May 10, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

May 10, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: Bigger fish in the 3 to 5 pound range are being caught off the main lake in the Turkey Creek arm. Use your electronics to locate the schools of shad. Slow drift or slow troll a large minnow on 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz jig head. Minnows are the best live bait in the spring due to the fact that the walleye are putting on weight after the spawn. Crank baits and jerk baits work well early and late in the day in the coves. Try casting 3/8 oz to 1/2 oz white/chartreuse jigs to the bank as you would with bass fishing. This presentation works best on cloudy days. Deep diving Wally Divers and shad imitators work well trolled with planar boards. Remember to follow the shad and you should catch keeper walleye anywhere on Stockton Lake.

Crappie: Guide's tip: Remember not all fish (crappie, walleye, bass, etc) spawn at the same time in a given body of water. Target the upper portion of the lake and work your way to the dam. In early spring the spawn begins in the warmest water (around 65 degrees). As of this report there are still areas in the lower part of the lake (around the dam) where the spawn is in full swing. These fish target the wooded coves with pea gravel to spawn and can be caught on anything from crappie jigs to small spinner and crank baits. During spring I target the bigger fish off the points in around 15-20 feet if water. I choose to target the deeper areas because you catch bigger fish plus you let the spawners do their business.

Large mouth bass: Bass fishing has picked up since the last series of cold fronts passed through. If you like pitching timber, try the Turkey Creek arm. Locate the creek channels and fish the cover closest to the channel bends. Early and late has a good top water bite on the flats and in the backs of coves. Ruark Bluff area has a lot of top water action. Fish are being caught off secondary points above the 215 bridge in 15-20 feet of water during midday. Because I'm a worm fisherman, I go with 7" to 11" ribbon tail type worms. Purple always works well. Slow rolled spinner baits and deep diving crank baits will also produce good fish.

Marty Thompson

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS