Boat launch

[Cap'n]

Plan on fishing Stockton for first time in March. What boat launch would you recommend? I'm driving from KC. 

[dprice]

Wondering what kind of boat you will bring to recommend a ramp

but i would recommend  masters public use  unless you wanted a marina   As it is protected form north winds     March can be a very rough fish on this lake 

 State park marina is a fine place also mostly across lake on south side  they have all you would need    

If you would like a place to stay and launch try south winds ( south out of town towards the famous greenfield  fishing ) you can call and they will hook you up !  

[Skeeter ZX190]

I also come from Kansas City and almost always put in at Orleans Trail marina.  They usually have ample parking but the boat parking lot can be filled up with sail boats that are dry docked for the winter or maintenance.   I hardly ever venture as far south as State Park on the Little Sac side, or Old State Park on the Big Sac.   There is a variety of water to fish within a few miles of Orleans Trail.   The weather and wind will play a big factor where you might want to launch though.  March can be very windy and it doesn't take much wind for white caps on Stockton. 

[Cap'n]

Thanks for the suggestions. I fish out of a 17ft Deep V. I hear Stockton can get very windy. I have cabin fever & I hope to get out in March & April. 

[Old plug]

I got caught by wind on Stockton when the lake was new. i no longer remember where We were. all the way across the lake from the boat ramp. The wind came up suddenly while we were back in a cove. The wave were so high I could not see over bank except when topping the crest of a wave for the most part it was like riding blind between two walls of water. I knew how to surf a boat from my teen year of riding barge wave in the mississippi and riding returning liberty boat in rough seas. I think the experience saved our lives. Was by far the most terrifying ride I ever had. To this day I can close my eyes and still see it. due to that experoence I would not recommend getting on Stockton in anything than a 18 to 19 ft boat.

[MOPanfisher]

I spent my young life riding around Stockton in a 14 ft Richline V bottom.  HOWEVER Dad was very particular about watching the weather and being able to get out before it got too bad, a few times I thought we were having fun riding up and down the whitecaps until I looked back at dad, the old WWII Vet who didn't get shook easily and he was white as a ghost, running the 18HP Evinrude with one hand and bailing with the other, if the motor had ever quit it would not have been good.  In a 17ft Deep V you should be fine, but always be aware of what is coming, and where you have to go to get across, if in doubt get out.  Better to sit at the motel/camp and wish you were still fishing that to have your family wishing you had made it home.

[Hammer time]

Mutton creek has a North and south ramp. A great location, you can go up either the Big Sac or Sons creek arms for the river bite or down to mainlake areas like Googer, Mile long bridge or all the way to the dam.

In March their can be either a great river or mainlake bite and from that location you hit both easily and find the better feeding fish.