August 6, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

August 6, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 872.61

Normal pool: 867

Water temperature: high 80s to 91

Walleye are in the summer pattern, which is a technical term to describe what walleye do in the summer as opposed to other times of the year. Walleye eat a lot of bugs. The best place to find bugs in the summer time on Stockton Lake is the mud flats, like the ones in the vicinity of Mutton Creek. Bugs emerge from the muddy bottom of the lake and float to the surface. During the hot part of the day, fish will be in around 25-35 feet of water. Black, brown and orangish maribou jigs (1/4 oz) tipped with a piece of night crawler are good choices. This presentation imitates bugs and it is different from some of the regular baits that the fish see on a daily basis. As the angle of the sun changes later in the afternoon, the fish will move up shallower closer to shore. By sundown, bugs begin to appear, and that also draws walleyes’ attention to shallower water. Guide’s note: the best mud flats are adjacent to main lake points. They won’t be as obvious as your rocky main lake points, but nonetheless, this is the route that walleye travel from deeper water to shallower water in their daily quest for food. I’d try trolling deep diving crank baits later in the afternoon til sundown. The fish aren’t always in the mood to chase down a crank bait, but you never know.

Crappie: as the lake level continues to fall, there is less cover in the water, which equates to more crappie per bush. 25 feet is the place to begin your search. Main lake points with cover at this depth will hold crappie more often than not. If you find several brush piles on the same point, use your trolling motor to slowly drift from one to the other using a jig and minnow. Fish about 2 feet above the top of the brush. Unless the wind is blowing excessively, you should be able to maintain proper boat control. Fish are also being caught in the timber. Remember, not all trees are created equal, therefore not all trees attract fish. Cedar trees or sycamore trees are good because they have lots of limbs, which provide lots of shade and cover. Shade is important in the summer. The tree needs to be in around 15-25 feet of water. Structure is a bonus. Remember, cover + structure = the presence of fish. By structure, I mean rock piles, creek channels, sudden change in depth, etc. Crappie jigs with or without minnows will catch fish. Experiment a little bit, and it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with the right combination. Night fishing with a crappie light is also a good option.

Largemouth bass fishing is still rated pretty darn good. I have been able to catch some quality fish when I haven’t been guiding for walleye or crappie. Spinner baits have been good, along with crank baits later in the day on shady banks. Always be zeroed in on shade, because the fish will be in the shade. It’s cooler in the shade, and from the shade, the fish has the visual advantage over bait in the open water. Jigs and plastic worms seem to be productive no matter what time of day or conditions, so you need to keep that in mind. Top water bite has picked up a little around sundown. Buzz Baits, Pop Rs, Zara Spooks have been catching fish. Bigger fish will come off of main lake points in between 15 -20 feet of water. If you are interested in sheer numbers, and not necessarily size, throw small crank baits in the coves. Last year’s fish will provide some hot action. You can also fish up by the dam and catch a load of Kentucky spotted bass; most of them will be sublegal fish, but your kids will have a blast catching them. 2-3 inch curly tailed jigs in white or chartreuse or small deep diving crank baits around the spillway around the dam will give you a lot of action.

Channel cats: as the lake recedes, there is more opportunity for the bank fishermen. Fish the shore across from CC boat ramp at night. Night crawlers, chicken livers or chicken hot dogs, that’s what real Catmen use to catch channel cats. The boat ramp across from the Mutton Creek marina boat ramp has some access that has opened up, as well as Cedar Ridge and several other places. Your bigger fish are being caught anchored off main lake points. When there is little or no moon, 6 pm til midnight seems to be the best times. Anchor in about 15 feet of water, tell your cousin not to scoot his metal tackle box across the sandy aluminum floor of your boat, and you can vertical fish. The catfish move back and forth off these points, so if you don’t get a bite right away, that doesn’t mean there are no fish. Always remember, in order to catch fish, you must be good at fishing for fish. If you don’t like the fishing part, you need to take up golf or polo. Some people only like to catch, they despise the fishing part. If you are one of these people, it won’t be fun very often.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish the Finest!