March 10, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

March 10, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 867.27

Normal pool: 867

Water temp: mid to hi 40s overall

Walleye: the spawn this year will be more predictable and consistent, due to the fact that so far, we don’t have high water and excessive rain. In my opinion, the first few days after this week’s cold front will really ignite the walleye to spawn. The fish are starting to stage around main lake points around the dam, Maze Creek, Sac River near Turnback, and Son’s Creek. At this point these fish will be found in the deeper areas adjacent to their spawning beds, waiting for that special moment. Jigs tipped with 4 inch ringworms, curly tails, or paddle tail type swim baits should catch fish. Deep diving crank baits trolled through these areas from time to time have also been successful. I prefer the jigging technique over the deep trolling technique because you get more bites if the bait is in the strike zone for a longer period of time.

Crappie are still in relatively deep water; by “relatively”, I mean fish will be in different depths in different parts of the lake. Fish are being caught on jigs and minnows and the bite is still somewhat light. I predict in the next two weeks as the water temperature changes, these fish will start moving shallower in their pre-spawn frame of mind (which means they’re thinking about having a family).

Largemouth bass: up until this week’s cold front, 3-5 lb bass were being caught in the backs of coves on spinner baits and shallow running crank baits. The bite was on to say the least. I helped in a tournament weigh in where the winning anglers (17.55 lbs), caught 31 keepers that day, and started culling fish by 7:26 am, almost a half an hour into the tournament. After this cold front is over, the bass will resume post winter feeding patterns.

Blue gill: try dangling a worm or part of a night crawler or cricket off the various bridge pillars. It is hard to spot fish on bridge pillars, due to the fact that in order to get close enough to the vertical target with your trolling motor mounted depth finder, you have to ram your boat into the concrete, and that isn’t good. Start at about 10 feet, and let out a little bit of line at a time until you reach about 25 feet. Fish this way all the way around the bridge pillar, especially on the downwind side, and you should catch saucer sized blue gill. If you don’t get bit on one pillar, move to the next one. Sometimes you’ll find big blue gill on pillars over the deepest water.

Shoebox photo memories: Why We All Love Our Fishing Guides

Back in the early 70s, my dad hired a guide on Ouachita Lake (pronounced “Washita”, not “Alcheeta”). His name was Stanley Nabors. He said he was Jim Nabor’s cousin (who was Gomer on the Andy Griffith Show). I have no doubt that he was Gomer’s cousin, because this guy looked, acted, and sounded like Gomer Pyle. We launched his 16 foot John boat at Crystal Springs Marina and roared off into the distance at approximately 15 mph. We came to a stick up covered point (which in Arkansas means a bunch of dead trees in the water). He reached into a metal tackle box, and Texas-rigged a 6 inch genuine Tom Mann grape flavored jelly worm. I can still smell that flavor today when I use the exact same worms.

We cast among the trees, and you could feel the bass pick up your worm. Then you set the hook. My dad and I had never really fished really hi-tech before, and we found out that it was very profitable. My worm fishing career began at this point.

With no electronics, no GPS, no trolling motor, no Bill Dance sunglasses, this man was able to put us exactly where we needed to be to catch a wonderful stringer of feisty bass. On our journey home, I asked Mr. Nabors “What did you base today’s success on?” And he replied, “I’ve caught ‘em here before.” Stay tuned next time for more shoebox photo memories.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish The Finest!

[bigredbirdfan]

I appreciate all of your reports. Curious why white bass aren't mentioned. Trying to go get them this year and haven't fished for whites in Stockton since I was a kid. Need a lot of help on this mission.

BRBF

[HYDE]

i was up there friday and they're just not there yet, lots of small ones being caught but this weather has got things so messed up.

[Stockton Lake Guide Service]

Been catching whites up turnback by 160 bridge. Been some pretty good fish. Try throwing a small jig like a triple ripple or a road runner. should keep getting better this week. If your out on saturdays just watch where everyone else is fishing and try to duplicate.

[jthomas]

Caught several nice white bass around the Highpoint area yesterday by throwing green curly tail jigs on the flats. The fish moved up in the shallow water during the afternoon & were full of minnows when we cleaned them.