straw hat

The wife and I fished Thu, Fri and Sat. on bluffs. Thurs and Sat around twin bridges and Fri near CC. Got about 20 or so crappie each day (at around 25 to 30') around twin bridges. 2 keeper walleye and several smaller cats (10 to 18"). The crappie were holding very tight to the bluffs. The bite was fairly agressive though. Saw several otters in the area and a flock of canvasbacks. Don't see many canvasbacks on Stockton usually. Water temp was 56 on Thu but down to 54 by Sat. Our trip to CC yeilded only 4 keeper crappie. a 2 lb walleye and a 17 1/2" largemouth (cpr). All were around 18 to 24' deep. Water temp was 52 there. The high point of that trip was when a big (50 lb?) beaver came swimming down the bank and swam within 5 foot of both me and the wife. He was so close I was afaid to breath or I would scare him off. A pleasant way to spend the weekend.

I use slip bobbers Dutch. I can tell the depth by the location of my slip knot. When the sun finally came out they went deeper and it was tough to catch the last couple. It was difficult to cast far enough out to fish that deep. Not that I am complaining. lol It your turn Dutch!! Go get 'em!!!

The wife and I hit a bluff on Sat. and managed 14 keepers, one walleye (17") and a channel. 57 degree water temp and the water was still heavily stained. All fish were 28 to 32 feet deep. I went bank fishing on a different bluff today and did a little better. Had my limit by 11 AM. Most were 12 to 15" and were 24 to 30 feet deep. Also caught a 5 lb Flathead and 4 largemouth (14 to 18" long) from 22 to 25' deep (all cpr). Also one small eye. Being seeing a lot of ducks on the lake the last week for you guys who like to duck hunt.

I hit the bluffs today again. Much slower. Vertually no wind. The 6 keepers I managed to catch were all 30 to 34 feet deep. Caught most on bottom bouncing rigs right tight to the bottom. Water temp was 57 and slightly stained.

Dutch has got it right. They will probably be 25 to 35 feet and the good news is that with the colder weather their will probably be a few more move into the bluff and join those already there.

My wife was not only with me but actually caught 12 of the 21. Yes, once again she outfished me. Good luck next Wed, I may be going again about then as well.

Hope you were out again today Dutch. Went bank fishing and the bite was on but the wind sure did make it challenging. Came home with 21 keepers (18 to 32 fow) and two nice channels. A 3 1/2 and a 4 1/2. Most were caught on a bottom bouncing rig similar to a lindy but a LOT smaller. Just too windy to use those slip bobbers today. A few boats this morning but not bad this afternoon. Deer hunting must not have been to good...never saw a deer hanging in anyones yard on the way home.

The channels are collecting on the bluffs on Stockton Lake now. they are running 25 to 32 feet deep. This should last for another 2 or 3 weeks depending on weather.

Sure was Dutch. Set up my gear along a bluff and pretended I didn't have a care in the world!! lol

I didn't go by the launch but I probably saw 20 or 30 boats go by today. I am sure that a lot of them were repeats but still, a busy day. I drove by the CC launch on hte way home and only one boat there.

Hit a bluff a couple of miles from twin bridges. Bite was light but consistant. Water temp was 57, water was heavily stained with about 1 foot visibility. Fished 6 hours and came home with 12 keeper crappie, 17" walleye, 15" largemouth (cpr) and a 2 lb channel cat. All fish were caught in 24 to 27 fow. There was also a million boats out today. Has a lot of trouble with people boating through where I was fishing. A great big lake and they have to come bother me. Oh well, it was a pretty day on the lake anyway. lol

Well, this time last year was killing the crappie on my favorite bluffs. This fall completely different. Same temps and water level as last year but hard to find a good bite. Fished two bluffs north of CC and could only manage a dozen crappie and only 4 keepers. Bite was very light. Fish were around 20 ft deep. Sorry I can't give a water temp but forgot my thermometer at home. There was a 3 foot matt of a thick algae extending out into the lake everywhere we went. Also caught one 16 1/2" white bass. Saw a few flocks of ducks as well.

Congrats on the baby girl!! When she gets older be sure and take her with you. She will never forget it!

Did a little better today. Picked up 7 keepers off of some steep banks and bluffs. 25 to 30 ft deep. Couldn't find a protected bank so had to fight the wind. Pretty cold. Also caught one small walleye and several small bass at the the same depth. Oh yea...and a 4 lb channel cat. Not great but ok. Now if I can just get thawed out. lol Water temp was 61 and water looked good.

A flat top.

That is the depth I was working but I guess I just wasn't holding my mouth right. lol

Great info Dutch. You mind if I ask how deep they were?

The recent tornado tore the cover off my pick-up. It didn't hurt the top more than a couple small scratches BUT it did tear up the hardware on the bed of the pick-up. The cover is a black hard top made by armour. I am willing to give away the top for free if someone can use it. Send me a PM if you are interested.

Managed to hit the lake for a few hours this morning. The water is looking real good at CC. A lot of baots and bank fishermen. Water temp was 65 and about 2 feet visibility. Caught 2 keeper crappie. Didn't see much else caught by the people around us. Stopped by twin bridges and fished a little. Water was still alittle black but was a lot better than a week ago, Water was 64 there. Didn't pick up any fish.. It sure was a nice day to be on the lake though.

Thanks everyone. Thanks for the offer Zarra. The missing tackle was just little stuff (minnownets, etc) so that is no big deal. Got my roof done today and when my truck is back I will b e ready to rock and roll.

So much for fishing soon. That tornado did a job on me. The damage to my house was minimal, some lost shingles but it tore the cover of my truck. That sucker took that cover and smacked the back of the truck, the roof of the truck and the passengers side of the truck. It will be in the shop for about 10 days. I kept my tackle in the back of the truck which the twister spread around the yard light Christmas decorations. lol I salvaged most everything but do have a little shopping to do yet. You all keep me posted on what I am missing out on. Good luck.

Even worse day today. Hit a spot about 2 miles from CC, not a bite. Hit a couple brush piles near Hawker after that. Nothing but one small crappie. Water was very black. Never seen Stockton Lake look like that. First place was 62 and the Hawker area was 67.

Hit two places around CC. Temp had dropped from 71 last Sat to 60 this morning. That is a steep drop. Picked up 1 crappie and 4 whites. Saw a few fish being caught but not many. Went to twin bridges, water temp was 66. No hits. The water at CC has about 1 foot visibility, twin bridges around 2 feet. It sure has been tough so far this fall.

Just a few notes attached on the water quality numbers from the COE. Water Quality.doc

Good Job...sounds like fun to me!!