October 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

October 25, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: Despite the cold fronts, I have been able to catch walleye in the Ruark Bluff area on weighted crawler harnesses trolled about 15 feet deep across the points. Crank baits have been working pretty well too. Rattle Traps are a good choice, trolled around the Mutton Creek area. The dam is also worth your while, use the same techniques and lures as above and you should catch fish. Troll the faces of the bluffs with deep divers, preferably shad colored, around State Park marina.

Bass: for numbers, spinner baits and crank baits cast to the shore should still provide action, but your bigger fish are going to be deeper. Plastic worms are what I use to fish deep (and slow), but jigs will work well too. Darker colored worms and crawdad colored jigs are producing fish; secondary points are a good place to start. Fish are also being caught in the mouth of Price Branch and Birch Branch, by probing deeper (20-25 feet) cover.

White bass have been busting the top, usually later in the day, but they can appear at any time. Zara Spooks and Chuggers will catch a few on top, but most of the fish will be caught on half oz spoons, preferably with a white bucktail. Look for the birds, and you should find bait fish on the surface; whether you can see the white bass break the top or not, they are in the area, guaranteed.

Crappie fishing is still good, in spite of the cooler weather. Try the timber in the Sac River arm, or Maze Creek with small minnows or jigs. Most of my clients' fish are being caught on the minnows, but the jig does produce from time to time.

Marty Thompson

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

[ryan]

what color blades on your crawler harness?

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

It depends. On bright days, chrome works the best, cloudy days and at night gold or chartreuse.

If the fish are finicky, sometimes no blade at all works the best.