Trip Report For 3/24

[straw hat]

Well the weatherman said sunny and 50 today. Boy did he blow that!! It was 37 when I left for the lake and 39 when I got home. On top of that I never even saw a glimpse of the sun. The spot I wanted to fish had two boats on it so I wound up fishing CC. I caught only one crappie all day. I did manage to freeze to death though. lol There was only 5 boats at the CC launch so apparently most Stockton fisherman are a lot nore intelligent than me and stayed home where it is warm. I noticed that the DOC striped the parking lot at CC. They set up two handycap parking spot. Even though there was only 5 rigs parked there I was suprised to see that two of them were parked in the handycapped spots. They didn't have handycap tags either. It looks like I am not going to get to go fishing again for a while so you guys have a good time on the lake for me and catch plenty of fish.

[Fireflies]

Thanks for the report Straw Hat, I was starting to think I was wasting my time this early in the season on the Little Sac arm. I travel to Stockton from Springfield so I never fish the Big Sac arm below Mutton Creek. I was getting the feeling from last weeks posters that spawning was happening around the CC area, but it sounds to me like maybe the time isn’t here quite yet.

Do you ever fish on the Little Sac? If so, do you think the water temp raises faster on the Big Sac, which would lead to earlier spawning around the CC area over the High Point area?

I appreciate all your post.

[straw hat]

I keep records of water temp and such on all my trips. I definitely think that CC warms faster. Typically around 2 to 3 degrees higher temp than say the area between Aldrich and High Point. I usually fish the CC area until about 1 or 2 weeks into the spawn. By that time there are so many fisherman there that I give up and move towards the Ruark and High Point areas. After that I move up to Hawker/Hartley region and then a little later toward the dam. Basically I just follow the spawn north. The fish I have caught around CC in the last week all showed signs of good egg development but they are still around 1 to 2 weeks til they spawn depending on the weather. I have fished the Little Sac area from Aldrich to Maze Creek. I have had good luck all along there but I especially like Maze Creek. There is a lot of good crappie in that area. I think I prefer the CC area mostly because it is just closer for me. With the way the price of gas is going that is important. They are talking about $5 gas by fall. That hurts.

[Thunderin Gobbler]

Thought I might try to do a little crappie fishing tomorrow while our tournament is going on. Has anyone been doing any good in Son's creek, or is most of the action around CC? Our tournament is putting in at the old state park, so I really don't want to drive all the way to CC if I don't have to. Thanks

Gobbler

[straw hat]

I would think you should be able to catch some around the either Son's Creek or the old state park. The water temp has probably dropped with this change back to colder weather so they may have went a little deeper (20 to 30'?). A few of the guys on the site can probably give you better info though. Good Luck on both your tourney and the fishing!!!

[Thunderin Gobbler]

Thanks Straw hat, I knew that you'd be one to help me out.