March 19, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

March 19, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Guide’s tip of the week: the more stable weather days you have in a row, the better the fishing will be. If you have a week of unstable days, fishing will be considerably slower. Point to remember: even though the majority of fish follow certain patterns, there are a minority of fish that do not. Therefore, somewhere on the lake, there are fish to be caught.

With the torrential rainfall from the last 3 days, the lake is up to 875.9 (normal pool is 867). This will provide excellent spawning habitat for all species of fish. With a few more stable weather days, the fishing should really pick up.

Walleye: You have to remember “pre-spawn” can be a relative term, but to look at the broad sense of the definition, the process begins when the walleye move from the deep basins of the lake and gather on main lake points in preparation for the actual spawning process. For the most part, spawning has already taken place in many parts of the south part of Stockton Lake because of water temperature. There are other areas of the lake, however, where fish are still in their late pre-spawn mode.

The best approach to catching pre-spawn walleye that are still 30-50 feet deep is the most basic, and that is the jig and minnow or jig and night crawler. You need to position your boat right on top of the fish, and fish the depth of the fish and below. If the fish won’t take these baits, vary the depth and see if you can draw a strike. As I stated in my last couple of reports, these fish are still in the slow mode and it takes slow presentation to get them to bite.

Here’s another rule of thumb: if you are working a school of fish that you are staying on with your scope, I’d give them about 45 minutes and then move if you don’t get a bite. The bite for the most part will be very light, so an angler who is concentrating will be the one that takes advantage of the few bites he will get this time of the year. Just because one school of fish won’t bite doesn’t mean another school of fish won’t bite.

An approximate guide to the walleye spawn in Stockton Lake is early spring (March 16) through late spring (April 5). The reason it is important that you know these dates is so that you can adjust your tactics and techniques accordingly. If you are not familiar with the habits of the fish, particularly this time of year, you need to hire a competent fishing guide.

Early and late, walleye are also being caught on suspended jerk baits in shallower water, do don’t get so focused on the deep fish that you forget the shallower bite at the right time.

Crappie: crappie fishing is pretty much the same as it was in my last report. Crappie fishing has been fair in the Sac River arm and in the Turkey Creek arm fished over creek channels that meander through the timber. It seems like a jig head with minnow works better in the trees than a minnow under a weight on an Aberdeen hook because you have less hang-ups. Medium minnows are the best. How the flooding will affect the fish is somewhat uncertain, but I predict after 3 or 4 days of stable weather, crappie fishing should really pick up.

Caution: Look out for logs, hay bales, limbs, dead cows and other debris that has washed into the lake the last few days.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

[Chief Grey Bear]

Hey Marty

Great write up in Missouri Game and Fish. Not to mention the great work you do here with your reports. I don't say it enough............ THANK YOU!!!!

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

Thank you for your good words. We were very pleased with the article and the exposure. By the way, that's not a picture of me, but the crappie is very good looking.