July 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

July 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: The walleye bite at night is a delight. Slow trolling deep diving crank baits such as Rapalas in shad colors is an excellent option for night fishing. Main lake points around the dam and also the main lake points in the areas around State Park put in are producing fish. After dark, the walleye chase the shad into shallower water and can be caught by casting crank baits (Rattletraps, Rebels, and hard stick baits in shad colors) towards the bank on the edges of coves. Try slow drifting 1/4 oz white plastic jigs early and late in these same areas and you should catch walleye before they disappear into the depths to avoid the bright hot sun. Your thermocline is approximately 22-24 feet deep, which is where the shad stay, so you'll find the walleye there aimlessly cruising the lake. The water below the thermocline is substantially cooler, so fish deep.

Bass fishing is good right at sunrise and right at sunset. During the middle of the day if you can stand the heat, deep water structure such as main lake points and drop offs will hold fish. Plastic worms, jigs, slow rolled spinner baits will be your best bet if you're fool enough to fish when the temperature above the water is approximately 105 degrees. Bring Gatorade and good luck. Fishing after dark is a whole different world. Bigger bass will move up shallower, anywhere from 1-5 feet and be feeding on the shad in the backs of coves and also the flats. Try the flats adjacent to the Googer Creek area. Fat bodied crank baits in silver and black, silver and blue, and Bluegill color are good colors. Fish main lake points or secondary points with 11 inch ribbon tail plastic worms in purple, blue or black. Black and blue jigs is another good choice. Another good night fishing spot is in the timber around Morgan's Bottom in the Turkey Creek arm or the Son's Creek arm. Large (1/2 oz - 1 oz) black or blue spinner baits with a Colorado Blade slow rolled through the timber should result in an electrifying jolt by Mr. or Mrs. Hawg. Top water is good early and late and also throughout the night. Noise makers like the outdated Hula Popper, Jitterbug, or Chuggers will draw top water attention. Most bass in Stockton Lake don't realize that a lot of these old time baits don't work because they are not up to snuff with the bass advertising world's marketing schemes. Remember this: if they ate it 30 years ago, they'll eat it today.

Crappie: when it's bright, it's no delight, so fish at night with your crappie light. Cedar Ridge timber area is the place to be. Crappie will be relatively deep (20-25 feet), so you want to fish about 3 or 4 feet above the fish with a medium sized minnow. White crappie jigs work well too, but not as good as the minnows. Guide's tip of the week: when you get positioned over these large ready to bite SLAB crappie, tell your buddy not to stop on the bottom of the boat, drop tackle boxes on the bottom of the boat, or throw empty cans on the bottom of the boat. These sounds radiate directly to the inner ear of the elusive crappie, and it will ruin the bite. If he insists on making a lot of noise, leave him home. People don't realize that it is noise and vibration that go from the bottom of the boat down into the water that spook the fish; think of the bottom of the boat as an amplifier.

Channel cats: Old State Park cove, Mutton Creek cove, and the Son's Creek arm near the Hwy 39 bridge will produce 3-7 pound catfish from shore or a boat. Night crawlers, chicken livers, or stink baits (for you stink bait enthusiasts), work well. Guide's tip of the week for cat fishermen: if you use stink bait, be sure you wash your hands thoroughly before bedtime or your wife may make you take up golf.

Carp: early and late in the day, try a night crawler or corn or marshmallows about a foot under a bobber. Fish the backs of coves around Orleans Trail, Old State Park or Mutton Creek and you should hook onto a freight train. Hold on and have fun. This is the only fish I don't recommend catch and release due to the fact that virtually every lake in the United States is way overpopulated with carp.

Marty Thompson

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS