February 21, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

February 21, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: Walleye fishing has picked up the last couple of days as a result of a little warmer weather. Walleye haven't really begun to spawn yet, due to the fact that in most parts of the lake, water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30s. The way my clients have been catching walleye now: first we look for warmer water temperatures, and then locate the bait fish. We have been successful with this by using a jig head (size depending on wind and depth), tipped with a minnow. These fish will be deep, 30+ feet; the bites are very light. However, I feel that it would violate my guide client relationship to divulge any more information. If you are considering booking a guided trip, do it now, I am getting booked up through March and April.

Largemouth bass: These fish are still deep, and they are not going to expend any more energy than necessary to survive. When water temps are this cold, mid-30s in many areas, a bass can get by with one meal every week to ten days, easy. So the bait that stays in his face the longest and laziest, is the one to use. I mean pig n jigs, tube jigs, plastic worms. Try using light line on a 7 foot spinning rod and finesse fish these baits or do a drop shot rig. Think small. The more convenient the meal, the more bass you'll catch. That's what the "real fishermen" call the "winter pattern." Stay with the bluffs that face the sun.

Crappie: We have done very well for crappie on Stockton lake this week. Probably 90% of our fish are 10-13 inches long. Very few short fish. How do we do it? Like bass fishing this time of year, think small. Small minnows, Aberdeen hooks, or jigs. The good fish are deep. How deep you may ask? I'll give you a hint: at least 30 feet, believe it or not.

White bass: The white bass are also deep and slow. Most of our fish have come on crappie jigs...green crappie jigs. Use your sonar and find the bait starting at any main lake point and you'll find white bass. The key is to fish slowly, fish deep and concentrate. Many times you will not even feel the fish pick it up, and that includes on your braided line.

Caution: there is A LOT of timber floating in the lake.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS

[carolina-rig-01]

mr. thompson...i just wanted to thank you for your frequent reports on stockton. i fish this lake a lot and it obviously helps to get a little heads up before i go. stockton is a lake that is hard to find fishing reports on. anyways i just wanted to say thank you!

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

Good to know someone is out there reading my fishing reports; sometimes I feel like I am just a voice crying in the wilderness...let me know if you have any specific questions. Thanks again for the feedback.

Marty

[WebFreeman]

I always read. I don't fish Stockton very ofter, but I really enjoy the thoroughness of your reports. So thanks for writing them.

[carolina-rig-01]

i really like reading your reports as well. i fish stockton a lot and it's good to have an idea of what to expect. thanks very much.