April 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

April 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

The lake is up to 878.99 (normal pool is 867). The main problems with the rising water and the rain are twofold: when the water rises in the early spring it is usually because of a cold rain, which in turn lowers the temp anywhere from 8-10 degrees and also generally the unstable weather which produces the storm itself. During early spring, it takes about 4 days after unstable weather before the fishing picks up again. Due to the fact that we are now in April, it is only a matter of time before the fishing really turns on. As of this report, walleye are deep for the most part, and can be caught on secondary points and main lake points by bouncing jig and minnows off of the bottom after you locate the fish. The question that you need to ask yourself is “Have the walleye spawned in the area that I choose to fish?” In some parts of the lake, such as the Son’s Creek and Sac River, the fish have finished spawning for the most part and have or are moving back to the main part of the lake where they will do their summer thing.

In the deeper areas of the lake, above 215 bridge, many walleye have not yet spawned. People make spawning such a big deal for walleye, but their spawning habits are quite different from bass and crappie. Walleye do not eat during the spawn and at least a week or ten days after the spawn. The real big advantage to spawning walleye is that you have a chance of catching a trophy class fish because the big females are for the most part ganged up together. Walleye do not build nests; therefore they are only in the spawning mode for a few hours before they return to the main part of the lake. Keep this in mind.

As the month of April progresses, walleye will move into shallower water to feed along the brush line until the water gets into the 80s; then they will drop into the deeper water to follow shad schools throughout the summer. At this time of the year, walleye and crappie can be caught in the same locations because the crappie are in their spawning mode.

White bass are starting to show up at the mouths of feeder creeks; if you have never fished Stockton Lake, find the feeder creeks on your map and what I mean by feeder creeks are those than run all year. Start fishing the adjacent areas with spoons, spinners, Rattle Traps, etc. When the white bass get turned on, they’ll hit about anything you throw at them. If the fish are not right in the mouth of the feeder creek or tributary, back off a little bit, and watch your sonar because they will be close by.

Crappie: Crappie are still in deep water (30 feet or so) but are beginning to show a little activity as spring approaches. I have isolated my crappie fishing on the lower end of the lake above the 215 bridge because the water in the main tributaries (Sac River and Maze Creek) is very muddy. Deep brush piles or deep rock piles are the places you need to continue to look until the fish move shallower to spawn.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS