December 3, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

December 3, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 868.85

Normal pool: 867

Walleye: Main lake points and secondary points are where my clients and I have been catching fish. Most of these fish have consistently been in water around 30-50 feet deep. I have been putting in at various places, including Mutton Creek, Hawker, Old State park and RB boat ramp. Fish are bunched up this time of the year due to the fact that in the winter mode the bait fish get bunched up. The fish are extremely deep. I use up to a ½ oz jig head because the vertical presentation is the only way to go. Minnows and jigs have worked best, but we have also caught good fish on jig and night crawlers and jig and Gulp leeches. Tap the bottom. Pay attention. If you feel resistance, either back reel or open your bale. When you feel the fish move off, set the hook with a swinging type motion. If you miss fish, add a stinger hook. I usually fish about 30 minutes in a spot, particularly where you scope a lot of fish. Don’t stay too long, but stay long enough to thoroughly work the fish that you see on your sonar unit. Later in the day toward sundown, we have caught a few fish on suspended jerk baits when they come up shallow.

Crappie: during the winter period is the time when my clients and I catch the most and the biggest crappie of the year (over 15 inches in some cases). These fish are deep, anywhere from 25-50 feet down. The mouths of main lake coves which provide springs draw in the gizzard shad by the gobs; this is where the big crappie hang out for the winter. Most of these are white crappie, which are less brush oriented than black crappie. In the winter I have the privilege of fishing with several professional crappie tournament fishermen who come from the northern states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan. They prefer fishing in the liquid as opposed to the iced over lakes. I have gained a lot of knowledge from these individuals who show me that the traditional way is not necessary the best way for this time of year. The other day we caught a 17 and ½ inch crappie, and he was so deep that you could barely see the coloration due to the lack of sunlight. These fish hang over springs and if the spring is causing enough turbulence in the water, and your graph is a color graph of high quality, you’ll be able to see what I mean. The water from a spring is usually 54 degrees; the shad need warmer water to survive the winter. Water under 40 degrees over a long period of time will cause shad die off unless they can find these deep, warm water haunts. As a result, you have the crappie…not only crappie, but white bass and big walleye will be in the same locations. Jigging or spooning with a vertical presentation is the only way to go; tipped with a minnow works best. That’s medium sized minnows…forget those little buggers that you can see through. In this case, bigger is better. You need to get in an area where there is no wind; the bite will be very light with crappie and white bass. You may not even feel the bite, so you have to watch the line and the rod tip. In 2 days, my clients and I boated over 50 crappie plus several white bass and a few good walleye using this presentation. A few fish are being caught off shallower brush piles (15-25 feet) and most of these are black crappie. In order to catch fish in the winter, you must think outside of the traditional box and be a little psycho to be out on the lake in such frigid conditions. There is no reason that you should not catch a number of quality fish during the winter months on Stockton Lake, which is a highland reservoir.

Guide’s tip: the other day I dropped my 75 cent minnow dip net in the lake. After having to catch the minnows with my bare hand in the extremely cold bait tank water, I would have given $50 for a minnow dip net. Even though a fishing guide has been trained to deal with extreme situations, I am going to start carrying and extra one…

If you are a real man, and can brave the elements, the winter months from now to the middle of March, can provide some of the hottest action of the year for crappie and walleye. If you have any questions, or comments, or you desire more details, please email me or call me.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

thompsonfishingguideservice@yahoo.com

417-424-BASS

Maybe imitated, never duplicated. Fish The Finest!