September 23, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

September 23, 2009 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Lake level: 867.68

Normal pool: 867

Water temp: approx 74 degrees

I am going to begin today’s fishing report with a response to the smallmouth fishing report which I thought was very good. I have several smallmouth trips booked and I appreciate the information. Let me add one thing: this time of year, the smallmouth move shallow to feed on crawdads. Stay a cast away from the shore and throw crawdad imitator baits or crawdad colored jigs and you should get a good smallmouth. You talked about sight fishing and in this clear water, when you can see them, they can see you. Thanks for your report.

Walleye fishing: little has changed since my last report; fish are being caught off the main lake points and areas north of Mutton Creek on bottom bouncers with night crawlers or Lindy rigs. It seems that bouncing the bottom is the key. You’ll catch a lot of small fish, but if you cover enough water, you’ll get some keepers. Don’t get down on yourself or feel that you are a nobody and everyone is catching fish except for you. Have heart. Fear not, because if fishing is tough for you, it is tough for everybody else. If you like to fish, you will enjoy yourself no matter what, but if you are one of those people who likes to fish only when you catch fish, this may not be your most enjoyable experience in life.

Crappie: crappie fishing has been good. Like walleye, you catch a lot of small fish, but you will catch keepers if you stick to it long enough and find the right areas. Went to one spot the other day, and we caught 15 keepers. Went there the next day, and we couldn’t have caught a crappie on that spot if we had an industrial trawler. If one spot doesn’t work, go to another spot. If you caught fish here today, you may not catch them in the same place tomorrow. Remember this dear fisherman: it boils down to one thing: us against them and them against us. Don’t underestimate your quarry. We have caught fish with crappie jigs drifted over brush piles in around 25 to believe it or not 40 feet deep. It is important to note this when you look at your graph: a good brush pile is very large (maybe 5 times bigger than your boat) and it extends to around 15 feet deep or deeper. In the case above, this brush pile extended into about 40 feet of water. We caught the vast majority of our keeper fish in around 30 feet of water. Overall since the last report, we have caught more crappie in these same areas with an Aberdeen hook and a single minnow. It doesn’t take long when you pay close attention to your sonar to find crappie beds that really produce when nothing else does. Remember this rule of thumb that I learned when I was in the fishing guide school university in Toadsuck Fairy, Arkansas (we call it Toadsuck Tech): 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. That means 90% of fishermen don’t do diddly. There’s a reason for that. Understand that reason, and you’ll be in the 10%.

Largemouth bass: good bass are turning up in the backs of coves using shallow running crank baits, spinner baits and even a Buzz bait or top water thrown in. Cloudy days are best for a more consistent shallow water bite. When I say this, you must realize I am not talking about Junior Jaws, but I am talking about decent fish (2-5 pounds). Water temperatures are cooling, fall is coming on, therefore the food base (micro organisms, teeny weensy bugs, algae) begins to change the patterns. This in turn affects the shad, blue gill, crawdads, etc. In other words, this is a real good time of the year to fish. Remember all of God’s creatures (except for mankind) do things for the right reason. Secondary lake points with jigs and plastic worms will work well. If you get a dark day with no wind, the top water bite may be very good; it has turned on from time to time. Fish the way you like to fish, and you should catch fish this time of the year.

Guide’s note: How to catch a squirrel while crappie fishing in high wind, turbulent water a mile from the shore and release the squirrel unharmed (only a little scared and wet). The following story is true, as far as I remember, and I think PETA would be very proud.

There I was. In the midst of one of those wonderful breezy days that the sail boaters love so much that produce waves in the 4 foot range. While crossing the lake, using all of my seamanship abilities (you learn that at Toadsuck Tech too), I was trying to keep my boat upright when I observed off the starboard side (that’s the right side of the boat) a squirrel at least a mile from shore laying almost lifeless in the raging sea. Jonah would have been impressed. I shouted to my first mate (who also happened to be my 6 foot 11 ½ inch client), “Grab the net! We are going on a life saving mission!”

We made a hard turn to the starboard attempting to keep our flailing victim (which was not really flailing because he was almost dead from exhaustion) in sight, so that we could accomplish the rescue. As we got within net range, Dennis (my mate) thrust the net into the water and pulled out a squirrel that at the very next second, while laying in the bottom of the net, almost lifeless, decided to FREAK in a real energized way. He ran from the bottom of the net to the round frame of the net and when he reached the top of the frame, he went around in circles faster than a speeding bullet. Mind you, the boat was pitching violently at this time and this was of great concern to me regarding my life and the lives of my clients. Forget the squirrel. As the squirrel began to run up and down the net handle towards my client, my first mate’s wife (silent until now) began shouting “He might have rabies! He might have rabies!” During this cascade of utter chaos, we were able to get close enough to shore to release this innocent, wonderful little creature.

See what I mean about enjoying the fishing and not just the catching?

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

Often imitated, never duplicated. Fish The Finest!