Looking for fall bass

[Cameronrulz]

I am heading up to Stockton tomorrow, and was just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to find some fish.  We will be putting in at Roark.  Should I head up one of the creeks?  Or move up more main lake, toward the state park?  Not trying to get any specific spots, just hoping someone can point me in the right direction.  Thanks!

[freefallin]

This time year with the cooler nighttime gradually dropping the water temps down the shallower water creeks will reach 70 and lower more quickly drawing the shad pods to begin moving toward cooler water so you are on the right track and Sons holds fish year round. I recently spent an entire day in Maze creek. As the sun gets higher mid day every main lake point on this lake holds spots and brown fish.

Square bills, lipless, underspin, Keitech style swimbaits or anything that matches the shad will produce. The last few weeks most of my keepers have been on top water, 8" black worm or black/blue jig and chunk.

Hope this helps, best of luck and have some fun out there!

ff

[Cameronrulz]

Thank you very much!  That does answer my question.  Those baits are what I had in mind, but I just am not confident enough in actually finding the fish yet.  Thanks again!

[Dutch]

I threw all of that Wed.  It was tough for me.   Chatter jig was all that produced. 

Not sure about the east wind today. 

[freefallin]

On 10/18/2018 at 7:38 AM, Dutch said:

I threw all of that Wed.  It was tough for me.   Chatter jig was all that produced. 

Not sure about the east wind today. 

Oh man.  👍  Stockton has been a bugger this year! A true hit or miss summer but had some pretty great outings but more less than stellar bags for sure.

I am just about of the mindset to headout and spend the "entire day" chucking with a huge whopper plopper or walking bait and try and see if I can wake them up. OR fling a white War Eagle all day long, forget the smorgasboard and try to locate the schools.

On my home lake right now the NED is producing big numbers but no size so maybe next week on Stockton I will fish finesse baits all day on light line.

Have you guys noticed how tiny the shad and baitfish are? I am thinking downsize might be appropriate. 👍

The chatterbait is almost a spinnerbait so I think you are right on the money as we are "this" close to killer fall bassin'. 

Stockton and wind are pretty much just like PB&J or macaroni and cheese!.

 

[Flysmallie]

Stockton is one of the best fall spinnerbait lakes in the world. 

[Ricochet15]

11 hours ago, Dutch said:

I threw all of that Wed.  It was tough for me.   Chatter jig was all that produced. 

Not sure about the east wind today. 

I had the same luck on Wednesday but with a spinnerbait instead of chatter jig.

[Cameronrulz]

Well today ended up being pretty tough. Drop shots and Ned rigs were the only thing that produced for us. 1 largemouth up Sons creek. The rest, 1 largemouth, 2 smallmouth, and 2 drum off main lake points. I did feel better when everyone else we saw (on the water and at the ramp) said they weren’t catching either. Not because not catching fish is fun, but it makes me feel less like I am terrible at fishing. 1 largemouth and 1 smallie were keepers, and I did lose a good (big?) fish on a glide bait. Today was definitely a “bad day fishing is better than a good day at work” kind of day for me!

[waterpossum]

It seems ridiculous that the lake level has been churned this low, especially with Truman and the Lake of the Ozarks at their standards. The fishing would be so much better if they had continued to hold the lake at near or above normal levels.(867) Grand is holding two more feet of water more than normal. The shad population has exploded and fishing is phenomenal. 

[5bites]

I’m glad it’s low. Let some vegetation grow up. Them holding to much water is why we don’t have near the willows we used to. A few good low years would go a long ways if it’s properly managed after that  

 

Grand is up because Kansas got a crap load of rain a few weeks ago. Before that it was 742.