Trip Report Of 8/21

[straw hat]

Put in at CC at 8:30 AM. Saw my first pair of Blue Wing Teal for the fall. Seams a little early but I guess they didn't know that. The fishing was real slow. We fished around 12 brush piles and only caught fish on two. Both were on windy points in 10 to 15 feet. Out of around 30 crappie we came home with 7 keepers and one 3.5 lb channel. The bite was very very light. Water temp ran as high as 89 F. The water also semed to be a little greener and more stagnant looking than last weekend. There was a little party boat group around Springfield landing. I would say 5 or 6 boats tied together and about the same number of PWC. Don't usually see that kind of gathering near CC. As Bob said before, the lake is just going to get busier and busier with time.

[Amish Bill]

Hey Strawhat: I noticed the water was a little off too, we got rain Friday night so maybe that was it. Just a few more weeks and the party crowd will be done, then we can get back to fishing.

[Gilly]

[........ As Bob said before, the lake is just going to get busier and busier with time.]

"Party crowd".......has it always been that way or is that a recent phenomenon?

Why do you guys feel that way? Just curious.

[straw hat]

I have been fishing Stockton for around 20 years. There has always been pleasure boaters (pwc, water skiers...) in the upper half of the lake. The population of these pleasure boaters has been a slow but steady increase over the years. Probably to be expected with the increases in population with time. On the otherhand I don't rememeber ever seeing a party cove on the lake until about 4 years ago. Now I have seen at least one "party" group every weekend. I was especially suprised to see a group near CC. This time of the year the water is very warm and usually very green with an algae bloom in process. The water even gets a little foul smelling during excessively hot weather like this. Not what I would want to be swimming in! Plus, the heavy trees in the area where they were could certainly make the use of a pwc and water sking a challenge. Just my gut feeling, and I could easily be wrong, but I would say that the pleasure boaters have at least doubled in the last 5 years. I have heard that a lot of these people have changed from Lake of the Ozarks to Stockton looking for a fresh place to hang out. I also have to admit that I have been suprised at how considerate most have been (the exception is the pwcs). I don't think there is anything more relaxing then a nice day on a quiet lake. Those types of days are getting fewer and fewer though.

[Thunderin Gobbler]

I am quite a bit younger than probably most on here, so I don't have as much experience on the lake. But I have noticed myself how much busier the lake is getting. I remember when I was little we would always go camping down at Cape Fair on Table Rock. There was 1 ramp, the marina, and a couple docks hooked to the marina. Now, the entire area is nothing but docks, and a huge restaurant out there with the marina. I used to night bass fish on the bank around the ramp and would catch my limit every night, but now I don't think there is even a place right there that you are allowed to fish.

I know Stockton is nowhere near that stage yet, but as fast as Table Rock has transformed, we'd better take advantage of what little "peaceful" fishing we have left. Eventually, those pleasure boaters are going to move north too, and then Stockton will be getting really busy!!!

I'm just glad that most of them are nice enough to let us fish without disturbing us too much!

[Gilly]

Well then let me be the first to say Stockton sucks in so many ways. The fishing is horrible, the water quality is worse than Lake of the Ozarks, there is an incredible amount of submerged debris that would snag most boat props, everyone takes pot shots at jet-skis, the sail boat captains will cut you no slack and will flat run you over, the people in the area suck the most being the rudest you will ever meet. In general, as previously stated, Stockton has nothing to offer anyone. Stay away.

[straw hat]

I am sorry that you feel that way Gilly. I would like to add one comment the discussion. Sail boats, kayaks and canoes have the right of way at all times on navigatable water ways. All powered boats have to adjust to there presence, they do not have to respect of course or speed. Don't misunderstand. I am not saying that is right but it is the law.

[Thunderin Gobbler]

Horrible fishing? I don't know where Gilly has been fishing at, but fishing on Stockton has been pretty good to me.

As far as the submerged debris in the water, that is a big part of what makes the fishing so great, in my opinion. If Stockton was a clear lake, with no trees or brush piles, then it would sure be a lot tougher to catch fish. I love having the submerged timber in parts of the lake. If I want to fish an area without the trees, Stockton has that too. I've never hit any trees hard enough to do any damage to boat or prop.

[Gilly]

I posted that with a wink & a nod, straw.

(Tried to message you but your box isn't activated)

[Samkam1]

stockton is horrible -- stay away at all costs!!

SK