May 3, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

May 3, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Smallmouth bass: concentrate your efforts above the 215 bridge and fish small deep diving crank baits off the chunk rock banks. Small spinner baits work well in these areas also; crawdad and natural browns and green seem to work the best. Chunk rock banks are holding fish because they hold the crawdads; small mouths' favorite food are crawdads. Half oz crawdad colored jigs hopped off the bottom in about 15-20 feet of water will produce bigger fish during midday.

Walleye fishing remains good throughout Stockton Lake, however, most of my efforts are spent fishing the main lake points and coves near the dam. White curly tailed grubs catch walleye early and late in the coves. 1/2 oz white and chartreuse jigs produce fish at midday slow drifting though the shad schools suspended over deeper water off the points. Walleye also are being caught off the points in the Ruark Bluff area by using the same presentation. The number one forage for the walleye, particularly this time of year, is shad, as they replace weight lost through the cold winter months, therefore I suggest tipping your jig with a large minnow (3-4 inches long). For bank fishermen, fish are being caught in the Greenfield ramp area and Springfield Cove. Anglers are casting curly tailed jigs and also minnow type shallow running crank baits early and late. Don't think because you don't have a boat that you cannot catch walleye. Anywhere you can get to the water will give you an opportunity to catch fish.

Crappie are being caught in the wooded coves in the Sac Arm and the Son's Creek Arm by casting crappie jigs or Road Runners along the pea gravel shores from 2-8 feet of water. The crappie are in full swing in the spawn, in the Son Sac and Turkey Creek areas of the lake. To catch bigger crappie, fish the points adjacent to these spawning coves. Big crappie (10-15 inches) are being caught by slow trolling small crank baits such as WigglWarts in crawdad colors. The fish will be staged in deeper water off main lake points; be sure you find the fish before you waste your time dragging your lure through empty water. When the wind permits, try casting 1/4 oz tube jigs to the dam in from 3-15 feet of water and you'll also catch crappie. I had a client last week catch a 17 inch crappie doing this.

Large mouth bass: Now that the water has settled from the rains and the temperature has stabilized in the high 60s in most parts of the lake, start fishing on the secondary points in the large coves with deep diving crank baits; weather will determine color. Find the points that connect to the shores that are conducive to spawning areas: I'm not much at disturbing bass while they are trying to produce more bass, therefore I concentrate my efforts in these locations. The bigger fish are going to be off these points in a little bit deeper water anyway. Slow rolled spinner baits along with plastic worms dragged along the bottom structure is what I am doing to catch the majority of my bigger fish (3-5 lbs). The top water bite is good throughout the lake, and good places to check out are the gravel flats and coves between the mouth of Price Branch and The Wall. If you can find a cloudy day, top water bite could happen at any time, so be ready. BuzzBaits and Devil Horses (which I think are more productive sometimes than BuzzBaits because they float, keeping them in the strike zone) and Zara Spooks are very productive. These areas and techniques are just a few of the many opportunities to catch bass on Stockton Lake this time of the year.

Guide's tip of the week: If you like to flip and pitch the timber, as I do, remember one important thing: fish the timber just like you would ay other area of the lake, by utilizing your electronics. Look for creek channels, humps, drop offs, etc. and fish the timber nearest this structure. Not all trees hold fish; read the bottom and you'll find the fish in the timber.

Marty Thompson

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS