May 24, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

May 24, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye fishing is still good, but you are going to have to fish deeper due to the warm water temperatures. Locate the shad along the dam and slow drift a white plastic curly tail jig with medium to large minnows. The thermocline has developed and is approximately 23 feet deep; this is where the fish will be most of the day. Rattle Traps are another good choice along with deep diving crank baits. Cast out the Rattle Trap and let it sink on a tight line; many times the fish will hit the bait as it falls. Rattle Traps can also be used in vertical presentations. Guide's tip: top water walleye (which you don't hear anything about) can be caught on Buzz Baits near the large swarms of mayflies as they congregate on the surface late in the afternoon.

Largemouth bass: With water in the mid to high 70s in most of the lake, your bigger fish will be found in the summer pattern in around 20-25 feet of water off of secondary and main lake points. Fish the points that are adjacent to the spawning beds with crawdad imitator jigs fished slowly along the bottom contour. Spinner baits and crank baits are effective early and late in the shallower water and in the backs of coves in these areas. Top water bite is good early and late with Buzz Baits and Zara Spooks; I've caught a lot of nice top water fish using a Devil Horse; unlike Buzz Baits, which sink when stopped, Devil Horse type lures will float and you can keep them in the strike zone longer. A stop and go retrieve works best. For fishing timber, find the creek channels and probe the depths (10-15 feet) with plastic worms or tube jigs; purple, blue and black are good colors for plastic worms and white or crawdad colors for jigs.

Crappie: the best Crappie locations are brush piles off the main lake points in the Twin Bridges/Ruark Bluff areas. Minnows and crappie jigs are getting a lot of attention. For a change, try white or white and chartreuse Maribu jigs. The feathers on the Maribu jigs give it a more pulsating action than the plastic curly tails, plus it is something the fish don't see that often. If you fish the timber in the Cedar Ridge area, concentrate your efforts on the cedar trees on the edge of the creek channel. Remember two key elements: cover and structure.

Catfish: channel cats can be caught from the shore or by boat in the mouths of secondary coves about anywhere on the lake, for example, Mutton Creek cove, Old State Park cove are good places to start. Night crawlers, chicken livers or fresh cut shad will catch fish. 10 to 12 pounders are not uncommon. I suggest using a slip bobber which will hold your bait 2-3 feet above the bottom out of most of the moss.

Marty Thompson

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS