Thanks Marty And Bob

[Bird Watcher]

I have stopped counting how many trips I have made to Stockton to attempt to catch walleye. They just always seem to have my number when I am targeting them. I catch plenty of them crappie fishing, some bass fishing, but it has become a little bit of a joke with my family when I say I am going walleye fishing at Stockton. Someone was always catching them Yesterday, on a different part of the lake, but not me.

Well today was different. Dad and I didn't have a livewell full of keepers, but we did catch plenty of walleye and we were even fishing for them. We probably had 20-30 in the 12-14" range, but only had one 19" keeper. That was great with me. I went to Stockton to catch walleye and I did.

I couldn't have done it without reading posts from both of you. As a matter of fact I found this forum by googling "Walleye, Stockton Lake" looking for information after a particularly frustrating trip 2 or 3 years ago and lo and behold a fishing report from Marty showed up.

I'm sure some will read this and think "Why is this knucklehead going on and on about catching one keeper?". I don't know, after awhile I started to feel like Don Quixote going to slay windmills when I head to Stockton to catch walleye, but thanks to you guys I caught some today.

[Stockton Lake Guide Service]

Congrats and glad to hear we could give you some help. Keep working at it and they will start getting a little easier.

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

Chris,

Thanks for your comments. Walleye are a different fish; they are not even native to this part of the universe. They see things differently than our home grown fish like bass, crappie and catfish.

I have had the privilege to be acquainted with several outdoor writers and walleye guides in the walleye states, and they encourage me when they tell me that because of the walleye makeup, they will always be somewhat of a paradoxical species. Meaning you know what they are supposed to do, but they don't always respond the way that you think they will. Never underestimate or take for granted this odd species because when you think you have them figured out, you really don't. The greatest walleye fishermen in America have a lot of misses with a few hits. Like one Wisconsin walleye guide told me recently, they are like your wife. When you think you know it all, you find out that you really don't.

Walleye are a fish that by nature are very finicky creatures. Nobody has it down concrete, nobody has it down exactly right every time, but we continue to try. Remember this: with walleye, you have more fishing than catching no matter where you go. That is the nature of the beast. They are not a warm water species and do not respond the way native warm water species do.

Thanks again for your good words.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish The Finest!