August 27, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

August 27, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 867.58

Normal pool: 867

Water temperature: High 70s to low 80s

Walleye fishing has been good; fish are still being caught on the flats with jigs and night crawlers or jigs and minnows, crawler harnesses, or trolling deep diving crank baits like Rapala deep divers. The lower than normal water temperature has caused the fish to become a little more active and not only that, some fish are beginning to enter into the fall pattern, which means main lake points are producing fish. The thermocline is still intact; therefore the depth you need to concentrate on is approximately 20 feet. This applies not only to walleye, but bass and crappie as well.

Crappie: the more prime brush piles you find and fish, the more fish you will catch. Minnows/Aberdeen hooks or crappie jigs work well. Some fishermen catch as many if not more crappie on just a jig as they do with a jig and minnow. It’s up to you. I always have minnows just in case. We have been catching crappie using the slip bobber system over brush piles between 15-20 feet down. “The pros” say never leave fish to find fish, but if you are vertically fishing a crappie bed, after awhile, the fish will shut down because no matter how quiet you and Cousin Orlando are, they will still detect your presence. Therefore, I catch more fish off of brush piles with the slip bobber system because I position my boat several yards away. You need to anchor about a ½ cast distance from the brush pile (providing your anchor holds) so that your boat will be in the proper position, which is away from the fish. Use your trolling motor and quietly pass over the top of these brush piles to determine the top of the brush. Rig your bobber so that your lure is about 2 feet above the brush. This can be kind of a pain with the wind, but it is worth your while because you will catch more fish and better quality fish.

Largemouth bass: basically the only thing I can say about largemouth bass (which have been real good) is you need to read my last three reports. In the last two days of fishing (yesterday and today) I caught several keepers, and the largest was 4 pounds. I wanted to beat Gertrude’s weight (which was actually 8 pounds 12 oz and not 8 pounds 8 oz); I misread my digital scale. I am still waiting to catch one bigger than Gertrude, and when I do, I’ll let you know. I like to name the big fish I catch because when I catch them again, we already know each other.

White bass fishing has been very slow and sparse. This is due to the large amount of bait (as usual) and they don’t feed as aggressively as I think they should.

Blue gill: grab a cricket or a worm, fish the same brush piles that you do for crappie, with the slip bobber technique and unless you soak your bait in gasoline, you should catch all the blue gill you want.

Channel cats: good from shore or boat. Main lake points, backs of coves, secondary points, between 10 and 15 feet seem to be the preferable depth for these whiskered creatures. We have been averaging one or two 3-5 lb channel cats when we are after walleye or crappie. We seem to catch more on the minnows than we do on the night crawlers. My advice to you is to use FRESH cut shad, not frozen; this is kind of a gimme. Night crawlers, chicken wienies, or liver (chicken or beef) will catch fish. You need to take your kid on this one. If you are a shore fisherman, make a big fire, get your rods out, tell your kid about all of the great things you have accomplished in life (only the truth of course) and have a good time. Bring the bug spray and keep an eye out for a copperhead or two. That’s why they call cat fishing “the man’s game.” If I can be of any assistance, please contact me. My prediction is that this fall will be very profitable, for the primary reason that you have the privilege of being in God’s Creation. That is profitable.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish The Finest!