 2 trckers and am very pleased with both. Love aluminum over fiberglass for all above reasons. My boat now is a tracker Tournement v18 with a 115 hp merc and a 24 volt trolling motor. has plenty of deck space and storage. I can fish deep or shallow and also pull a tib when i want. Have always benn treated fairly by Bass pro Shops. Compared with fisher and the quality of tracker in my opinion is much better.

Thanks

What were you catching the wlleye on,and how deep? Thanks in advance Vince

Thanks, my largest was a 6lb. 13oz smallie. Must have been a fight of a lifetime.

Sweet mother of Bass. How deep and on what did u catch him on?

Had another good night sat. A friend and I both pulled in a limit of crappie. They wer in 30 ft. of water and 4 to 5 cranks off the bottom. Over half of them were over 12 in. with 4 or 5 real slabs, 1 16 incher. Looks like there getting into there fall pattern.

Thanks. Wonder what all this rain is going to do to the lake.Seems like it changes every week. Tough to get a pattern

WHAT WERE YOU USING AND WAS IT MAIN LAKE OR SECONDARY POINTS. THANKS

THANKS

When you say beetles.Do you mean beetle spins. If so what are you using with them and what colors? If not please explain. Help would be greatly apreciated. thanks, Vince

Thanks

Thanks for the report. Do you know what the rain did to the water temp. Thanks, Vince