August 13, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

August 13, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 871.49

Normal pool: 867

Walleye fishing has picked up as a result of cooler nights and cooler rains this past week. Water temperature has dropped in some areas of the lake as much as 10 degrees; from 91 to 81 in the extremes. Walleye are still being caught off main lake points by trolling deep diving crank baits such as Bandits and Bomber As. Fish will be in approximately 19 feet of water, and can also be caught on jig and night crawler combinations bounced off of the bottom, or crawler harnesses. Another technique to employ is jigging spoons; cast out from the boat along the points, let the Hopkins spoon or Castmaster spoon sink to the bottom. Keep your eye on the line, because many times the walleye will grab the spoon as it flutters to the bottom. Raise your rod tip to about 45 degrees, jerking the spoon off of the bottom; reel up the slack and let it fall again. Repeat until you get back to the boat. This coming week should be a good night bite because of the moon.

Largemouth bass fishing is still real good, both for numbers and for size. Main lake points and secondary points are producing the most fish. Around sundown, the bass will move into the backs of coves to chase shad and you should be able to get into a top water bite. Jigs, spinner baits or plastic worms work better during the afternoon when the fish are in about 15 feet of water. Deep diving crank baits work well later in the day with a reel-pause-reel retrieve. Shad colors and crawdad colors work well.

Crappie fishing has been fair around 20-25 foot brush piles off of main lake or secondary points holding fish. Use your sonar and find creek channels as they meander through the timber of coves, like Price Branch and Turkey Creek. Minnows and jigs or jigs and crappie niblets work the best. Remember night fishing under a crappie light is always a good option this time of the year.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish the Finest!

[Bird Watcher]

Marty,

Thanks for the Report. I have read in the past what you have written about this full moon walleye bite. Could you elaborate a little on what you do when fishing like this?

Maybe the type of water and techniques? I think I would like to try that this weekend maybe.

Thanks,

Chris

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

Thanks for reading my report. Here's what I have been doing with my clients during the full moon night bite this summer: when we look at the moon, we look at the 3 days before and the 3 days after the full moon for the most effective walleye bite. We have been anchoring off of main lake points in about 25 feet of water (be sure you scope fish before you go to all the trouble of getting your anchor stuck) using jig and minnows, jig and night crawlers, or jig and Gulp leeches. Drop the bait to the bottom, reel up about 1 turn. Fish will be actively moving across these points in search of shad. If you find a productive point, you should start catching fish within at least 30 minutes. If there are no takers, reposition yourself on the same main lake point, or go to another one. You need to scope out where you are going to fish before it gets dark because one main lake point looks the same as another in the dark. My night trips usually start about 6 pm and go til at least midnight because as the sun goes past the horizon in the early evening, your chances of getting a good bite are pretty good. You can also troll crank baits across these same main lake points in between 5 and 25 feet of water and catch fish. Deep diving crank baits work best. When it gets dark, the fish will move up a little more shallow (10-15 feet deep). If you have any more questions, let me know. Call me and let me know how you did.

[Fly_Guy]

Hey - would you happen to have any tips for access to walleye from the bank - or is the water still too high for such wishfulness? Appreciate all the reports!