Stockton Lake Pointers...

[Shad Attack]

Hello, I am looking forward to fishing stockton lake a lot this coming season but i don't really know much about the lake due to being new to the area (SBU student). I was wondering if i could get any pointers on where to go for some success. Maybe what colors and lures work the best and where some good spots are for Walleye, Largemouth, and White Bass. Any help would be appreciated. Also how early should i start getting on the water a lot? Thanks!

[dennis boatman]

Bank fishing or boat? You didn't mention crappie, interested? Stockton is a great lake for all fishing. Walleye are my downfall, I can catch some, but not nearly as regularly as i would like. Caught more this past year than ever before, so maybe I am figuring it out. spring and early summer is a great time to throw a pink worm for bass. Not big size, but numbers are there. Smallmouth and largemouth like them. lots of 12 to 15 inchers. Biggest Ive caught was 24 1/2 incher, estimated at about 8 lbs. By far the biggest ive caught anywhere. white bass start running up the rivers in march, with april better. Walleye also make a run in feb and march, though its all about timing. good luck and ask if you have any more questions. Im no expert, but i live near the lake and get out about once a week in spring and early summer.

[straw hat]

Welcome to the lake Shad Attack. I think you will enjoy the fishing as well as this forum. I think a lot of the guys could probably write a small book in answering your question! lol I guess my suggestion would be to go to Walmarts and pickup a Hot Spot lake map of Stockton. I would then recommend that you go back about 2 years on this forum and start reading the entries. Most of the guys are good about what part of the lake they fish and what they are having success with. This should get you off to a good start. Any questions you may have as you read the forum just post them and we will be glad to help as much as we can. Good luck and keep your line wet!

[kwall]

Straw hat has a good point about looking at past posts. I have only fished Stockton for two years myself and have learned alot from this forum ,it has become one of my favorite lakes for eyes and smallys, Thanks to all of you for the help and looking forward to a great year

[Shad Attack]

Bank fishing or boat? You didn't mention crappie, interested? Stockton is a great lake for all fishing. Walleye are my downfall, I can catch some, but not nearly as regularly as i would like. Caught more this past year than ever before, so maybe I am figuring it out. spring and early summer is a great time to throw a pink worm for bass. Not big size, but numbers are there. Smallmouth and largemouth like them. lots of 12 to 15 inchers. Biggest Ive caught was 24 1/2 incher, estimated at about 8 lbs. By far the biggest ive caught anywhere. white bass start running up the rivers in march, with april better. Walleye also make a run in feb and march, though its all about timing. good luck and ask if you have any more questions. Im no expert, but i live near the lake and get out about once a week in spring and early summer.

well i would love to get some crappie action too by all means. i will be fishing by Bank and boat. i have a decent john boat that needs repainted that i am going to put a small motor on as well. its not much but it'll work (i hope). i have also heard good things about high point. is that a good spot to start out at?

[Dutch]

With a jon Aldrich will be a good place for you to go because of the skinny water. If the wind is blowing High Point can get rough but it is good fishing. If you don't have a map of the lake then pick one up. Walmart may have them if not next trip to Spfld stop at Bass Pro.

Additionally, don't over look that fishy pond to the north. McCracken bridge is a great spot for launching smaller boats and can be a great place for lmb, smb, and crppie.

[dennis boatman]

I usually put in at State park, not the marina, but across the road where its free. Protected there from most wind so for your boat should be good in most instances. i prefer the lower lake, for the clearer water. Just my preference. Just east of the Mile Long Bridge (hwy 215) is a great place to bank fish. I have caught many nice smallmouth there and crappie. never a walleye, but i am sure they are there. Also just across the road is good from the bank. Still a couple of months till you can expect much action on the lake. Those pesky white bass should start making some runs up the river inn a few weeks. not much water so I dont know how that will work this year. I will start going over to Taylor Bridge the middle of the month. i mostly use a flyrod for white bass. its 10 minutes from my house, so sometimes I check it twice a day. they come and go quickly, especially in feb and early march. good luck.

[Shad Attack]

I usually put in at State park, not the marina, but across the road where its free. Protected there from most wind so for your boat should be good in most instances. i prefer the lower lake, for the clearer water. Just my preference. Just east of the Mile Long Bridge (hwy 215) is a great place to bank fish. I have caught many nice smallmouth there and crappie. never a walleye, but i am sure they are there. Also just across the road is good from the bank. Still a couple of months till you can expect much action on the lake. Those pesky white bass should start making some runs up the river inn a few weeks. not much water so I dont know how that will work this year. I will start going over to Taylor Bridge the middle of the month. i mostly use a flyrod for white bass. its 10 minutes from my house, so sometimes I check it twice a day. they come and go quickly, especially in feb and early march. good luck.

thanks i appreciate all the help...

[dennis boatman]

right now the lake is really low. We are going out sat. and scavenge the banks. also a good time to scout out fishing spots.

[Dutch]

If you are going crappie fishing the State Park Marina cove has brush piles out past the docks on the right. You can fish them just not the docks themselves. And it being a state park there is no launch fee there either.