April 11, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

April 11, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye fishing picked up during the recent warm spell; my clients have caught fish off of the points in the Ruark Bluff area slow drifting or slow trolling a jig twister tail combo in chartreuse, white or black. The majority of these fish were between 18-20 inches long. Early and late in the day, we were catching walleye in the backs of coves casting jigs and twister tails to the bank, just like you do in bass fishing. Fish are also being caught in the Crabtree Cove area with this same technique or using jerk baits. For big walleye, night time is your best bet. Troll deep diving crank baits along the face of the dam and adjacent points. Fish usually come up in shallower water (8-10 feet) after dark.

Largemouth bass fishing was starting to pick up before the cold front that set in; prior to that front, I was able to spend a little time bass fishing in main lake coves. I caught several decent fish (2-4 pounds) dragging a straight tail plastic worm Carolina style off of the points in these main lake coves. As the sun began to drop, the fish moved up into the shallower water. The top water bite was hit or miss, but my client caught four 3-4 pound bass using a black spinner bait. For those hard core bass fishermen, I would begin my quest from the CC boat ramp and fish north.

Crappie fishing has been good around the CC boat ramp, with Road Runners tipped with a minnow or just with a curly tailed jig. The fish will be spread out in around 3-10 feet of water. If you fish from the CC bridge north towards the main lake, you should find all the crappie you need. Slow trolled small bass plugs in the main river channel north of Springfield Cove should catch your bigger crappie. Same technique goes for Price Branch and Turkey Creek arm.

White bass are being caught around the Master's boat ramp off of points using pepper spoons, and Cast Masters. These fish will school in about 20 feet of water during midday and get shallower early and late. When they come up shallow, use a fluorescent Rooster tail or Panther Martin, either slow trolled or cast across the points. If you find the fish, these baits will work. If you fish an area, and don't get into the white bass, move. White bass are also being caught around State Park and the mouth of Orleans Trail. Fish the spoon at the depth of the marked fish on your sonar. Cast out and let it fall, or vertical jig if the wind permits.

Guide's tip of the week: WARNING to all fishermen who seek to hire a guide. The first question you need to ask your potential guide is if he has commercial fishing insurance. Everybody wants to be a guide these days, but very few go to the expense of making sure their clients are covered in case of an accident. Don't just ask if your guide has insurance. Ask if the guide's insurance covers you as a paying client. In other words, does he have commercial fishing guide insurance? From my experience, this insurance is very expensive and very few insurance companies have even heard of it, much less, have a policy suited for fishing guides and their clients. If a guide is not willing to cover his clients in case of an accident, in spite of expense, he does not deserve your business.

Thanks to all my clients that filled up my April bookings; for those of you I turned down, I have the following days open: April 23-26.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS (2277)