April 5, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

April 5, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Your best bet for big walleye right now is to fish early and late in the backs of the coves adjacent to the dam. Minnow type jerk baits and soft plastic jerk baits are working best. You'll have to experiment with the colors because the fish seem to be picky. Best conditions are a cloudy day with a slight breeze. Fish can be scoped in the mouths of coves such as Orleans Trail, and the cove at RB boat ramp. White curly tail jigs have been very successful for my clients, however, once again, you need to experiment with the colors. Also experiment with night crawlers and shiners. Remember the key point: look for bait fish. No matter how great structure or cover may be, no bait, no walleye. Hint for bait fish: gizzard shad this time of the year naturally gravitate to warmer water.

Large mouth bass: a few legal males are starting to show up on pea gravel banks that face the south. Slow rolled spinner baits are good choices in these areas long with suspended jerk baits. I've been catching legal bass consistently in around 6 feet of water in these locations. However, to target bigger fish, you still need to work deeper water with jigs or plastic worms. Scope the points adjacent to the spawning areas and you'll find fish. Fishing slowly is still the primary presentation with the water just now approaching 50 degrees in most areas of the lake; look for warmer water.

White bass are still very active and can be caught at the CC bridge on Rooster Tails and curly tailed jigs. Experiment with color. The mouths of the coves around the Mutton Creek area are also producing good numbers of fish.

Good crappie are being caught around the timbered coves on minnows, crappie jigs or small crank baits. Color for crappie jigs is white and shad imitator crank baits seem to be the best. Your most consistent bait for bigger crappie is still over deeper crappie beds in around 20 feet of water. Once again, look for the warmest water temperatures.

I've had the opportunity to fish with a number of fish biologists in the last several months, and all have agreed that whatever species you are fishing for this time of year, it is critical to release the females due to the fact that spawning time is near. Most fishermen say "let the big one go so somebody can catch her another day", but I say, "let her go so she can produce enough fish that a whole lot of people can catch fish another day."

Marty Thompson

417-424-BASS

www.fishstockton.com

[ryan]

just wanted to say thanks for the helpful reports you always post and to inquire as to how deep you have been catching your walleyes I am sure they are moving up shallow to feed, have you been catching any in the middle of the day? Are any smallmouth being caught (big ones) well thanks

[Browns Guide Service]

They are coming shallow in the morning, and again as the sun goes down. They have spawned so it is going to slow down for a few weeks. As the day goes on look for them deeper.