straw hat

OK &8%^@! I will try this another way. You can go to http://mdcgis.mdc.mo.gov. Then go to the botton line and click on "fish attractor locations". Then select Stockton Lake.

For some reason that website address didn't post right. (probably operator error). So lets try it again. http://mdcgis.mdc.mo.gov/website/stocktonlake.

The map of brush oiles (they call them "fish attractors") may be found at http://mdcgis.mdc.mo.gov/website/stocktonlake. This website also contains the gps coordinates of those brush piles.

I just came back from there. No ice, water temperature 43 and dingy from the rain. There were quite a few small crappie. The bite was very light however. Good luck.

I noticed that there is a pretty good discussion about fish finders on this web site. It is under Boat Reviews and is called "What is the Best Fish Finder?" (I hope I remembered that right). It was started on Jan. 28 this year. I hope this helps.

Wife and I went out for a few hours today. Drifting minnows 10 to 15 ft deep in 20 to 25 ft of water along main channels. Caught about 40 crappie but only 5 keepers. Bites were some of the lightest I have ever experienced. They all looked like they had recently been bleached with chlorox they were so white.

Are you sure they are from the Corp? When I was out Thursday I saw the Dept. of Conservation had a large group of trees at the east Roark boat launch. They had a large batch on their boat and were out freshening up there "fish attractors" in the Roark area. It look like they added about 10 to 15 trees to the one right across the lake from the swimming beach before they putted off to get another load. Maybe those trees at Cedar Ridge are theirs and they are going to due they same there. If those trees dissappear you might check out the state fish attractors in that area and see if they have suddenly gotten a lot bigger. If so they amy provide some good fishing this year.

Sorry Bob, I swear everything was open yesterday.

I drove around the lake today; Hawker Point, Roark, Stockton State Park and Hartley. The temps are running 38 to 40F. I also agree with csjacks. If you can find a log or brush on a south facing shore they amy be there trying to warm themselves. Good luck.

I just got back from driving around the lake. I went to Stockton State Park, Hawker Point, Hartley, and Roark. all were clear of ice except for some small patchs in the very back of some coves. I did not see any eagles this time. As they normally do not move north to "ice out" then it looks like we may be out of the woods for this winter.

I went on the National Weather Service website and it reported a trace of snow for most of the areas around Stockton with only a couple spots of .10 inches. I hope that helps.

NICE FISH!! If you expect sympathy for the 16" of ice from me and there you are holding a big bass.. FAT CHANCE.. At least with that much ice you can go ice fishing, with an inch or two you have to wait for the thaw.

Well Dutch, I hope you went because you would of found plenty of places to launch. State Park Marina launch had passage to the lake although there was a lot of floating ice around the launch area. I also saw a few patchs of floating ice out in the main lake and all the coves I saw were ice covered. Roark Bluff launch was open with no ice in sight from the bridge. Now if we could just get a little biy of sunshine.

I just wanted to clarify my earlier statements. Obviously it is not spawning time yet. This would be the prespawn season now. In addition I would like to note that obvously note all walleye spawn at the same time. Walleye spawning typically lasts about 3 to 4 weeks in Missouri. And when the correct daylength is reached up north the northern walleye will usually be spawning at water temperatures of 41F to 44F unless it has been a severe winter then he temperatures may be lower. Our waters, being warmer, by the time the days are long enough for spawning the temps are 46F to 48F.

Hartley and Stockton State Park launchs are iced in. The launches themselves are clear of snow and ice. The main lake is open in those areas but all of the coves I could see appeared to be heavily iced over. I am sick and tired of this snow and cold.

Walleye spawning is controlled by photoperiod (daylength). Extremely cold or snowy conditions will only postpone spawning a few days at the most. During cold winters in our northern states walleye have even been shown to spawn under the ice. White Bass spawning is also controlled by photoperiod. Of course they spawn a lot later in the spring. All of our warm water species are heavily effected by water temperature while species like bass and crappie spawning are nearly completely controlled by water temperature.

You read it exactly right. That is what Ranger Rains told me. Sorry I made that sound complicated but I was talking to the federal government. They always do that to me.

