March 19, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

March 19, 2009 Stockton lake Fishing Report

Walleye: this fishing report is a condensed version due to the fact that I have been busy guiding every day and I don’t have the time at the moment to put the effort into it that I would like to. That said, walleye fishing has been somewhat frustrating not only for me, but for virtually everyone I have talked to. I do believe, however, that the fishing will get better any day. There is no doubt that a lot of walleye have been spawning already, and are doing so in areas like Turnback, Son’s Creek, and Turkey Creek, to name just a few. You need to find the fish and spend a lot of time in hopes for the bite of a real big fish (8-10 lbs). Jig and curly tailed grub, or a jig and 4 inch plastic worm combo is one of your best bets. If you find a congregation of fish, vertical fish with the jigs and if there are no takers, get back and troll deep diving Rapalas through the school.

Crappie bite has been fair; the best advice I can give you right now is fish the Turkey Creek arm, or Birch Branch. Crappie will be around 20-25 feet deep; they’re thinking real hard about the pre-spawn situation. Jig and minnows are your best bet. If you don’t get bit in half an hour, move.

Largemouth bass: I will be appearing in a future issue of Missouri Game and Fish reference largemouth and small mouth and I’ll give more details. Reference bass fishing, backs of coves + warmer water = good bass ( 3-5 lbs). Jigs, slow rolled spinner baits, and deep diving crank baits in the shallower water will produce fish. Water temperature in the mid part of the lake as of yesterday is from 48-50 degrees. Monday Son’s Creek got up to 56 degrees in the timber.

White bass have been slow, but a few fish are being caught around Maze Creek, Turkey Creek, and Aldrich. The spawn in certain parts of the lake should be in full swing, and like walleye, these fish will spawn in any and all tributaries. Start from the mouth and go in and you should find large congregations of white bass. Try any kind of vertical spooning or jigging or troll anything from deep diving crank baits to Rattle Trap type baits. Move around a lot.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated. Fish The Finest!

[powerdive]

Marty, my mother-in-law sent me a clipping from the Janesville Gazette newspaper back home in Wisconsin--a story by outdoor writer Ted Peck about his recent fishin' trip to Missouri. The story included a large color photo of you hoisting a chunky walleye on a Stockton shoreline...

I assume you've seen it, but hey--cool beans!

[swellcat]

— http://www.lake-link.com/articles/read/art...m?ArticleID=519

[powerdive]

Yep, that's the one. Thanks, swellcat!

[fang]

Hey Marty - Remind me when I see you on Sat to show you my new swimbait rig. Wallys ought to love it. Might just use it if minnows dont survive.

[HOOKEDONFISHIN']

MARTY

I HAVE A GUIDE QUESTION OF THE WEEK. UNLIKE YOUR GUIDE TIP OF THE WEEK, I GET TO PICK THE TOPIC. I HOPE YOU WON'T MIND WEIGHING IN ON THE SUBJECT.

I HAVE HEARD (FROM SOMEONE I WOULD THINK SHOULD KNOW) THAT CRAPPIE SPAWN 2 TIMES A YEAR.

NOW, WE DO SEE EGGS LATER IN THE YEAR. SO THIS IS MY QUESTION.

DO THEY SPAWN TWICE, OR DOES THE EGG PROCESS START ALL OVER AGAIN FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SPAWN?

I ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR REPORTS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT 3 TRIPS THE YEAR.

FEEL FREE TO REPLY ON YOUR NEXT REGULAR POST.

THANKS

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

MARTY

I HAVE A GUIDE QUESTION OF THE WEEK. UNLIKE YOUR GUIDE TIP OF THE WEEK, I GET TO PICK THE TOPIC. I HOPE YOU WON'T MIND WEIGHING IN ON THE SUBJECT.

I HAVE HEARD (FROM SOMEONE I WOULD THINK SHOULD KNOW) THAT CRAPPIE SPAWN 2 TIMES A YEAR.

NOW, WE DO SEE EGGS LATER IN THE YEAR. SO THIS IS MY QUESTION.

