First time Ever on Stockton in 2 weeks

[DChance]

Black bass.......what should I expect?

Not familiar at all with the lake or any typical patterns.....can anyone point me in a general vicinity? 

[Dutch]

Last week Arigs were working in the State Park area points, bluff ends, timber.  I have not been lately.

[bassnut]

I usually start on main lake points and if not there then move to secondary points. State park area, mutton creek area are 2 of my favorites this time of year. A-rigs my go to and if not working then jigs and jerk baits.

[DChance]

Great guys, Thanks for the pointers. 

[Dutch]

Are you in a tournament?  If so where is the launch?  Do you like main lake or up river fishing?

[DChance]

Club derby out of Orleans

[Dutch]

That puts you a few miles from the dam down in the clear water. A few miles to the is the confluence of the Little and Big Sac rivers. The Big Sac runs north and south there while the Little Sac comes in from the South East. There is little timber in the lower part of the lake. Price's Branch in the Little Sac (Pt 12) has some timber and the first creek above State Park Marina is Maze. It too has some timber. Everything else close is timber less coves. There are bluff ends up the Little Sac and up the Big Sac. Just south of the mile long bridge which you can see as you move south of Orleans is Hawker Point. It has a very large bay area with a variety of points and smaller coves. Most every point on the lake has some kind of brush pile or piles. Most of them are less than 25' deep. I hope this helps in some way. If I were on anything current I would pass it along and if I hear anything substantial I will let you know. Good luck Derek.

[DChance]

Great! Perfect. Thanks for the lake insight Dutch. Much appreciated.

[freefallin]

Just happened to see this. I have had an unusually high numbers at least for me (complete pure novice) fall success rate. Been fishing Stockton for 49 years now and love it more every trip.

I fish out of State Park 2-4 days a week both Big and Little Sacs. Kind of got in a rut the last few years fishing the same locations over and over while catching higher numbers on Big and more keepers on Little. This year has been extremely good for secondary and main lake points as even during high water it gave the fish "like" structure to relate to just deeper..A few weeks ago they were in the creeks on timber(spinner baits, lipless and wobble headed jigs) but now have moved back to main lake and structure. (Jerk baits, drop shots  and NED. I force myself to spend half my days off shore and after a few faltering steps have gained confidence and more often than not my best fish of the day. I am not getting on the water till 9ish most mornings, by noon move offshore and definitely off the water before evening.

FWIW Kind of sleeper baits the last few weeks has been a blade bait (silver with gold) and underspin (white with white or silver trailer) fish primarily offshore. Easy to control when jigging for suspended fish or casting through brush piles. I remove the trebles for single hook and use 8 pound flouro to reach depth quicker especially on the bluffs. Catching more LM and SM on points and bluffs and 5 to 1 Kentucky's offshore. Fishing has slowed a lot the last three weeks for sure. You never know what you will catch with a blade bait as it catches drum, bass, crappie, walleye catfish etc.

Quick side note. When I was at the Bass Masters Classic in Knoxville this year they were giving away baits at every booth. Because I had half a dozen free packages of the 4" Bio Spawn Plasma tails I have been throwing them all year on a NED head, Carolina and  and drop shot. On Stockton I would rate the 4" black with blue tail plasma tail an = to the wiggle wart or tandem spinnerbait with red colorado blade.

Hope this helps and best of luck and a big bag!

FF

 

 

 

 

[DChance]

thanks freefallin