Over the weekend I read an article in a local newpaper that the US Corp of Engineers is now requiring permits for the placing of brush in Corp lakes! As I am in the middle of my winter efforts to place about 30 brush piles on Stockton I was deeply concerned. I went on the web and found the federal requirements that must be met (I will list those below). It also listed a number at their KC office that can be called to find out further information. After 2 hours on the phone here is what I found; The KC office has delegated this respobsibility to the permit section at Truman. The permit section at Truman said that it was up to the local office at Stockton to approce the brush pile location and enter the GPS locations on their map with the DOC fish attrator locations. I called the local office in Stockton and spoke to Ranger Stanton Rains. He informed me that it is up to each lake to decide if they will opt in or out of the Federal program. Much to my suprise the Stockton office is not taking part in the program at this time. The only requirement for a permit is if you are going to cut brush along the shoreline. Lets hope they never decide to join the federal program, here is why: Federal program requires that pored concrete or concrete blocks may be the only thing used to weight down the brush. Only wire, poly rope of hemp rope may be used to tie the trees to the cement and they must be placed at least 10' below the power pool level. It also authorizes the local offices to collect permit fees of up to $100 for each permit and it may take as long as 6 months to issue the permit. There is a bunch of other minor requirements but I am not going to list them here. After 2 hours of talking to these people I think I am going to take an aspirin and lay down!!

Bob, thanks for the clarification on fizzing. I have been fizzing fish all these years and didn't even know it!! As far as going in the side of the fish and hitting an internal organ, this can usually be avoided by going in about 1/4" below the bottom of the vertabrae (this will avoid the kidneys) and push in only about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Insert only until you begin releasing air. But, you are right, it is safer to go in through the mouth if possible.

I am not familiar with the term "fizzing" but I do know a simple technique that works. I too use the "splooshing" technique that powerdiver referred to. This works in about 70% of the cases. The rest can easily be fixed by inserting a small gauge needle in the air bladder to releive the pressure. The air bladder can usually be seen inflated at the back of the mouth and can be easily pierced. In the event that you can not see the bladder this way the needle should be inserted about half-way down the fish below the spiny part of the dorsal fin. This takes a little practice but after 3 or 4 fish it gets simple to do. Small gauge needles can be bought at Race Brother or most large farm stores. I have been catching some crappie (mostly small ones) about 18 to 20" deep, in timber, in both the Son's Creek and Turnback arms of the lake. The hard part is to catch it unfrozen.

I think you will enjoy the trip. Definitely the best time of the year. Rather than me trying to write a bunch info I would suggest that you that you go back a couple of years and read all the old Thompson Guide Service reports (and other entries) on this web site. I have found that he really hits things on the head. Also keep up with this web site and you will know when they start hitting. Keep a close on on the weather too, it can be very unpredicable down here that time of year. Good luck!

Made a little trip to the lake today trying to drag some large shiners for walleye or blue cats. Didn't even get a bite. I thought you might want an update on the lake conditions. Old State Park and Hartley launch areas are clear, no ice even in the coves I looked at. Roark Bluff has fully thawed out!! It had a big shad die off. The main lake is clear south of Roark but most of the sheltered coves are still frozen over. Greenfield Landing (CC bridge) is thawed. Didn't see any ice in any of the coves either.

The following information is as of noon today. Greenfield Landing (CC boat launch)- Completely and heavily iced over. Ice was 4" thick. This area has a long ways to go. Roark Bluff - Completely iced over. Ice was 3" thick. Hawker Point - Ice in back of coves, launch in good shape. Main lake clear and 42F. All surrounding coves are at least partly covered with ice. Hartley Launch at old Stste Park - 1" of ice. Open water about 1/4 mile towards main lake. This launch should be open soon. There were also 7 bald eagles there. I am battling the flu so, given the lake situation, I think it will be a couple weks before I get back to the lake. NOTE -There was some floating ice in the area of Hawker so if you go there be careful.

I would also like to thank you Rookiefisher. Great info. I will be taking a trip around the lake on Saturday and will try to update your info. Maybe the warmer weather will thaw the lake some.

Current lake level as of 5:30 PM today - 868.98; two feet above powerpool with ongoing daily discharge. Curret lake temperature is 40 F with the incoming stream water at 37 F. As the water reaches 38 F (turnover)this means that surface freezing will be wide-spread in any area near an incoming stream and that the main lake is not far behind if these cold temperatures continue.