DO THEY SPAWN TWICE, OR DOES THE EGG PROCESS START ALL OVER AGAIN FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SPAWN?

I ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR REPORTS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT 3 TRIPS THE YEAR.

FEEL FREE TO REPLY ON YOUR NEXT REGULAR POST.

THANKS

As far as I know, crappie only spawn once a year. It takes several months for the egg sac to begin and reach maturity. A thing that I have noticed is:

1)people will catch crappie that have eggs, to a degree, and think they are ready to spawn; as I said before, it takes several months for the egg sacs to mature.

2)I caught several crappie over the last few years in July that had not yet spawned. Not all fish spawn at the same time. In my opinion, some conditions exist that allow fish to be able to reproduce outside of their normal spawning spectrum. This is kind of a way that God gives his creation an extra boost.

I think there are some environmental factors that are influential such as certain weather at certain times of the year (the roller coaster temperatures that we have experienced lately), and high water. Whrn you look at high water alone, the environment is drastically changed, therefore, creatures possess the ability to adjust to further their cause.

After I worte this, I looked up "crappie spawn" and found the following article online from Steve Mcadams on Crappie World:

What's considered by most members of the crappie-fishing fraternity to be the peak of the season is at hand for much of the country — spawning time, when more anglers crappie fish than during any other season.

The phases of the spring ritual are affected by such factors as lake levels and water temperature. In the Northern states, the peak of the “crappie run” occurs a little later than in the Southern states. For example, the peak of the spawn in Tennessee, Alabama or Mississippi usually occurs in early to mid-April, while it may be as long as two weeks to a month later in upper Indiana, New York or Ohio.

As a professional guide, writer and seminar speaker, I've been asked about a million and one times: “When is the best time to hit the peak of the spawn?” It's the most difficult question to answer because of the variables involved.

Spring may bring a cure for cabin fever, but attached to the blooming of the dogwoods and the yellow buttercups is unstable weather that has the ability to deliver a devastating blow to the peak phases of crappie spawning.

Crappie begin the early phases of the spawn by making a transition from deep to shallow water, but it's done in kind of a stair-step manner. As the days get longer and there are more hours of sunlight, the fish's biological clock sends it a message and changes its physiology.

The male crappie incurs hormonal changes, most noticeable by the darkening appearance. Once the spawn is over, he will begin fading back to his true light color.

Spawning generally begins when water temperatures reach 62 degrees, with the most active phases within the 66- to 68-degree range. Stability is important in both the water temperature and the levels of the lake.

Anglers love spring crappie fishing because the fish and the fisherman come close together when searching the shallow waters of lakes. The fish migrate shallow, seeking habitat in which to lay their eggs. They look for roots, logs, stumps, rocks or weedbeds.

The more stained the water color, the more likely crappie are to move shallow. It's their attempt to find that comfort zone where the sunlight can penetrate the water and aid in the hatching of the eggs into tiny fish, referred to as fry. That's why crappie spawn deeper in clear reservoirs than in a murky lake, where stained or muddy water means the likely spots will be visible stickup-type structure. Most crappie anglers prefer shallow, visible structure. After all, it's easier to fish something you can see.

As you test the waters of your favorite crappie lakes this spring, remember that crappie begin staging in the mouths of big bays or creeks during the prespawn period. Study topographic maps and look for the irregular humps or shelves where the crappie can school as they leave the depths in preparation for the movement to spawning grounds.

The crappie follow creek channels and sloughs to the shoreline or shallow habitat to spawn, but any secondary hump or shelf between the deep and shallow water merits your attention. Often the fish stage outside the actual spawning area, waiting for the water temperature to warm, or they might be under the influence of a cold front or falling lake level.

While you can't change the weather or water levels, you can capitalize on the habits of the crappie as they go through the various phases of spawning. Learn to interpret your sonar units and topo maps as you follow the fish from the extremes of deep to shallow.

Crappie don't all spawn at the same time. Nor do they leave deep river ledges and head to shoreline cover overnight. Their stair-step migration makes several stops along the way to peak spawning time, so take advantage of it and you'll be rewarded.