November 5, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

November 5, 2008 Stockton lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 868.99

Normal pool: 867

Crappie and walleye: As the water temperatures cool (low 60s to high 50s), the shad begin to come together and form larger schools and position themselves deeper in the water column. If you are observant, you have noticed the shad getting deeper and more congregated on your sonar screen as the water gets cooler. As a result, walleye will become more congregated near the large bait balls. It is easier under such conditions to find walleye due to the fact that the bait is not spread all over the lake like in the summer time. These fish are deep (30 feet on down) and your best presentation is to vertical jig. Unless of course, you have down riggers and lead core line to keep crank baits in the strike zone. The jig and minnow or the jig and night crawler are your best baits. When the water is warm, walleye will bite night crawlers better than minnows, but as the aquatic bugs disappear into their winter cycle, the walleye focus more on minnows. Main lake points are where they will be now because that is where the shad are now, but as the water temperature continues to cool, the shad will find deep basins in the mouths of main lake coves and this is where they will winter. On highland reservoirs such as Stockton Lake, you have large numbers of underwater springs that bleed out into the lake in these basins. Spring water temperature is approximately 54 degrees, and this warms the surrounding water which draws in the bait fish. It is interesting to note that this not only provides good walleye action, but you will also catch some of the biggest white crappie of the year in the winter pattern. Example: in mid March, surface water temperature of the areas where I was fishing was 37 degrees. My clients caught 55 crappie, 14 walleye and numerous white bass in two days. Fish were suspended over 50 feet of water, and only 3 of the crappie were short. The average size was 14 inches. The walleye were all legal, and there were several over 24 inches. Because the water was cold, vertical presentation was necessary along with total concentration. The bite at this time by both crappie and walleye is very light and as the water temperature continues to cool, without the aid of visual observation of your rod tip and line, you’ll miss a lot of fish.

Largemouth bass: In the last month, I have caught most of my fish on main lake points on plastic worms. Top water bite has been virtually nonexistent this year, due to the fact that under normal conditions bass move into the shallows to chase bait fish. With an overload of shad in the lake, the little buggers never have to leave home because dinner is always abundant. Slow presentation is better. Fish are not hungry. Why do they bite at all? Fish use their mouths like you use your hands: to defend themselves, to investigate, to move an object from their comfort zone, etc. Slow presentation is the way to go; they won’t readily chase down bait. Here again you need to stay focused. If you are a line watcher, you will have a real advantage, especially fishing in the wind.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

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